Power Washer, rent or buy?

[spudly]

So I've finally come to a point where I need to use a power washer.

Should I just rent one of the nice heated water ones for the things I need to do now or are the non-heated ones you see at Lowes etc. worth buying?

I need to clean off the patio, the fences around the yard and some misc. yard toys.

 

[Gerr]

I bought one and have used it way more than I ever figured I would

 

[Ray H]

Is this a one time use or will you be cleaning these things a couple times a year? Will it take you three or four days to do these things or are we talking just one rental day to finish them?
My first thought is to buy, but thats just me, I like owning things even though I know it doesnt always make good financial sense.
As far as the power washer specifically, I own one but I also have several tasks that I use it for. I end up using mine at least a few times per month. If you do buy, get a nice one. The cheap ones arent even worth having.

 

[willy51]

Depends, I used to work at a the El Monte CA Home Depot tool rental. They have ones that will pretty much strip the paint of your rig. You could buy a cheep one and use it a few times and get an ok job out of it. For home use the 1200psi electrics work pretty good. The other option is to rent the heavy duty 5hp one and spend about the same and get a great job once. its all academic.

 

[HaleYes]

I've got a Crapsman 3.75HP (Briggs) 2000PSI jobbie. I use it all the time. I wash the house a couple of times a year, of course the XJ, the van......decks, patios, carport......all sorts of stuff. It's not the biggest kid on the block, but it does what I need it to do just fine.

The downside.......it is portable, and everyone knows I have it. Therfore, it gets loaned out a bunch too. I think the loaning out is done though. Every time it comes home it needs repaired, mainly the HP hose. I'm tired of buying hoses. $30 a pop adds up quick. HP hoses & mufflers don't play well together.:smoker:

 

[Pat]

I'd go the purchase route. Great thing to have around the house.

You may get some weird looks powerwashing your yard, but it works a helluva lot better than a leaf blower...

 

[IllianaXJ]

The downside.......it is portable, and everyone knows I have it. Therfore, it gets loaned out a bunch too. I think the loaning out is done though. Every time it comes home it needs repaired, mainly the HP hose. I'm tired of buying hoses. $30 a pop adds up quick. HP hoses & mufflers don't play well together.:smoker:

Hmm... I need to power wash the house and deck this spring...

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

We have a 1750psi Husky electric one from HD and it works pretty good for what we use it on. I've used it on the Jeeps and truck, the house, patio, patio furniture, driveway...etc and it gets the job done for me.

Works great for cleaning the mud off the Jeep too

 

[HaleYes]

I didn't buy electric simply because the whole electricity and water thing didn't appeal to me. I'd buy another gas powered if I were to do it again.

 

[Menzenski]

We've got a 2600psi gas-powered one and use it all the time. My brother races motocross, so it's mostly used for cleaning his three bikes, but it's been really useful otherwise. You buy it for one job, and then you find all sorts of other things you need it for.

 

[97CountryXJ]

I bought one years ago and still use that thing for all sorts of stuff. I have all the attachments, different nozzles, wands, soap bottles.
One thing that works wonderful is if you have access to a hot water tap (mine is in the basement, 2nd one for the washing machine), hook the power washer to that. What a difference!!!

 

[Stumpalump]

I bought a 5hp unit from Sam's club about 10 years ago to wash and paint my house. I've used that thing at least 5 or 6 times a year ever since. Hook it to your hose and start it like a lawn mower. Buy one and you will find a million things to use it on. Once a year I do all the decks and concrete. I blast spiders and bird crap off the house and just general outside cleanup. I blasted a 1951 dirty old tractor spotless and can now keep it that way. The jeep got all squeeky clean befor I built it and it was sure nice not to fight the grease on it. Every home owner needs one and if you take care of it you will have it a long long time. I also use hot water from my laundry sink but at my last house I'd hook it right to the drain spout on the hot water tank. Cold does the trick for most stuff. I used a big 12hp honda that a freind had and the biggest difference with my 5 hp is just the time involved when cleaning large areas like a drive way. For stuff like my tractor and general home stuff the 5 is perfect. Just don't let it freeze in the winter because the pump will hold some water.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

I didn't buy electric simply because the whole electricity and water thing didn't appeal to me. I'd buy another gas powered if I were to do it again.

Same. However when we (we being my mom and I, before she got remarried) were in the market, we were looking for something that would be easy for her to use when I left the house.

 

[Boatwrench]

I bought one and have used it way more than I ever figured I would

Me too. It is amazing how often I use the thing.

 

[Beej]

x2, I use it all the time for things I never imagined when I bought it.

As far as the heated water thing goes, I just run the input hose to the washing machine hotwater hookups. Only needs an extra 20' to run it down to the basement and then I have very hot water when I need it. Works perfectly, at least until my wife finds out...

 

[JeepFreak21]

I bought one and have used it way more than I ever figured I would

Same here. We spent like $175 on a husky electric model from HD.
Billy