Discover The Best Pressure Washers On The Market Today
Finally... Pressure washer reviews that are short and to the point.
The Best Pressure Washers On The Market Reviewed,
Presented In Short Summaries
A 2018 Buyers Guide
Pressure washers are addicting – once you start, you can’t stop pressure washing stuff around the house, so I’ve dedicates an entire website to reviewing the best pressure washers on the market. A pressure washer is an extremely handy tool to have on hand. It allows you to bring life back to old concrete covered in mildew, your shed covered with mud and dirt from over the years, vinyl siding on your house, etc.
Shopping for a pressure washer can be a daunting task, because there are a ton of different options and varieties on the market. Typically, I stick to reviewing the name brand machines. Your dodgy uncle might know a good Chinese supplier but I have total faith in American-made pressure washers.
Be aware of the pressure washer’s limitations. It doesn’t make sense to buy a $159 pressure washer if you need it for Industrial power washing. I’ve tried to broken pressure washers down to the following categories…
For home use, I typically recommend you pick up an electric pressure washer, and get busy. When you first get a new pressure washer, you find yourself walking around the yard, pressure washing any and everything in your way! They’re so fun!
For a lot of men, an electric pressure washer is what makes the most sense. If you’re going to be doing odd jobs around the house and need a pressure wash once or twice per year then an electric pressure washer is a great option for you.- Great for cleaning small areas
- Clean your car in 15 minutes or less
- Keep grime from growing on your deck or fence
With that said… gas powered pressure washers are pretty bad-ass… so there’s that.
Gasoline pressure washers for home use definitely fall into the ‘Boys And Their Toys’ category. If your motto is “More power!” then you’ll definitely find yourself licking your lips at the gas powered pressure washers on the market.What’s The Difference Between Light, Medium, or Heavy Duty Pressure Washers?
Best Entry Level Pressure Washers
For pressure washing your cars, lawn & patio furniture and small concrete areas.
Best Medium Duty Power Washers
For pressure washing your oily garage floor, driveways, fences, walls, porches & decks.
Best Heavy Duty Pressure Cleaners
Wash medium-duty jobs more frequently and also complete tougher jobs faster.
Comparison of The Best Pressure Washers in 2018
| Pressure Washer | Images | GPM | PSI | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIMPSON Cleaning MSH3125-S |  | 2.5 | 3100 | |
| Sun Joe SPX3000 |  | 1.76 | 2030 | |
| Generac 6922 |  | 2.4 | 3100 | |
| Sun Joe SPX3001 |  | 1.76 | 2030 | |
| SIMPSON Cleaning ALH3425 |  | 4.0 | 4200 |
A Detailed Look At The Best Pressure Washers in 2017
Quick breakdowns of the top power washers with an easy to read Pro's and Con's list.
SIMPSON Cleaning MSH3125-S
This is a best selling pressure washer on Amazon and for good reason. It’s a 3,100 PSI pressure washer and spits 2.5 gallons per minute.
It comes stocked with a Honda motor (and you pay for it!), which is always a good idea as they’re reputable and respected. Reading reviews online, it looks like other guys had problems with oil leaking though I can’t comment on that myself. Mine was solid, the motor had oil in it when the box arrived – and this machine has serious pressure. The motor is LOUD – just how I like ’em!
One thing I didn’t like about this pressure washer was that Simpson used Aluminum for the threading of the hose. Because of this,I’m sure one day I’ll carelessly crank it on mis-threaded and strip the threading, but in all transparency that hasn’t happened yet. I wish they’d used brass, here.
The Good
- Comes with a rock solid Honda motor – motor is good
- Good strong pressure
- Motor arrives with oil in it
- Arrives in 5 days (free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime if you have that. I did)
The Bad
- Read stories online of the hose blowing out and getting the run around when talking to customer service
- Oil leaks in some machines (mine didn’t)
- Hose threads are made out of aluminum which might lead to stripping. A better solution would’ve been to use Brass for this.
Sun Joe SPX3000 Pressure Washer
This is a wicked unit and probably my favorite electric pressure washer I’ve used to date.
This thing is quiet and only really kicks into gear when the trigger is pulled – your neighbors will thank you! The absence of a gas motor reduces carbon emissions, noise pollution is greatly reduced, and the typical household user should have no problem pressure washing around the house.
Very stable as long as you work with the pressure hose facing you. Otherwise, you are pulling the unit around and tipping is possible.
For the price we paid, we found the unit outperforms our expectations.
Pro Tip: Always start with the pressure hose furthest from the pressure washer and work your way back to the unit. There’s no point in going further since spray and soak time will dry if you take too long. This will be a larger distance than you actually need and let’s you work through focused areas.
The Good
- Probably the best electric washer I have used so far
- Sun Joe offers a 2-year warranty to back the quality up
- The unit runs very smoothly – much quieter than expected
- Strong enough to peel your skin off (that’s kind of a good thing)
The Bad
- Apparently using an extension cord longer than 25 feet (what is that… 6 meters?) with this power washer voids the warranty. That said, you could just say you weren’t using an extension cord…
- The supplied garden hose connector was likely to leak – mine did, so I used a brass connector instead ($3 at your local hardware store)
Generac Power 6922
Quick Stats:
- PSI: 2,800
- GPM: 2.4
- Motor: Gasoline
Had a ton of fun with this pressure washer on my driveway, sidewalk, and fence which is made of wood. Stripped the paint off a small strip of the fence in the back corner of our lot… oops.
Went to put 200ml of oil in the motor and it overflowed – not to self: ships with oil in the motor. Other than that I’ve had no hitches with the motor. It fires up like a breeze within 2 pulls (haven’t tried it in the winter).
Generac’s known for putting out great power washers and this one is no different.
The Good
- Worked wonders on my driveway, sidewalk, and wooden fence.
- Be careful with the pressure or you can strip the paint off of a wooden fence – “sorry hunny!”
- Shipped with oil in the motor
- Starts up easily – within 2 pulls for me
- One of my favorite brands for pressure washers
The Bad
- This is pretty standard for gas powered pressure washers, but the hose may come in contact with the pressure washer’s muffler and burn a hole in it. Stay on top of this.
Sun Joe SPX3001 Pressure Washer
Quick Stats:
- PSI: 2,030
- GPM: 1.76
- Motor: Electric
This is a great little pressure washer. I was able to clean the third story of a house with nothing but the pressure washer and a seven foot ladder (don’t try this at home, by the way).
These electrical motors are so quiet when you’re not actively pressure washing. Until you pull the trigger, it just sits quietly. It’s also way better for the environment than pumping petroleum exhaust all day long.
The Good
- Quiet electric washer that only fires up when it’s being used
- Friendlier on the environment than gasoline engines
- Lives up to the hype
- Good for driveways, patios, exteriors, and walkways
The Bad
- Doesn’t come with quick connects – I had some lying around but you or others might not
Generac Power 6922
Quick Stats:
- PSI: 2,800
- GPM: 2.4
- Motor: Gasoline
Had a ton of fun with this pressure washer on my driveway, sidewalk, and fence which is made of wood. Stripped the paint off a small strip of the fence in the back corner of our lot… oops.
Went to put 200ml of oil in the motor and it overflowed – not to self: ships with oil in the motor. Other than that I’ve had no hitches with the motor. It fires up like a breeze within 2 pulls (haven’t tried it in the winter).
Generac’s known for putting out great power washers and this one is no different.
The Good
- Worked wonders on my driveway, sidewalk, and wooden fence.
- Be careful with the pressure or you can strip the paint off of a wooden fence – “sorry hunny!”
- Shipped with oil in the motor
- Starts up easily – within 2 pulls for me
- One of my favorite brands for pressure washers
The Bad
- This is pretty standard for gas powered pressure washers, but the hose may come in contact with the pressure washer’s muffler and burn a hole in it. Stay on top of this.
General Pressure Washing Terms: Understanding the Basics
What does PSI stand for?
Pounds per square inch. A measurement of the pressure exerted on 1 square inch of an object’s surface. In terms of pressure washer lingo, it means the strength of the spray coming out of the nozzle as it hits your cement driveway, or vinyl siding.
Your average garden hose releases water at a pressure of about 40 PSI, a light duty/entry level electric pressure washer runs roughly between 1,000–1,200 PSI and a heavier duty gas powered pressure washer will typically operates spray at roughly 2,800–3,500 PSI. Industrial strength power washers can spray at upwards of 5,000+ PSI, which gives you an idea of what bucket your project might fit in.
What does GPM stand for?
GPM stands for Gallons per Minute. It’s also referred to as ‘water flow rate’, and is the measure of volume – in the case of a pressure washer this is of water – going through the system and out the nozzle.
GPM is super important in the equation that determines a pressure washer’s power. A rate of 3 or more is a good GPM rate, though anything above a 2 is fully adequate for most residential and home use.
Frequently Asked Questions When Hiring A Pressure Washing Company
How long does it take to pressure wash the exterior of a house?
Depending on the size and square footage of your house or building, pressure washing times will vary.
A typical residential property might take about day to clean all walls, grounds and patios, but in some areas of the Country, that average can go up to two days, and if you need a large house and pool pressure washed, plus a deep wash of the surrounding cement, garage, etc… you can expect the power washing company to be around for a few days.
What should I do to prepare for a visiting pressure washing company?
Most pressure washing companies are pretty flexible here, but if you don’t want to get charged extra and in order to get the job done as quickly as possible, my recommendations are to go over the following:
- Usually access to electricity is not needed, but if you have an extension cord, don’t give them excuses and leave the cords out for them
- Leave all water taps turned on. I know some of you cheap bastards turn your taps off when you’re not using them. Make sure you don’t shoot yourself in the foot by not giving them access to water
- Close and lock all windows and doors to avoid water – or soap – getting in anywhere
- Unlock gates or any entrances that might prevent access to the property. Try to give your power washing company all the access they need to properly clean and work on your project
- If the pressure washing company will be cleaning an area directly beside a door at your place, it’s a good idea to place a towel under door frames
- For pete’s sake, report any and all leaks and concerns at the time of estimation; don’t wait until your house is flooded up to your knees to warn them about a weak spot/or leak
Will a pressure washing company use chemicals or soaps while cleaning?
A lot of the time a power washing company will expect to use soaps to get your areas super clean. If you have children, pets, or gardens you’d like to keep safe, bring that up during your estimate and the power washer will make note of it.
A hot water pressure cleaner is a great substitute for soaps and algaecides, and in many cases does the same quality job.
How far in advance should I book pressure cleaning services?
Most of the time you can phone a pressure washing company near you and get someone by your place within a few days, and the work to get done within a couple weeks of you approving an estimate. I’d recommend having a couple businesses come by, to get a better idea of who you mesh with and trust more.
Frequently Asked Questions When Doing Your Own Power Washing
What's the best way to clean and maintain my pressure treated wood deck?
To extend the life of your deck or fence I recommend cleaning and sealing it every 3–5 years. This will save you a grand or more in the long run, by not having to tear the deck up and start over as often.
Look for typical signs of damage:
- A grayed surface means Sun or U.V. damage
- A warped or cracked deck means water damage
- Loose nails are a sign of swelling & shrinking
How do I prevent moss from growing on my roof?
Moss and other crap should be removed first. A preventative spray can be applied to slow future growth, and there are probably green versions to do the same job. Zinc flashing or stripping can be installed to keep moss away.
If the area growing moss is in the shade and/or damp or moist for most of the year, regular visits or a scheduled maintenance program is a great idea, but let’s be honest you’ll never do that. It would prevent any permanent damage before it happens.
When should I plan to pressure wash my place?
A proactive approach to home maintenance is highly recommended. The more frequent the cleaning, the less pressure needed during cleaning, and the longer your driveway, garage, fence, and deck will last.
Preventative cleaning takes less time and is more gentile on surfaces which also prolongs the life of whatever’s being washed.
Can oil stains in my garage be cleaned using a power washer?
Yes sir! The best way to pressure wash oil stains off your garage floor is to start with de-grease treatment and then pressure washing the areas afterwards. This will bring the oil stains out (almost) entirely. We’ve been using this method for 20+ years.
When pressure washing, is a higher PSI always better?
Not always. Blasting the surface with high-pressure might remove more dirt, but can also weather the surface and damage it over the long term. The proper technique is to use low pressure, the correct cleaning agents, and a lot of water.
Overall, a higher GPM (gallons per minute) is more important than the PSI (pounds per square inch).
Pressure washer left streaks/marks/an uneven look. What went wrong?
The best way to avoid streaks and/or ‘wand marks’ is to use a flat surface cleaner, which will provide a gentle, even clean. Flat surface cleaners are also less likely to lift edges around tiles, which causes flaking and other bad stuff to happen.
Best Medium Duty Pressure Washers: 2018 Review Roundup
Medium duty pressure washers are super versatile and a great option if you’re looking for a general purpose pressure washer....
read moreSimpson Pressure Washer Reviews: 2018 Round Up
I get it, you're looking at Simpson pressure washer reviews and are trying to figure out which pressure washer will fit your needs. Buying a pressure washer can be seriously overwhelming. There are dozens of brands to choose from, and each brand you look at might have...
read moreBest Heavy Duty Pressure Cleaners
There are dozens of varieties of pressure washers on the market. Hell, maybe even hundreds. I had no idea just how many there were until I began searching online to find the perfect one. Of all the different types available, heavy-duty pressure washers are the most...
read more
GreenWorks 1500 PSI Pressure Washer Review
Was walking through Lowe’s one day shopping for some light bulbs, and stumble across this little devil on clearance for $79... The GreenWorks 1500 PSI pressure washer. There was one left, and I couldn’t bring myself to pass it up. I'm happy to have given it a go –...
read moreBest Pressure Washers Under $200
When we set out to determine what's the best pressure washer under $200, we started by looking at the best sellers. Then we broke down the pros/cons of each and narrowed down the best under $200... If you don't care about reading the good and bad of each pressure...
read moreBest Entry Level Pressure Washers
When I used to pour concrete, I would get home each night and hose my truck down. Once a week I would grab a bucket of soapy water and a broom - then sweep my way to a clean truck. One of the guys I worked with caught wind of what I was doing and came at me one day...
read more