Pressure washer

49erinnc

Platinum Member
Feb 10, 2004
2,095
0
0
So, I'm thinking about buying a 2000-3000psi pressure washer but I'm trying to justify it. My primary reason for wanting it is to pressure wash my driveway and patio (both desperately need it). However, beyond that, I worry about it just becoming yet another piece of equipment that sits in my garage collecting dust.

Any really good uses for a pressure washer beyond what I noted above that will warrant buying one over paying someone to come do my driveway/patio? I figure that I could clean the exterior of my home and possibly use it to wash my car. Beyond that, I can't think of another reason for me to ever get it out of the garage.

Can you mix in stuff like weed killing or bug killing concentrate into them? Any other uses?
 
Jun 19, 2004
10,860
1
81
Man, when I first got my pressure washer I went nuts cleaning EVERYTHING that wouldn't disentigrate from that thing! Cars, decks, house, driveway, old shoes, riding lawn mower, garage, I even pressure washed some old oak trees in our yard....I know, I'm crazy.
 

TravisT

Golden Member
Sep 6, 2002
1,427
0
0
How often do you actually wash your car? I know mine gets washed roughly everytime we get rain depending on if I have it parked in the garage or not. :)

You might be better off renting one if you don't really spend much time cleaning things that you could use it on.
 

DeadByDawn

Platinum Member
Dec 22, 2003
2,349
0
0
I wish I owned one. I use it to clean the house, deck, and concrete at least once a year.
 

RbSX

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2002
8,351
1
76
Originally posted by: 49erinnc
So, I'm thinking about buying a 2000-3000psi pressure washer but I'm trying to justify it. My primary reason for wanting it is to pressure wash my driveway and patio (both desperately need it). However, beyond that, I worry about it just becoming yet another piece of equipment that sits in my garage collecting dust.

Any really good uses for a pressure washer beyond what I noted above that will warrant buying one over paying someone to come do my driveway/patio? I figure that I could clean the exterior of my home and possibly use it to wash my car. Beyond that, I can't think of another reason for me to ever get it out of the garage.

Can you mix in stuff like weed killing or bug killing concentrate into them? Any other uses?


The issue is to make sure that your power washer is strong enough to clean your cement beloved patriot and span, but not too strong to dent your car or scratch the paint (washing your car in general with a pressure washer isn't that good of an idea though).

We use it 2-3 times each summer to clean the entire exterior of the house.. and I enjoy doing it actually.
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
Pressure washers are awesome. Can clean driveway, patio, deck, lawn furniture, siding, etc.
 
L

Lola

We got one last spring to mainly restain our deck. we tried doing it by hand and it was horrible. We bought one and it went very quickly. It was worth it. It is also good to use to wash the siding on our house, driveway, etc.
You don't realize all you can use it for until you have it.
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
We got one last spring to mainly restain our deck. we tried doing it by hand and it was horrible. We bought one and it went very quickly. It was worth it. It is also good to use to wash the siding on our house, driveway, etc.
You don't realize all you can use it for until you have it.

To add to this, it's an electric one, 2000PSI, which is more than enough to carve into brick if you are not careful.
 

funboy6942

Lifer
Nov 13, 2001
15,312
395
126
Not only is it good for the above mentioned but I use mine to clean the gutter as well.
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
If I coudl find a really great deal on one ($100 or so) that was still powerful enough, I'd get one in a heartbeat. Especially for doing our deck. We rented one to do the deck a few years ago but did it too close and then had to rent a sander to smooth everything back out. But the color difference was amazing. Old Grey before, Bright new wood look after.
 

49erinnc

Platinum Member
Feb 10, 2004
2,095
0
0
Sounds like it's worth it to get one then. I love using stuff like that so I'm sure I'd find other uses for it. I have a bunch of patio furniture which I normally clean with the garden hose/sponge. So that's another use I'll have along with the typical stuff.

I even pressure washed some old oak trees in our yard

I laughed but I could very easily see me doing something like that . :D

I definitely want gas-powered. Sears has a Craftsman 2500psi with a 160cc Honda engine for $299. It's the kind on wheels, which I prefer over the hand-carried/portable. That one also has its own 1 gallon chemical tank whereas most of the others I've looked at use a downstream injector. Guess I'll go take a look at some in person this weekend. I'm excited to get one. :)
 

SoulAssassin

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
6,135
2
0
I have a 1300psi electric one I got from HD a few years ago. I thought about getting something stronger but this does pretty much everything I want and only cost +-$100.. It takes me a little longer to really clean the sidewalk since I have to keep the spray tighter and can cover less area but it gets it done.