Karcher K3 with patio head...

Bluefoam

Spring is coming, it nearly time to clean the green slime off the patio/driveway... Found this in Woodies, good value but not the deal of the century...

https://www.woodies.ie/karcher-k-3-modular-home-pressure-washer

JohnnyChimpo

Cheers, just picked this up! Was in the market for a K4 but K3 should be grand for the price, and I like the addition of the patio head. Also handy that Woodies consider it a small item so delivery was only €6

Explosive_Cornflake

Are the patio heads any good? I have a K4 compact and loads of patio/driveway to clean.

Bluefoam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121745597#Comment_121745597

I just got one last night and tested the patio head in the rain/dark, but so far it seems to work well...

Dr_Colossus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121745597#Comment_121745597

They're decent for light and frequent use and the big advantage is that they curtail/apron the spray/splashback. I have a K4 also with a lot of patio/driveway but typically just stick with the dirt blaster lance (oscillating head and very strong) and rinse down after with the multi-jet head.

thefa

Would this be able to do the car too?

Bluefoam

Yes, you might want to get a snowfoam lance accessory for car washing.

Grumpypants

For some reason I was reading it as potato head not patio head. 😂

turniton

Craigmore doing 6 years warranty on the K4? Am I reading it correctly?

seems pretty good (even if is €30 more than what Woodies is setting it at)

johntune

Woodies deal seems to be over.

Is this website reputable

https://ie.brikum.com/garden/gardening/karcher-k-3-high-pressure-cleaner?gad_source=4&gclid=CjwKCAiAuNGuBhAkEiwAGId4agbcTCULWFQhhQ6oN5Ue246OTpfuDtbohv8WgxQ6GR6kl1HgaMbuchoC_YYQAvD_BwE

Bluefoam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121794718#Comment_121794718

I believe they are reputable.

I have found the patio head to be very useful, which isn't included in that offer... But if it's suits your needs, it seems like a great deal.

Electric Nitwit

What was the offer price last time?

It's down to €150 now, just wondering if that's a legit reduction

https://www.woodies.ie/karcher-k-3-classic-home-pressure-washer

Bluefoam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121964415#Comment_121964415

I'd go for it at that price…

Oscar_Madison

Patio head is great but delicate - a small stone can easily damage the internal plastic fittings so a good sweep of the area first is essential - I tend to use it in conjunction with the lance depending on whether I need to get into corners etc - but in general the head is worth getting for patios

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121966454#Comment_121966454

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Tails142

The patio head is way way faster imo, easier to dial in the pressure if using on tarmac to remove moss but not do damage as the jets stay at the same distance when using the head. If you are just using the lance you can get too close sometimes and blow a stone out.

Usually fly around with the head and get everything off then switch to lance to clear the dirt and loosened moss away.

It actually melts my head seeing neighbours spend a couple of days doing their driveway or listening them out the back doing their patios all weekend using only a lance. They'd have it done in a few hours with the patio head. Maybe they just want an excuse to be out of the house I think.

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121966953#Comment_121966953

Sadly not valid on garden power tools (amongst a few other exclusions)

Thanks anyway, appreciate the heads up even though it didn't work

Bluefoam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121968404#Comment_121968404

They are certainly cheap plasticy, but there are advantages to buying a brand name… Parts and servicing are available & likley to remain available… A powerhose is something that is hugely upgradable and adaptable with a brand like Karcher. More difficult with a Lidl brand. You are unlikly to get a Lidl hose with a utility as useful as a patio head (althought I'm willing to be corrected on that).

Since I bought my Karcher, I've upgraded it as follows to suit my needs:

*quick release hose connections

*swivel gun connection

*upgraded gun

*spray foam gun (high quality)

*10m flexi hose

*soft brush

These are all things that I wanted to do to manage my home, motorcyle, car & bikes & couldn't be done to the same standard or quality with a Lidl unit and certainly not to the budget as you'd have to buy obscure parts for the Lidl machine. If i ever replace the machine or want to upgrade, all of these components/parts are transferable, you couldn't ensure that you could do that with Lidl… They seem to make things on short term contracts and are known to change component type, connectors and standards in their manufacturing.

For something like a motorcycle where the cleaning regime is very specific, you need to be careful around hubs, bearings, chains etc… I’d prefer to have reliable information and feedback about power rating that comes with a brand like Karcher… theres a lot of users and a lot of information to work from.

Soarer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121966979#Comment_121966979

I've given up using the patio head. Doesn't seem to get the cobble-lock clean properly.

The lance is the job. Blows all the crud off the blocks and out from between them. Let dry, brush in the sand, and crack open a beer.

Bliss.

GreeBo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121968555#Comment_121968555

I got all those "extras" and more the last time I bought from LIDL, it also came with adaptors to suit karcher machines/hoses.

One of the additional extras was a gutter cleaning attachment, for example.

Its at least as powerful as the Karcher I had but I think half the price at the time. No brainer for me.

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121970368#Comment_121970368

Does this look like the one you got?

This was a month ago now, so it's too late anyway, but it seems to not have many accessories and was only €30 cheaper than the Karcher...

https://www.lidl.ie/p/2400w-pressure-washer/p10020664

thefa

I bought the Karcher originally posted with the intention of using it on the house I was moving into. Both the front and back have loads of weeds to get rid of and I had a go at the back today just to try to make it more presentable until I decide what to do with it.

Not done but had enough for today and the water was pooling. Found the oscillating lance the only option with enough pressure for this specific job. Must give the patio head another go at the weekend to finish it off but I think it struggled with the heavier grime.

Will definitely get my value out of it. Thanks OP.

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121970624#Comment_121970624

Now put down a strong clorox solution, leave it for 20mins or so, then agitate it with a brush and rinse off 😉

It will lift away the organic grime and lichen and make another improvement to your already good handiwork so far.

geographica

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121970640#Comment_121970640

Would that clorox work on limestone paving?

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121972199#Comment_121972199

It works wonderfully well on limestone. Clorox is alkaline so it doesn't react with the lime as strongly as other cleaners.

I have a big limestone patio and strong clorox even destroys black lichen. I use a 1:5 solution, lay it down with a garden sprayer to be sure that you reach everywhere, leave 20mins or so, agitate with a brush then wash off with pressure washer.

geographica

Cheers

it’s a brand right? Woodies or the likes?

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121975928#Comment_121975928

It is a brand but much like "hoover" it's become a synonym for strong concentrated bleach. I picked up Gold Assure Chlor clean in the CoOp a couple of weeks ago, 5ltrs for €16.99 and it's a higher concentration than most others so is very decent value.

Dr_Colossus

Stay away from Woodies (eye wateringly expensive for anything not on offer), doubtful they'd even have it. Even builder providers such as Goodwins etc generally don't stock Sodium Hypochlorite but will have general bleach which is about 5% hypo. They will have specific paving cleaners but when previously tested never found them great.

I've got Rocklor branded stuff in Drummonds which is 10% hypo but it has gotten expensive in recent years. Was €14 for 5l a couple of months ago while same purchase a couple of years prior was €9. You can get up to 15% hypo from some suppliers but it's difficult to find.

ted1

any reviews? Viking have it for sale for €180

isn’t worthwhile pulling the trigger ?

karcher have the k2 for €130

Both with patio head

thefa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122095958#Comment_122095958

I’m getting great use out of mine. Have used it about 6 times in the last month and find it effective for most domestic jobs. I don’t have experience with the K2 or K4 variants to compare. My only experience with power washers is a tractor driven one for farm use which isn’t a fair comparison but this provided good pressure for the price.

I was mainly removing weeds and old grime so have been using the dirtblaster lance as I didn’t find the patio head effective initially. There are no pressure settings but the attachments provide slightly different pressure. I think I will get use out of the patio attachment going forward now though.

Also, I was starting from scratch so needed a decent 25m hose reel with adapters and 25m electric cable reel too (probably could have gone less on the latter). Thinking of getting the car washing attachments soon. Just something to bear in mind on initial/future costs.

geographica

any K7’s on offer?

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122099296#Comment_122099296

order from Viking , €155 including delivery thanks to 15% new customer discount.

https://www.vikingdirect.ie/en/karcher-home-k-3-pressure-washer-yellow-p-1267168

TheDriver

The K2 with power control and patio head is only 101 stg on Amazon. Hard to justify k3 over it at that price.

whiterebel

I got a K2 with all the bells and whistles 3 years ago. Used it 4/5 times, then took it out again at the weekend. More water poured out of the machine than was going out the lance. Rang the local repair company and was told I may as well bin it. €55 minimum examination fee, then start at €15 for parts. He said buy a new one for €100…..

They make it very obvious now that the K2/3/4 are only for small jobs and light dirt.

Not impressed with Karcher to be honest.

TheDriver

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122114321#Comment_122114321

If you buy one now and register it within 28 days, you get a 5 year warranty. For a €100 now, that's 5 years of cleaning.

whiterebel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122114372#Comment_122114372

I bought the old style K2 (Without wheels) on Karcher.ie for €85. I have the lance and all the other kit, unfortunately I was too invested in the K2/K3. I wish I had bought the previous one from karcher, I could have hopped off them.

Dr_Colossus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122114321#Comment_122114321

Can you open it and identify the damaged part yourself? The one big advantage with Karcher is that it's easy obtain parts and they have an excellent service centre out near the Red Cow, D22 who can order additional parts and send them out if it's something they don't already have in stock.

I have a K4 over 8 years now and a few years ago had a problem with a cracked manifold cover. Old post below with further details which may help:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117618569#Comment_117618569

timbel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122114321#Comment_122114321

Similar experience with a K4. 3rd use the outside plastic elbow split so no water pressure. Off course, I only use it once a year so out of warranty. Got a replacement metal part online a week later and sorted. 1 year later and next use, the plastic elbow on the inside splits - low water pressure.

Never again.

Probably better off renting a washer for the once a year use it gets.

Alun

I've fixed a couple of issues on mine too. One was a plastic part, a valve I think, that had split and the starter capacitor for the motor. They're pretty easy to take apart if you're in any way handy with that kind of thing.

Kintarō Hattori

Folks, I know nothing about power washers but would like to pick one up to clean the concrete paths around our house and the footpath immediately in front of our house. For something that's going to be used sparingly, what should I get?

epopnomis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122115006#Comment_122115006

I have a K2 with a patio head and its never let me down. Have had it for 5 years, used around twice a year, they are pretty cheap on amazon. Also I not only use this for cleaning the patio but the front drive, the windows, my car and did a full clean on my roof this year that worked really well.

TheDriver

Amazon has gone back up to 128 stg, i got it for 101 so keep an eye out for it

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122119213#Comment_122119213

I assume that's still the best price? Looking around, nowhere else seems as cheap.

whiterebel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122119256#Comment_122119256

Karcher.ie. I got the K2 "lying down" version, i.e. no wheels for €85 delivered.

daheff

i bought a Bosch power washer about 5 years ago for something like 40 eur. it owes me nothing at this stage. Brilliant for what i paid.

Highly recommend. I think the latest 'entry level' model is the EasyAquatek 100 which is about 85Eur.

whiterebel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122119801#Comment_122119801

And it does get the 5 year warranty.

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122119062#Comment_122119062

same here, I used mine a lot over last few weeks and over the years and solid as a rock

ted1

did a great job on the porcelain patio and concrete drive and lane.

One of the tricks for longevity is to empty the water before you finish. So turn off the tap and keep your finger on the button.

ActingDanClark

K3 €138

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/karcher-k3-120bar-electric-power-control-pressure-washer-1-6kw-220-240v/610rk?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=E24W15MON_IE_S_D&utm_content=&utm_term=original&utm_block=placeholder07

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122135272#Comment_122135272

no patio head. Viking deal is better