Garden pressure or power washers come in to their own for cleaning large, hard surfaces such as garden patios and drives. Karcher are one of the most highly regarded manufacturers of pressure washers, with headquarters in Germany and with world-wide manufacturing, sales and service facilities. The name Karcher has become synonymous for pressure washers.
Karcher Pressure Washer washers are a very wide range of over sixty pressure washer models that range from entry level cleaners for home users up to gasoline and petrol powered pressure cleaners for industrial use. This article will look at three of this large range, the Karcher K2.100 for light domestic use, the heavier duty Karcher K3.150 and the Karcher K7.85M for professional users. All are for use with cold water of up to 40°C.
As well as electrical power use, pressure washers are rated by their power and water flow rates at the output end. The maximum pressure is measured in bars and the flow rates usually in liters per minute, and this latter flow rate figure is as important as the pressure rating as a measure of the cleaning effectiveness of the machine.
The Karcher K2.100 is a 1400w machine designed for general purpose use and so is suitable for cleaning patios, drives and garden equipment. It has an operating pressure of 100 bar and a flow rate of 5.5l/min It is a lightweight, un-wheeled machine weighing in at 3.8kg and comes with a 10m electrical cable, 4m output hose and has an input tube for dosing cleaning detergents if they are to be used.
The Karcher K3.150 is a new style heavy duty machine that features a protective bumper. It is a 1600w machine with a maximum pressure of 120 bar and a flow rate of 6.0l/min working through a pressure hose length of 6m. The input water feeds into the machine through a water filter. It is a heavier machine at 14.3kg, and so comes with a pair of large diameter rubber wheels for easier mobility, and it also features a storage compartment for accessories, and comes with a decking and patio cleaning accessory.
The Karcher K7.85M is a very powerful, very well specified washer for professional users, and one that has received good reviews from users. It has an electrical power of 2800w which is used to deliver 9l/min at a maximum water pressure of 160 bar. It comes with a usefully long 12m output pressure hose which can be retracted back onto a integrated storage reel after use, and with twin detergent tanks for changing between cleaning agents when in use, so that for instance, allowing easy switching between car cleaning shampoo and car finish waxes. This Karcher also comes with an adjustable pressure nozzle on the end of the cleaning lance and a wash brush. A heavy power cleaner coming in at 28.5kg so naturally it is a wheeled machine.
On safety notes, do be mindful that these are powerful machines with high pressures close to the output nozzle and as with all garden tools, especially those involving water, do use a safety circuit breaker on the electrical supply, and as their use can involve lengthy exposure to noise do wear ear defenders.