The Best Electric Pressure Washer

Our Top Pick for 2019: AR Blue Clean AR390SS Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer 2000 PSI
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It’s a fact of life. Things get dirty and need to be washed. While you can rely on dishwashers, mops, washing machines and cleaning rags to handle the indoor cleaning tasks, you’ll find that exterior cleaning tasks require a bit more work and time. Outdoor patio furniture, cars, bikes, patios, driveways, siding and decks can easily acquire layers of dirt, algae or mold. You could try to clean those places with an ordinary garden hose and a heavy-duty scrub brush. But, why not follow the solution that many others have found – a pressure washer. This handy device will save you hours of work.

Let’s Have a Quick Look of Our Top 4 Picks:

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AR North America manufactures this pressure washer that is perfect for residential use. It boasts a 14 AMP Universal Motor with 1.6 HP and a Tri-Axial Pump that delivers 2000 PSI (pounds per square inch) and 1.4 GPM (gallons per minute.) All of this means that you get a powerful machine capable of cleaning virtually any surface.

It is powered via a 35 foot electric power cord that features an Auto-Reset GFCI module. Being powered by electricity means that this pressure washer is much quieter than its gasoline powered cousins. The GFCI module ensure your safety despite combining electricity and water. The power cord itself is stored directly onboard the pressure washer. The storage area is larger than previous models and offers an easy-to-use swivel power cord release.

While you could wash your surface with a standard garden hose, you’ll find that the AR390SS pressure washer gives you thirty times more pressure to work with. All that pressure means that dirt is cleaned faster and this offers up to an 80% savings in water use. This pressure washer features a swivel garden hose adapter allowing you to connect it directly to your own cold water supply. This water is then run through the machine and exits via the high pressure hose. This hose is 30 feet long giving you plenty of maneuverability while washing. When not in use, it is stored on the onboard hose reel.

At the end of that hose is an upgraded pro-style spray gun and a zinc steel lance (wand). Using the Quick-Coupler system found in AR products, you will be able to attach four different nozzles to this lance. The pressure washer also features a gun holster to hold the gun during temporary pauses in use.

AR has color-coded their nozzles to make identifying the correct nozzle easy to do. The soap nozzle is colored black and is designed for very low pressure washing as well as applying the soap. This pressure washer has an onboard 48 ounce detergent tank making it easy to apply soap to the surface before washing and rinsing. For a fan-shaped spray, use the green colored, 25 degree nozzle. This will allow you to easily apply water to a large area at the same time. For areas that are in need of a concentrated focus, use the red colored, 0 degree pencil spray nozzle. Finally, for areas that really need a lot of water pressure, use the Rotary/Turbo nozzle to increase pressure up to 50% higher. All of these nozzles can also be stored onboard the pressure washer.

In addition to the Auto-Reset GFCI module, this pressure washer also offers the Total Stop System (TSS). This feature will automatically shut the power washer off whenever the trigger is not being pushed. Not only does this feature save water and soap, it also reduces the wear and tear on the pump. All of these safety features have been certified by CSA International.

With dimensions of 16.4 by 37.8 by 15.2 inches, this pressure washer is quite easy to store in almost any location. Its weight of 33.6 pounds allows it to be easily moved by most people and makes it perfect for residential use. It is described as being built to last by its manufacturer and AR North America backs up this claim with their 1 year “bumper-bumper” warranty. This warranty covers the machine itself, the spray gun, the hose assembly as well as replacement parts and service. The warranty does only apply to residential use, though.

AR North America has been rated “best-in-class” for their customer service and the customer reviews certainly back that up in their reviews. Overall, customers were quite happy with this product and their interactions with AR North America. They spoke about the easy-to-swap nozzles and the ability of this pressure washer to really pump out water. Customers cleaned a wide variety of surfaces in comparatively minor amounts of time.

Three small issues were mentioned in these reviews. First, customers spoke of needing to make sure that the garden hose was correctly attached to prevent water leakage. Secondly, they reminded others that it was very important to fill the garden hose with water before turning on the pump. Any air left in the hose must be pushed out via the pump and the pressure washer makes noise while doing this. The last issue that some spoke about was the lack of stability. This pressure washer easily tipped over causing customers to wish for a kickstand or some extra legs to provide balance.

Snow Joe LLC is the maker of our Silver Pick product. They call this product the Sun Joe SPX3000 and have packed it with a very strong 14.5 AMP, 1800 Watt motor. With a water pressure of 2030 PSI and a water rate of 1.76 GPM, this pressure washer is actually a bit more powerful than our Gold pick.

It is powered by a 35 foot electric power cord that comes with GFCI safety protection. The SPX3000 boasts an induction motor and a Wobble-Plate Piston pump. These two work together to ensure a smooth and quiet operation. This factor can be quite important in a residential setting with nearby neighbors.

The SPX3000 comes with a garden hose adaptor (female coupler) to allow easy connection to your normal, outdoor water supply. Users should take care to use cold water with this pressure washer. However, it can handle a water temperature of up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The maximum amount of water inlet pressure should be no higher than .07 Mpa. Water will run through the pump and out the 20 foot high pressure hose. This one quarter inch diameter hose can be hung on the side of the pressure washer when not in use.

At the end of the high pressure hose, you will find a spray wand and a trigger gun. The spray wand gives you a 34 inch extension to your reach and both can be temporarily and permanently stored in the onboard holder as needed. By attaching one of five nozzles to the end of the spray wand, you will be able to efficiently clean any size area or surface.

Starting the black soap nozzle, you will be able to pull soap through the pump and out onto the dirty surface easily. Two different types of soap can be stored in the two .9L removable tanks. This dual detergent tank system is controlled via a detergent selection dial. Using a Quick-Connect system, you can then change to the gray, 40 degree nozzle for a fan spray. The 25 degree(green) and 15 degree (yellow) nozzles give you two other options. Finally, you can use the red, 0 degree nozzle for pencil point precision.

Snow Joe LLC includes a needle clean-out tool with their pressure washer. This ensures that the spray wand stays clear of any debris. Storage of this pressure washer is simple thanks to its size of 15.6 by 13.5 by 33.9 inches. Users should note that it does not have a foldable handle. At 31 pounds, it is a bit lighter than our Gold pick and can be moved with very little effort. One feature that adds to its maneuverability is its rear wheels.

This pressure washer also boasts a Total Stop System (TSS). With its many safety features, the Sun Joe SPX3000 has been CSA listed and comes with a full two year warranty. This warranty covers residential use only, but includes all replacement parts and repair. Users must ship the entire unit to the manufacturer in order to get a replacement or repairs.

Consumers raved about this product, but offered a few tips to make using it more efficient. First, care must be taken to prevent cross-threading when attaching the plastic fitting to the metal pipe and hose. Second, flush all air out of the garden hose and fill with water before starting the pump. Use the manual trigger to eliminate any minor amounts of air. Use only soap that can be run through a pump in this machine and consider blocking the garden hose opening during storage to prevent small creatures from leaving debris.

Powerhouse International provides our Bronze Pick. This pressure washer provides 1800 to 2000 PSI under normal conditions. However, it does offer a 3000 PSI IPB (Initial Burst Power) that can supply an extra force for a short time. It furnishes 1.6 GPM to aid your cleaning efforts.

Like our other electric pressure washers, the Force 2000 is powered by a 35 foot power cord. Being electric, this pressure washer runs very quietly so your neighbors will not be disturbed from the noise. Its brush motor is equipped with a thermal sensor to eliminate any worries about overheating issues.

Consumers should know that Powerhouse International’s fitting are custom and not universal. However, its 20 foot high pressure hose will not only provide you with plenty of range for cleaning, it also stores neatly on the integrated hose reel. This reel has a foldable hand crank to allow easy handling of the hose and to prevent tangling or kinking problems. Only cold water should be used with this pressure washer.

The spray wand and trigger can be stored directly on the pressure washer when not in use and rested against a side notch during pauses in use. This pressure washer comes with three different attachments. For your main cleaning, use the adjustable nozzle. This attachment provides you with a spray ranging from a wide fan to a precise pencil point. You can use the spinning patio attachment to clean large, flat surface quickly or the spinning turbo attachment to quickly power away layers of heavy dirt and grime. An attachable soap or foam bottle allows you to adjust the amount of product delivered with a rapid twist. All of these accessories can be stored onboard the pressure washer ensuring that none are lost.

The Force 2000 is definitely smaller and lighter than our Gold and Silver picks, but this simply means it is even easier to store and carry. It weighs in at just 24.1 pounds and measures 12 by 11 by 33 inches. Nevertheless, despite its small size, customers say that this pressure washer packs a powerful punch when it comes to cleaning.

To keep users safe, this pressure washer has a GFCI plug and an automatic safety valve. It also employs the Total Stop System found in the previous two picks. However, unlike those, it is certified with four separate ratings: CE, GD, ROHS and EMC.

This company definitely stands by its products because it will only sell pressure washers that have been personally tested by the company. Its standards are high because they will only allow products of superior quality to be sold to customers. They back up their position with an excellent 1 year warranty.

Users of the Force 2000 simply loved the product. While they conceded that it was not necessarily designed to handle large-scale products, they were overwhelming surprised at how much this little pressure washer could do. They also found that it even cleaned quite well without using any soap products. Furthermore, when problems did arise, they experienced great customer service.

Snow Joe LLC also provides our fourth option. This handy, little pressure washer will give you 1450 PSI and 1.45 GPM. It is perfect for those light to medium cleaning jobs. It offers an 11.5 AMP , 1400 Watt motor suitable to provide extra power for simple cleaning projects. It is powered by a 35 foot power cord that can be stored onboard when not in use. This cord also comes with GFCI protection against electric shock.

Like our top two picks, the Sun Joe SPX1000 comes with a garden hose adaptor so that you can use it with your regular outdoor cold water supply. Be sure that the pressure of the water going into the pump is no greater than .07 Mpa and no hotter than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The pump will increase the pressure of the water and send it into the 20 foot high pressure hose. This is shorter than our previous picks, but still gives plenty of room for maneuvering.

At the end of that hose, you will find a 33 inch spray wand. It has an adjustable nozzle at its tip. This nozzle can be twisted to provide anywhere from a zero degree precise pencil point spray to a 45 degree wide fan spray. None of these accessories can be stored onboard the actual device.

It is absolutely much lighter and smaller with a weight of just 11.7 pounds and measurements of 12 by 9.8 by 19 inches. This small size may seem like a disadvantage to some, but for those who want a tiny pressure washer for simple jobs it is perfect. It is described as being lightweight and compact making it extremely easy to carry. It does have wheels, but consumers feel that they are not useful due to the short handle.

The SPX1000 offers the same safety features as our other picks. It has the Total Stop System (TSS) as well as complete on/off switch. These features have allowed it to be CSA listed. It comes with the same full two year warranty that all other Snow Joe LLC products come with. As stated above, it covers all replacement parts and repair due to residential use.

Consumers should note that this product does not have the following: a cord lock, a foldable handle or a detergent tank. Nevertheless, users report that this pressure washer is great for smooth surfaces and is very portable. They believe the hose and cord length are sufficient for their needs. Complaints included wishing the spray wand and handle were extendable and feeling that the wheels were on the wrong side for efficient use.

Pre-purchase considerations

PSI Strength and Water Use

Given that the whole purpose of a pressure washer is to use pressure to remove dirt and grime, it stands to reason that the most important factor would be the PSI rating. Unless you plan on just cleaning your patio furniture once a year, definitely purchase a product that provides the very highest PSI possible. Balance that choice, though, with the amount of water usage per minute. The more water your pressure washer uses, the more expensive it will be to use it. That said, higher water volumes can also mean easier cleaning.

Onboard Storage

Nothing is worse than buying a product and then having to figure out how to avoid losing all the accessories that come with it. Being able to store those accessories directly in or on the product itself is a lifesaver. There will then be no hunting around for misplaced tools or connections when you’re ready to go to work. Purchase a pressure washer that includes onboard storage for all of its accessories including nozzles, hose and power cord if at all possible. Having a place to temporarily place the hose and spray wand during your power washing is also very handy.

Trigger Gun and Spray Wand

The spray wand itself should be as long as possible to give you the highest level of reachability possible. All pressure washers include a spray wand for this very reason, but not all include a trigger gun. Having this extra option allows you to easily start and stop water flow with one hand while perhaps balancing the wand with the other. Remember, there are cheap trigger guns and spray wands and quality ones. Definitely go for the quality ones in this area.

Nozzle Options

When deciding whether to go with a spray wand that has one, adjustable nozzle or one that comes with interchangeable nozzles, it is important to consider how much of a range you will need. Do you want to be able to first soak a large area using a wide fan spray and then use a special soap nozzle to apply the soap? Are there tiny areas that will need a very precise amount of water flow? Do you want the ease of just twisting the nozzle to make these changes knowing that with movement comes the possibility of breakage? Or do you prefer to take nozzles on and off depending on your range needs? Lastly, consider the storage of these nozzles. Onboard storage is great, but perhaps having a nozzle that is permanently attached to the end of the spray wand would be better for your needs.

Portability and Storage

A pressure washer is not going to be helpful if you cannot move it to the places you need to clean. For that reason, certainly consider the weight of the pressure washer. Wheels and handles can help in maneuvering it, but only if they are positioned correctly and are at the right height for use. You also should avoid a product that tends to tip easily if at all possible. Constantly having to go back and stand your pressure washer up is going to slow down your cleaning progress. Size is also an important consideration as the pressure washer must be stored when not in use. Smaller products will be easier to store, but will not necessarily provide the amount of cleaning power you are looking for. Balance the amount of cleaning power you want with the storage capabilities in your house. Furthermore, remember that smaller sizes often provide more ease in maneuvering the product.

Soap Dispenser

This last feature may be important to some consumers. Being able to load soap directly into a tank and then run it through the machine itself and out the spray wand is surely a nice feature. This allows users to quickly and easily apply soap to the surface in needing of cleaning. That said, if you are only planning to wash some patio furniture and your patio, a nice soapy bucket of water poured over the items in question would suffice. Those washing vertical surfaces such as siding will probably benefit from an integrated soap dispenser. Having a removable storage tank will make filling and cleaning that tank a breeze. Dual soap storage tanks will allow users to apply two different types of soaps for different cleaning needs.

Conclusion (Wrapping it up)

A power washer is an amazing tool that allows people to keep their property and belongings in tip-top shape. Cleaning no longer has to be a arduous chore that takes hours upon hours. Instead, users find a pressure washer to be the perfect solution for wetting a surface, applying soap and then scouring away the dirt and grime in very little time. That said, just as no two people are alike, no two cleaning jobs are alike. For this reason, manufacturers have created different size pressure washers with distinctive features and power levels. Consumers should take the time to compare each feature and determine which ones best meet their cleaning needs.