Karcher pressure washer

[Capra]

I need to replace a K4 that has been pulsating when not in use and is really annoying. I'm not really sure if I need to spend the money on a K4 or K5, has anyone used the cheaper K2??

 

[rf065]

Karchers used to be good a long time ago, now cheap carp. Get a Nilfisk instead.

 

[Capra]

Karchers used to be good a long time ago, now cheap carp. Get a Nilfisk instead.

Do you know if the Nilfisk use the Karcher type HP hose connector, the reason I ask is that I purchased one of the HP extender hoses. Agree, I've gone though two others in 10 years with light use. Just thought they were all cheaply made??

 

[mercmancdi]

I had a karcher for about 8 yrs used all over the place washing concrete never gave any trouble just a switch which got damaged
getting put into the back of a van , around 2 yrs ago bought the k7 it’s working constantly without any trouble and a lot of what it does is sypthon work , I think it a very good machine.

 

[Capra]

I had a karcher for about 8 yrs used all over the place washing concrete never gave any trouble just a switch which got damaged
getting put into the back of a van , around 2 yrs ago bought the k7 it’s working constantly without any trouble and a lot of what it does is sypthon work , I think it a very good machine.

Thank you. If I got for the Nilfisk I would require an adaptor, which sounds ok, but just another point of failure. The K4 I can get for £149 with a three year warranty.

 

[A.J.]

Just got a K4 a few weeks ago after throwing out a pretty frustrating Bosch Aquatak. I got the Karcher from Screwfix for £99.99. Have used it twice now and quite impressed with it. I have done both my Daughters Patio and our own with it and was happy with the result and the ease of dismantling it for storage

I had a couple of Karchers a few years back and they both exploded with a loud bang. Hence I bought the Bosch hoping that it would be a step forward from those useless Karchers. The frustrating thing about the Bosch is that the hose to the Lance would not come off for storage purposes unless you really struggled with the damn thing, I will admit I had got quite angry with it a couple of times.

 

[Capra]

Just got a K4 a few weeks ago after throwing out a pretty frustrating Bosch Aquatak. I got the Karcher from Screwfix for £99.99. Have used it twice now and quite impressed with it. I have done both my Daughters Patio and our own with it and was happy with the result and the ease of dismantling it for storage

I had a couple of Karchers a few years back and they both exploded with a loud bang. Hence I bought the Bosch hoping that it would be a step forward from those useless Karchers. The frustrating thing about the Bosch is that the hose to the Lance would not come off for storage purposes unless you really struggled with the damn thing, I will admit I had got quite angry with it a couple of times.

Does yours have the Auto start stop feature? Screwfix only had the Full control version and that was £165.

 

[A.J.]

Stop start feature ?

 

[A.J.]

Stop start feature ?

Sorry but I am leading you up the garden path here, the one I bought was a K2

 

[Craiglxviii]

Hold on. How many litres per hour will you be using?

 

[Blobcat]

I need to replace a K4 that has been pulsating when not in use and is really annoying. I'm not really sure if I need to spend the money on a K4 or K5, has anyone used the cheaper K2??

The pulsating is possibly a leaking seal somewhere, worst thing to do with domestic pressure washers is switch them on and don't run them. The pressure build up can cause lots of early life failures.

The leak could be caused by frost damage... if they're left in an unheated garage or shed over winter the water inside can freeze and crack the manifold. I lost one a few years ago because of frost damage.

 

[Blobcat]

Hold on. How many litres per hour will you be using?

Just 21ltrs*.....



*per minute

 

[John Laidlaw]

I’ve had a K4 full control for 3 years now - when I first got it I agree it seemed like cheap plastic carp. The hose nearly abraded through within 2 months when doing patio work.
However, it’s lasted well (touches wood quickly) and it gets a lot of use. Despite early reservations I’d have another although the Nilfisk does get good reviews everywhere...

 

[ajlsl600]

i use the K2 now for over 4 yr, the only issue to date ,sometimes it does not want to go from the fliud rince to pressure when needed sometimes i have to loosen the lance from its twist fitting and put it back again ,i suspect the usual .but to date i have always managed to get it going . for the money it does what i need.

 

[Capra]

Hold on. How many litres per hour will you be using?

The only time I've run one for an hour was when I cleaned the patio!

 

[Capra]

The pulsating is possibly a leaking seal somewhere, worst thing to do with domestic pressure washers is switch them on and don't run them. The pressure build up can cause lots of early life failures.

The leak could be caused by frost damage... if they're left in an unheated garage or shed over winter the water inside can freeze and crack the manifold. I lost one a few years ago because of frost damage.

the first one I owned was ok, until it was left outside during a winter patio cleaning job. The second, which I lent to my tightfisted brother in law was OK until he plumbed it to the hot water tap!!

 

[Capra]

I picked up the K4 in the end. I needed it for cleaning my car, plus we are cleaning some of the outdoor areas tomorrow. I had a quick test and realised how poorly the previous one was. Thanks all.

 

[AnthonyUK]

I picked up the K4 in the end. I needed it for cleaning my car, plus we are cleaning some of the outdoor areas tomorrow. I had a quick test and realised how poorly the previous one was. Thanks all.

I have a K2 which has been fine for a few years and is only used for car cleaning which it is ideally suited to. I recently bought a K4 premium on the outlet as at £130 it is rude not to and I need to clean some stonework too.

 

[Srdl]

I had a couple of Karchers but got fed up with the failures so based on previous reviews on here, I bought a Nilfisk. It has been quite good but, five days after the two year guarantee expired it sprung a leak. Hopefully only a failed O ring and I’ve ordered some replacements.

 

[Capra]

I had a couple of Karchers but got fed up with the failures so based on previous reviews on here, I bought a Nilfisk. It has been quite good but, five days after the two year guarantee expired it sprung a leak. Hopefully only a failed O ring and I’ve ordered some replacements.

I took previous, previous karcher apart and was surprised that so much of the important bits were made of plastic, it was this that had cracked, saying that with water even metal will split if it freezes.