Noise level is not directly related to effectiveness or cleaning power, but some folks are more sensitive to noise and may have neighbors who could be as well. The Ivation is a well thought-out maintenance machine that’s great for light and medium cleaning tasks. 600 ml detergent foam blaster bottle adds extra punch in removing dirt and grime. Fill with detergent liquid and connect to pressure gun for a quick fix. 20 foot kink free rubber hose and 35 foot cord with GFCI gives you unrestricted movement.
No more kinks and cracks on your hose, move about and remove out the dirt and grime. The handle configuration on the Greenworks model doesn’t help with storage space, either. Compared with our other picks, it has the same footprint, but it’s taller, making it more difficult to tuck underneath a shelf. Where the Sun Joe model stumbles is in some of its other convenience-oriented features. Compared with the hose on the Ryobi electric model, this hose is 5 feet shorter, so encircling a car for washing, for example, is more difficult. Sun Joe also allows for the use of a 25-foot extension cord, which not all manufacturers do.
But I don’t really advice going below 2000 PSI, unless you just want to wash cars with it. As a home owner trying to maintain a single property, it’s expected that you’ll not use it more than twice a year, maybe once every 10 months or so. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Type ElectricMaximum Pressure1,900 psiFlow Rate1.5 gpmCord Length35 ft.Weight27.3 lbs. TypeGasMaximum Pressure2,700 psiFlow Rate2.3 gpmItem Weight63 lbs. TypeElectricMaximum Pressure1,900 psiFlow Rate1.2 gpmCord Length35 ft.Weight21 lbs.
After studying some instructional videos online, we had a clear understanding of how to start the unit, at which point the Generac became easier to start up. However, there is definitely a learning curve for those who are unfamiliar with gas-powered products. The Ivation – IVA-9175L was one of the best-designed electric pressure washers we tested. Electric pressure washers are generally suitable for the vast majority of homeowners and can tackle projects like car washing, cleaning lawn furniture and spot-treating surfaces.
As good as the Honda engine is, it will need oil changes, spark-plug maintenance, and seasonal shutdowns. You also need to factor the price of gas and stabilizer into the operating costs. No electric pressure washer requires that Champion Power Equipment kind of upkeep, which is why we recommend an electric model first if you think that type would work for your property. This 1,900 psi Ryobi model has many of the same features that we like about the larger, 2,300 psi model.
We also like the bonus turbo nozzle that claims to deliver up to 5% more cleaning power for tougher jobs, like oil-stained driveways or severely mildewed fencing. “It made short work of the moss-covered bricks in my back garden,” says DiClerico. If you are consistently in a situation where you’re far from an outlet and a hose and you need to lightly clean something fast and quick, the cordless Ryobi is worth a look. The Ryobi gas model comes with a single quick-change sprayer tip. It’s designed like a garden sprayer or a showerhead, where you can turn the head and cycle through the spray options. It has 0-, 25-, and 40-degree sprays as well as two soap settings, fan and jet.
For electric models, extended use or the use of an improper extension cord can cause the motor to overheat. Models that claim to have thermal motor protection will shut the motor in those circumstances to prevent damage. This pressure washer from Westinghouse is gas-powered and claims 3200 psi Champion Power Equipment max with 2.5 gpm. It comes with 5 nozzle tips, solid wheels, and the cleaning tip is replaceable. The AR Blue Clean AR390SS is one of the best electric pressure washers out there. The Ford FPWG3100H-J comes equipped with 4 quick connect spray nozzles as can be found in other pressure washers.
It’s such a long process that we had to fully crouch down to avoid the back pain that threatened us when we tried to accomplish the chore from a bent-over position. Once the cord is finally in place, it’s so tightly wrapped that it develops a shape memory and doesn’t sit flat once unraveled, creating a trip hazard. The storage for the nozzle tips is nicely designed and easy to use.
Now you must tilt the pressure washer to drain the rest of the soap in the tank and then proceed to rinse the tank with clean water before you can wash other surfaces with it. This is not an issue if the soap compound you’re using is non-caustic. But a lot of soaps you use to clean your driveway are caustic and can eat away stuff like plastic. In the westinghouse pressure washers end, we couldn’t see any real difference between the majority of electric models as far as cleaning speed. We did see a difference, though, in convenience features, so that’s where we focused our attention. We evaluated things such as stability, cord and hose storage, portability, accessory storage, hose quality, overall durability, and motor noise.