Pressure washers

Reports from Which?
Expert advice from an independent source

WHICH? REVIEWS: Pressure washers

Not only are pressure washers less work than using a brush, they use less water than a standard hose. Which? has tested each one for cleaning performance, attachments and ease of use.

When it comes to cleaning paving, concrete, brick, glass and decking, pressure washers deliver a powerful concentrated jet of water to remove dirt more efficiently than a brush, and use less water than you would with a garden hose.

You can find out our Best Buy recommendations by taking out a £1 30-day trial to www.which.co.uk Below, we explain more about pressure washers.

Working pressure

Most manufacturers quote both the maximum pressure and the working pressure which is more indicative of the water pressure when in use. Figures vary between about 60 to 150 bars - higher pressure means quicker, more efficient cleaning, and less water use.

Flow rate

Water flow rate is also important when considering the cleaning abilities of a pressure washer. As with pressure, higher flows give better cleaning. We found a wide variation between the largest and smallest machines - between about 220 and 460 litres per hour.

Accessories

Lances

Basic models come with just one lance; more expensive models come with several, but make sure you'll have a use for all of them.

• Fixed jet lance. The pressure of this jet can't be adjusted, though you can hold it further from the surface to reduce the force.


• Variable lances allow you to vary the force of the jet from a focused point to a broad fan. This is useful for gentler cleaning or easily damaged surfaces such as decking.


• Rotary lances (sometimes called Dirt Blasters) aren't adjustable but the focused jet spins as it leaves the nozzle and you can vary the cleaning power of the jet by moving it closer to the surface. These are useful for shifting grime on paving slabs.


• Angled lances are more useful for cleaning under and inside furniture, equipment or the car.

Brushes

Some pressure washers come with brushes - these are more useful for washing your car, but worth considering if you want to clean a greenhouse or conservatory.

Fixed brushes just allow the water to flow out through holes between the bristles, whereas a rotary brush uses the power of the water to rotate a circular brush. Patio cleaners

Some machines come with a patio cleaning attachment, or you can buy one separately for around £40. These attachments are circular plastic hoods with a brush around the bottom edge. Inside, a pair of jets rotates at high speed close to the ground to remove dirt.

The main advantages are speed, and that all the spray water and grime is contained under the hood - useful because pressure washing can be a wet and dirty process. Better models also have handles so you can use them on vertical surfaces like walls and fences. They generally vary between 23 and 29cm diameter, and most allow you to adjust the height of the jets above the surface.

Additional features to look out for

Detergent tank

This lets you pump specially formulated cleaning solutions through the nozzle. Some smaller machines have a bottle attached to the lance (lance-mounted), while the biggest have tanks within the main body. Some Karchers have a nozzle inlet that can suck detergent from its own bottle, but this means leaving the bottle and washer stationary while in use. For most tasks detergent isn't needed, unless surfaces are particularly greasy or stained.

Wheels