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I'm in the market for a new pressure washer. I want it for cleaning the work van and household car plus the patio 2 -3 times a year. Definitely no bike cleaning. The patio is approx 80m2. I have been looking at the karcher range and the K4 full control home pressure washer looks about right. This https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0198VLU14/?coliid=IFUMU7VZMT33W&colid=3NI4W5EYCJW12&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
So the help I need is are Karcher washers the way to go or is something like a Nilfisk better value and robust in build. All opinions and recommendations welcome.
Can’t comment on a Karcher but I’ve been using a Nilfisk C120 for about 5 years now and no issues. Great little machine.
Just change the hose though because the one it comes with is god awful!
Karchers have plastic pump impellers and Nilfisk have metal ones.
The metal ones tend to be more robust.
I have had a Nilfisk E140 for 10 years now and it is a great machine.
I would agree with stox about the standard hose being dreadful. It is very stiff and a pain to uncoil and coil back up again.
Have a Karcher K7, has done me proud for several years, father in law did get a bit over excited and bust the switch a few years ago, cost £20 to replace the module.
Another Nilfisk C120 here, it's a great wee thing. I've used more powerful ones, and the hose/cable management is kind of nonexistant but other than that it's been ace. Lives outside which isn't ideal in Scotland but it doesn't seem to mind (I do take care to get most of the water out to protect from freezing). I'd probably buy another unless I wanted to do some really serious driveway/house blasting where it's probably not quite savage enough but it'll cheerfully knock paint off corroded alloys and suchlike
Nilfisk here on the farm, and boy has it done some work over the past 15 years. And left outside 365 days a year. It just works. Also takes standard BSP hydraulic hose fittings so easy and cheap to get a new one when it invariably gets damaged. Brother bought a Karcher. Hose burst after a year or so. Bespoke fittings, only available from Karcher as a genuine replacement. Cost almost the same as the pressure washer. 2nd hose lasted no longer. Currently on 3rd hose meaning it has cost almost as much in hoses in 6 years than mine cost new.
I too am doing my research and discovered that some have plastic pumps and some have metal pumps.
The metal pumps are regarded as more robust.
Set out to buy a Karcher but now thinking Bosch is the way to go.
I used to spend lots of time washing and polishing my car.
Back then I was a member of detailingworld.co.uk and the most popular pressure washer on there was a Nilfisk.
Recently replaced an aging Kew washer with a Stihl RE110
Really impressed with it, it comes with detergent bottle but I also bought a foam bottle to use snow foam for car cleaning duties.Also I think you can get an attachment to do patios.
Make sure as mentioned above go for something with steel pump
I had a baby Karcher, A K2? that lasted years and years, perhaps a decade. It finally died when the impeller packed up. Metal gears, plastic body.
Replaced with a K5 full control from Karcher outlet. It has been absolutly hammerred this year due to my boredom at home during lockdown. Pressure washing makes me feel like I have actually achieved something. The patio, paths, birdtable, cars, pavement, shed walls, garage floor, drive are spotless.
For proper 5h1t shifting duties- like algae ingrained concrete I use the spinny 'dirt shifter' lance from my previous washer, otherwise the uberlance provided FWIW. Also, loads of aftermarket spares available on ebay etc.
I picked up a nilfisk e160 for £200 on their refurb site. Not used it yet but so far as I can tell it’s unused and unmarked and it’s reassuringly heavy compared to the little karcher it replaces (which broke at 13 months old)
Thanks for the replies. I'll check out the Nilfisk ranger and see what i come up with.
@petrieboy do you have a link to their reburb site ?
Thanks for the replies. I'll check out the Nilfisk ranger and see what i come up with.
@petrieboy do you have a link to their reburb site ?
Nilfisk c110 here great wee machine !
Nilfisk c135 here
The hose pipe they use is very stiff and doesn’t really go back on the real very well.
The design is slightly odd that if you pull it around the hose pipe catches on the ground, this cause my machine to ‘bounce’ and one of the wheels snapped off.
Nilfisk replaced the complete machine.
Mine came with two nozzles. The patio cleaning one is brilliant, just be careful where you use it as it cuts through wood and tarmac !
The above are just niggles. It’s 2 yrs old now and taken lots of abuse
Kranzle make the best imo, but prb overkill for once a month work
Karcher, blown up loads. Dont go there. Trading cheap tat based on a backbone of years of quality, now aimed atvthe hobby end of the market
Bosch aquatec lasted a long time too
Not killed a Nilfisk so can't comment on this ones
This is sustained use, 5hrs a week, every week. Washing vans, floors, casks, walls etc
Also in the market for a new pressure washer. My Karcher 6.75 died over winter (I was cleaning the bike in sub-zero temps). Bought it in 2004 so did quite well. I had assumed I would try and get it repaired and if unsuccessful replace it with another.
Nilfisk Refurb store
https://www.nilfiskoutlet.co.uk/products/subcat.asp?mID=Pressure-Washers&sID=Compact