slightly less expensive alternative to kranzle
Discussion
looking at pressure washers, and quite rightly looking at Kranzle as the go to for reliable decent built pressure washers. but they are ruddy pricey.
i dont mind spending circa £500 but that doesnt even get me an entry level Kranzle these days.
bit of patio washing on the side but 99% of use will be spaffing snowfoam over the car and rinsing it off as i pretend to know what i'm doing as i fall over multiple buckets on the driveway.
any suggestions for a decent pressure washer?
i dont mind spending circa £500 but that doesnt even get me an entry level Kranzle these days.
bit of patio washing on the side but 99% of use will be spaffing snowfoam over the car and rinsing it off as i pretend to know what i'm doing as i fall over multiple buckets on the driveway.
any suggestions for a decent pressure washer?
Having had various pressure washer over the years, which managed to draw pencil thin lines in the dirt, i asked the service engineer who supplied and maintains our serious steam cleaning set up at work what i should look out for an buy.
He didn't suggest any makes as such, but he told me what to look out for and what to avoid which included the usual suspects with alloy pumps and plastic pressure pipes, what i always had before.
First of all headline pressure means nothing, its the volume of water in L/min that makes a good washer, so you can have a wide spray pattern capable of cleaning without excess pressure likely to cause damage.
Brass pumps and fittings.
Rubber pipe, preferably at least 15 metres long, quality lance with replaceable jets...i've also fiited quick release couplings so easy to swap to the high pressure jet, or the drain cleaning pipe or L shaped lance, both bought extra.
Auto stop.
Ability to suck water from butt if applicable.
Spare parts availability.
Yes i blew near enough a grand on a Kranzle but haven't regretted the choice it makes short work of the cars, wheels take seconds.
Don't forget to run some clean water through the detergent mixer/pipe after use or it can congeal inside when stood.
You can also run hot water through Kranzles if you need a hot water washer now and again.
Be watching this with interest because someone else in the family wants one a bit more reasonably priced.
Looking out for a refurbed industrial commercial hot water unit might be an option for you.
He didn't suggest any makes as such, but he told me what to look out for and what to avoid which included the usual suspects with alloy pumps and plastic pressure pipes, what i always had before.
First of all headline pressure means nothing, its the volume of water in L/min that makes a good washer, so you can have a wide spray pattern capable of cleaning without excess pressure likely to cause damage.
Brass pumps and fittings.
Rubber pipe, preferably at least 15 metres long, quality lance with replaceable jets...i've also fiited quick release couplings so easy to swap to the high pressure jet, or the drain cleaning pipe or L shaped lance, both bought extra.
Auto stop.
Ability to suck water from butt if applicable.
Spare parts availability.
Yes i blew near enough a grand on a Kranzle but haven't regretted the choice it makes short work of the cars, wheels take seconds.
Don't forget to run some clean water through the detergent mixer/pipe after use or it can congeal inside when stood.
You can also run hot water through Kranzles if you need a hot water washer now and again.
Be watching this with interest because someone else in the family wants one a bit more reasonably priced.
Looking out for a refurbed industrial commercial hot water unit might be an option for you.
Just bought one of these https://avastore.co.uk/product/ava-master-p70/ to replace my Karcher K5 and it's excellent.
Sixsixtysix said:
Just bought one of these https://avastore.co.uk/product/ava-master-p70/ to replace my Karcher K5 and it's excellent.
i have been looking at these as well as can't stretch to a Kranzle. Are they significantly better than a K5 and i am not just talking reliability? (the K5 has just joined my K4 in the skip....i'm not touching a Karcher ever again!). Its either this or the Nilfisk P180 i think.Lovey1 said:
i have been looking at these as well as can't stretch to a Kranzle. Are they significantly better than a K5 and i am not just talking reliability? (the K5 has just joined my K4 in the skip....i'm not touching a Karcher ever again!). Its either this or the Nilfisk P180 i think.
I've got the P60. First one arrived damaged, replaced without issue in around a week.I thought I'd give one a go as the Karcher PWs I've had haven't been particularly reliable. A small Nilfisk (C130.2) did sterling service but always felt a bit budget, which in fairness it was, so on to the AVA.
Plenty of power/flow, not that you need much of either for safely washing a car. I like the fact that AVA actively encourage you to take them apart and service them when required, simple service kit is available, with the idea of having a 20 year in service life.
I only paid £250 for the P60 Evo kit which comes with a good selection of accessories:
- the Zero-force gun really does reduce hand fatigue compared with previous washers I've had, not an issue car washing but doing patio's etc it is nice.
-The included foam canon is junk. Had 2 and the threads on both won't hold the bottle on, the flow rate emptied the bottle far too quickly nad the foam was pitiful. Budget for a quality item, MJJC etc.
-I've kept an old Karcher patio cleaner attachment and have managed to attach it with an adaptor. The AVA makes this fly, literally, had to add a little weight and it works a treat.
-Supplied hose is excellent. Nice pro grade anti kink affair.
All in all I like it, it is a physically large and heavy machine and some of the exterior plastics feel a little lightweight.
Performs well, should be serviceable. At the price I paid I feel it's good value compared to the similar priced opposition.
Edited by M11rph on Thursday 17th November 12:17
I have 2 Nilfisks. One is a 10 year old el-cheapo £40 Amazon Black Friday offer that I thought died on me and I spent £150 on another Nilfisk. I thought I'd chance changing the fuse on el-cheapo, and lo and behold it works again. 
So I have 2!
But I never forget my first ever Karcher Pressure Washer. Completely different to all the plastic ones these days. It had exposed fins and solid metal and brass bits. There was even a little plastic sight bolt to check the oil level. A decade of use later and the Karcher dumped all it's oil on the driveway. I thought I would carry on using it without any oil until it went pop. It took 15 years of use before it finally died.
So I have 2!But I never forget my first ever Karcher Pressure Washer. Completely different to all the plastic ones these days. It had exposed fins and solid metal and brass bits. There was even a little plastic sight bolt to check the oil level. A decade of use later and the Karcher dumped all it's oil on the driveway. I thought I would carry on using it without any oil until it went pop. It took 15 years of use before it finally died.
Lovey1 said:
julian64 said:
I wish I was near these skips people keeping throwing perfectly serviceable one year old pressure washers into.
Perhaps when I retire it could form the basis of a small business model
Both of them Karcher said were beyond economical repairPerhaps when I retire it could form the basis of a small business model
Karcher don't exactly support a green agenda. Their idea of economical repair it if they can fix it by spraying it with another pressure washer
M11rph said:
I've got the P60. First one arrived damaged, replaced without issue in around a week.
I thought I'd give one a go as the Karcher PWs I've had haven't been particularly reliable. A small Nilfisk (C130.2) did sterling service but always felt a bit budget, which in fairness it was, so on to the AVA.
Plenty of power/flow, not that you need much of either for safely washing a car. I like the fact that AVA actively encourage you to take them apart and service them when required, simple service kit is available, with the idea of having a 20 year in service life.
I only paid £250 for the P60 Evo kit which comes with a good selection of accessories:
- the Zero-force gun really does reduce hand fatigue compared with previous washers I've had, not an issue car washing but doing patio's etc it is nice.
-The included foam canon is junk. Had 2 and the threads on both won't hold the bottle on, the flow rate emptied the bottle far too quickly nad the foam was pitiful. Budget for a quality item, MJJC etc.
-I've kept an old Karcher patio cleaner attachment and have managed to attach it with an adaptor. The AVA makes this fly, literally, had to add a little weight and it works a treat.
-Supplied hose is excellent. Nice pro grade anti kink affair.
All in all I like it, it is a physically large and heavy machine and some of the exterior plastics feel a little lightweight.
Performs well, should be serviceable. At the price I paid I feel it's good value compared to the similar priced opposition.
How are you finding the P60 Evo another 6 or so months into ownership? My Karcher k2 has given up and it's the 3rd one to have died on me (technically 4th as the 3rd blew its motor in first month and was replaced under warranty). Started looking at Nilfisk but many of the reviews give a similar experience to Karcher.I thought I'd give one a go as the Karcher PWs I've had haven't been particularly reliable. A small Nilfisk (C130.2) did sterling service but always felt a bit budget, which in fairness it was, so on to the AVA.
Plenty of power/flow, not that you need much of either for safely washing a car. I like the fact that AVA actively encourage you to take them apart and service them when required, simple service kit is available, with the idea of having a 20 year in service life.
I only paid £250 for the P60 Evo kit which comes with a good selection of accessories:
- the Zero-force gun really does reduce hand fatigue compared with previous washers I've had, not an issue car washing but doing patio's etc it is nice.
-The included foam canon is junk. Had 2 and the threads on both won't hold the bottle on, the flow rate emptied the bottle far too quickly nad the foam was pitiful. Budget for a quality item, MJJC etc.
-I've kept an old Karcher patio cleaner attachment and have managed to attach it with an adaptor. The AVA makes this fly, literally, had to add a little weight and it works a treat.
-Supplied hose is excellent. Nice pro grade anti kink affair.
All in all I like it, it is a physically large and heavy machine and some of the exterior plastics feel a little lightweight.
Performs well, should be serviceable. At the price I paid I feel it's good value compared to the similar priced opposition.
Edited by M11rph on Thursday 17th November 12:17
Came across Ava and the P60 Evo looks to fit the bill and seems to be a step above Karcher & Nilfisk in terms of build quality and features. The P70 is only £40 more but I'm concerned more likely to blow a fuse and I can spend that £40 on the patio attachment.
The 20 year warranty sounds great but requires servicing every 5yrs which can be done DIY but I can't even find the service kits (which Ava say are sold at cost) to gauge price. I'm not sure I can be arsed or have the DIY skills so would either just ignore it and hope it lasts (fairly light user - couple of cars once a month and small patio and sidepath once a year) or see if a local garden machinery maint company would do it for a reasonable amount.
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