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Which Karcher model?

yellow hen

Looking to buy a karcher powerwasher for light domestic use such as power hosing walls, cleaning facia and guttering etc. Is there any particular model to avoid or that you might recommend? thanks.

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GolfNut33

I recently bought the k5 compact and it's very good and powerful.

[Deleted User]

I honk mine is the k4 full control.
The full control is a complete waste of time so don't pay extra for that crap.

colm_mcm

Have a look at Nilfisk power washers, Karchers entry level stuff was never to the same standard IMO.

tech

have the K4, very good power washer happy with it

listermint

Id get a Nilfisk, much more value for money frankly. Ive had both. Entry level Karcher which was expensive for the motor and power in it. And then an Entry level Nilfisk which was a much better motor and pressure for the same money.

stratowide

I've the K4 model for years now.Never had any problems with it.
Have often used it for hours on end washing the yard and paths.

It's got the rotating nozzle which makes a huge difference.

Would strip the enamel off your teeth.:)

yellow hen

Thanks for the replies. If I'm honest, the k4 is probably more than I want to spend. I was thinking around the €150 region so perhaps the K2 or now looking at the nilfisk also.

punisher5112

Bought K4 used it 3 times hadn't used for say 7 months and it no longer works, no click or sounds at all.

Bishop of hope

yellow hen wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. If I'm honest, the k4 is probably more than I want to spend. I was thinking around the €150 region so perhaps the K2 or now looking at the nilfisk also.

The k2 is grand, I have one 5 years, has a good little motor that will clean anything down without removing paint.
Dont expect water to clean everything off, sometimes you need to spray on a chemical and leave for a while to break mould and such down and then wash off, especially on masonry and concrete
Stronger washers will do it but sometimes if too strong they will remove paint or even the skin off of concrete and plaster
There's a good little wide surface cleaner with the K2 as well for concrete or stone patios.

Bishop of hope

punisher5112 wrote: »

Bought K4 used it 3 times hadn't used for say 7 months and it no longer works, no click or sounds at all.

Try the fuse in the plug?

punisher5112

Bishop of hope wrote: »

Try the fuse in the plug?

1st thing I done, possible seized or electric motor issues.

yellow hen

Bishop of hope wrote: »

The k2 is grand, I have one 5 years, has a good little motor that will clean anything down without removing paint.
Dont expect water to clean everything off, sometimes you need to spray on a chemical and leave for a while to break mould and such down and then wash off, especially on masonry and concrete
Stronger washers will do it but sometimes if too strong they will remove paint or even the skin off of concrete and plaster
There's a good little wide surface cleaner with the K2 as well for concrete or stone patios.

I don't envisage us ever needing it for anything stronger than a wall, gutter, facia, window clean so it might be sufficient. thanks.

yellow hen

BrownFinger wrote: »

I honk mine is the k4 full control.
The full control is a complete waste of time so don't pay extra for that crap.

Would you apply the same thoughts to the K2? ie. Get compact rather than full control? What's the difference?

colm_mcm

Full control has variable pressure. You won’t need that on a K2 as it’s only 110bar. It’s also another failure point.

delly

I'm an Amazon warehouse hawk and got the below K2 compact model for £66 last year, including the patio cleaner unit. It is marked 'as new' and was just like new when I got it. I've done the patio, gutters and even did the path in the front with the patio attachment. For the money, it has been an absolute bargain.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B009QX8AOA/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Just as an FYI for anyone with a K2 or a similar 'light' pressure washer, some of the motors have plastic components which are fine, but I have heard if left in a shed without cover and you get a big freeze, the water inside freezes and can crack the plastic.

listermint

This is what i would buy.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nilfisk-Pressure-Washer-Induction-Motor/dp/B077NTY79K/ref=sr_1_9?crid=ZRCTL3HVGVD1&keywords=nilfisk+pressure+washer&qid=1578389340&s=diy&sprefix=nilfisk%2Cdiy%2C139&sr=1-9

Motherof123

Is there any good portable power washers that aren't connected to the mains that you fill up. We don't have a hose out the back so I was looking for something that has a tank but with decent power.
For exterior brick walls covered in algae.
Could scrub them but they need a good power wash.

listermint

Motherof123 wrote: »

Is there any good portable power washers that aren't connected to the mains that you fill up. We don't have a hose out the back so I was looking for something that has a tank but with decent power.
For exterior brick walls covered in algae.
Could scrub them but they need a good power wash.

Nearly all the ones mentioned here can have a feed in from a bucket.

No you won't find a portable one with a built in tank. No market for such a thing the tank would be tiny.

Get yourself a bucket

Irish_peppa

delly wrote: »

I'm an Amazon warehouse hawk and got the below K2 compact model for £66 last year, including the patio cleaner unit. It is marked 'as new' and was just like new when I got it. I've done the patio, gutters and even did the path in the front with the patio attachment. For the money, it has been an absolute bargain.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B009QX8AOA/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Just as an FYI for anyone with a K2 or a similar 'light' pressure washer, some of the motors have plastic components which are fine, but I have heard if left in a shed without cover and you get a big freeze, the water inside freezes and can crack the plastic.

Delly that happened with our K5 Premium, Left in shed with some water in it. started leaking got repaired by karcher for 100 euro wont make that mistake again

delly

Irish_peppa wrote: »

Delly that happened with our K5 Premium, Left in shed with some water in it. started leaking got repaired by karcher for 100 euro wont make that mistake again

Yeah, the hard winter a couple of years back took a lot of them out. I've mine wrapped in a quilt and then a tarp in the shed. I don't think it could get more cosy, although for the first week of winter I thought I had gotten away with it hidden in a corner of the playroom until I was found out

yellow hen

Jus bought the k2 compact for €90 today. Will report back as to whether it does what it needs to! Thanks for all the advice.

Motherof123

listermint wrote: »

Nearly all the ones mentioned here can have a feed in from a bucket.

No you won't find a portable one with a built in tank. No market for such a thing the tank would be tiny.

Get yourself a bucket

Brilliant thanks for the info

Mango Joe

Hi All,

For the record and in case it helps anyone who comes across this thread in the future...

I bought an entry level Karcher Power Washer a while back - I chose the brand thinking I was paying more money for a premium, well built product that would last.

I was absolutely staggered at the poor quality of the machine, it just feels cheap, poorly made and like its about to fall apart. The wheels from day one were loose, flexing sideways and obviously not built to last. One fell off after 2-3 months.

The patio cleaning attachment cracked after 2 hours of use.

Now people on here are reporting that it can't be kept in a shed over winter as the cheap plastic parts inside can't cope with cold weather?!?

Also the nozzle is supposed to have a pulsing conical type spray pattern.... This never worked reliably, you've to start and stop it 20-30 times for it to actually work as intended, otherwise its unusable.

Honestly, I can't remember being so let down with ANY product purchase before- Do take Colms advice from earlier in this thread and go for a Nilfisk or other recommended brand.

*** I should have returned mine immediately but needed to get a job underway in a hurry...pity.

yellow hen

So I tried the k2 compact yesterday and it was useless. Couldn't knock down a spiders web off the window. Is that our water pressure do you think? We're on a mains line in an estate.

stratowide

yellow hen wrote: »

So I tried the k2 compact yesterday and it was useless. Couldn't knock down a spiders web off the window. Is that our water pressure do you think? We're on a mains line in an estate.

Does this Karcher model have the oscillating nozzle..?

Sometimes the nozzle will stick rendering the jet fairly useless.

I'd give a look at that first.

yellow hen

stratowide wrote: »

Does this Karcher model have the oscillating nozzle..?

Sometimes the nozzle will stick rendering the jet fairly useless.

I'd give a look at that first.

Not an oscillating nozzle but we'll try it once again.

Irish_peppa

yellow hen wrote: »

So I tried the k2 compact yesterday and it was useless. Couldn't knock down a spiders web off the window. Is that our water pressure do you think? We're on a mains line in an estate.

Try a shorter feed Hose or are you sucking water from a barrell. Should be enough punch even a k2 should get rid of cobwebs. doesnt sound right

Irish_peppa

Mango Joe wrote: »

Hi All,

For the record and in case it helps anyone who comes across this thread in the future...

I bought an entry level Karcher Power Washer a while back - I chose the brand thinking I was paying more money for a premium, well built product that would last.

I was absolutely staggered at the poor quality of the machine, it just feels cheap, poorly made and like its about to fall apart. The wheels from day one were loose, flexing sideways and obviously not built to last. One fell off after 2-3 months.

The patio cleaning attachment cracked after 2 hours of use.

Now people on here are reporting that it can't be kept in a shed over winter as the cheap plastic parts inside can't cope with cold weather?!?

Also the nozzle is supposed to have a pulsing conical type spray pattern.... This never worked reliably, you've to start and stop it 20-30 times for it to actually work as intended, otherwise its unusable.

Honestly, I can't remember being so let down with ANY product purchase before- Do take Colms advice from earlier in this thread and go for a Nilfisk or other recommended brand.

*** I should have returned mine immediately but needed to get a job underway in a hurry...pity.

Would it no depend on the model thou? I have the K5 premium i have to say its a great machine great power from it.

GreeBo

yellow hen wrote: »

So I tried the k2 compact yesterday and it was useless. Couldn't knock down a spiders web off the window. Is that our water pressure do you think? We're on a mains line in an estate.

My old karcher allows you to adjust the pressure by twisting the end of the lance...maybe yours is just set to the lowest pressure?

yellow hen

Mortified. Tried it again yesterday and this time, I unravelled the whole hose and low and behold we had pressure. Must have been a big kink in the hose. Rookie error.