Amazon.com Review

Are you looking for a pressure washer with enough power tohandle everyday chores--such as power-washing your deck, sidewalk,patio, grill, or car--but without the hassles associated with larger,commercial-grade, gas-powered units? The Karcher K520M electric pressurewasher may provide the answer. Powered by a 120-volt, 60 Hz inductionmotor, the K520M offers adjustable pressure, with a maximum output of1,600 psi at a rate of 1.8 gallons per minute. While this might not beenough for some commercial applications, such as stripping the paintfrom an entire house, it more than suffices for everyday, at-homechores. As the world's leading manufacturer of high-pressure washers,Karcher has put a lot of care into this unit's design. At 31 pounds, theK520M is lightweight. It's also easy to use. Power to the washer iscontrolled by a trigger gun. Just releasing the trigger shuts it down. Acorrosion- and impact-resistant cover protects the motor and pumpassembly, a garden hose connector with external water filter eliminatesdebris, and a safety lock prevents the trigger from accidentallyengaging when not in use. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• Adjustable operating pressure directly at the wand
• Sprayer delivers 1600 psi at a rate of 1.8 gallons per minute
• Complete machine shut-off at the trigger gun
• Built-in GFCI protection for increased safety
• Two wheels for easy transport, pull-out handle, and built-in accessory storage

Reviews (28)

Decent power, great flexibility
I think this is a great product for residential use. I've just recently used it to wash my deck, and scrub away much of the poor paint job that the previous owner had done.

For cleaning, the power it had was quite sufficient to blast away gunk and mildew, without using any cleaning additives. It does have a siphon tube that allows you to mix in cleaning additives, but I found that straight water pressure cleaned just fine.

For paint cleaning, I found it a bit underpowered. I was able to get up all of the paint that needed to come up, but it went a bit slowly. To get the pressure I needed to scour up the paint, I had to hold the nozzle about an inch from the deck surface. Since the width of the water flow is much smaller when the nozzle is so close, it took a while to cover all the surface area.

However, compared to the extra complication and cost of a gas-powered washer, I was willing to accept the thing being slightly underpowered. Setup and breakdown of the washer is a snap. To take a break in the middle of a long project, just flip the safety lock on the nozzle gun, and turn a power switch on the sprayer. And that's all there is to it - no worries about fueling, lubing, cooling, exhaust. Time will tell if the unit lasts as long as a comparable gas powered washer would.

I was somewhat nervous about using an electric appliance for very wet work. However, I found that the long power cord and long hose for the spray nozzle made it easy for me to keep the washer away from my work area. Also, the unit is double insulated, and has a ground-fault interrupt unit on the plug, so I think your chance of injury when using the product correctly is minimal.

I would recommend buying this model over the lesser powered models from Karcher if you plan to do anything more demanding than cleaning decks, driveways and cars. Like I said, it had enough power to do the job of stripping paint off of my deck, but only just. If you're going to be doing large or frequent jobs that demand more pressure, I'd say go to a gas-powered washer.

Be careful when shopping for cleaning agents to use with the washer. Some of them call for being mixed with bleach, or contain caustics, and the manual for this product advises you not to use them with the washer.

Just right for home use
Minimal assembly required, only a screwdriver to pull out tab to firmly attach high pressure hose.

A death in the family exposed a totally repulsively moldy cement pool deck that would have taken days to clean. Using the K12 surface washer to losen up the filth, and the quatro rotary nozzle to do detail clean up, it was clean in a couple of hours, looking new except for some cracks in the cement. No cleaning solution was required, which was a big plus. That quatro nozzle was terrific for cleaning pool filter, gutters, etc. The K530M has just enough power to do any job around the house, washing cars, siding, etc. and is small enough for a 60 yr old lady to move around without any strain. I'm just thrilled that it does everything I had hoped.

We then used the rotary nozzle again to blow some spanish moss off trees and cleaning the trees (with the extension wand attached to the nozzle) became possible for us to do without calling professionals.

Granted the extra options of the wand extensions, the quatro nozzle and the surface washer completed the usefulness of the K520M, but the unit itself is totally satisfactory, the options just make it that much better and more versatile.

We're actually thinking of getting another to keep at another location. It's a very satisfying unit, and so nice to buy something that actually surpasses your expectations.

Karcher K 520 M Pressure Washer
It is now June 2004, & my Karcher is still working fine. I can't explain why more recent buyers have had so much trouble with there's. I did buy the K 12 Surface Clearner & extension hose. It was a great addition & made driveway & sidewalk cleaning easier & faster.

********************************************

After reading the positive customer comments about the Karcher K520M Pressure Washer, I decided to go ahead & purchase one. I was not disappointed. Living in Florida with the humid and rainy conditions, my sidewalk and driveway had become black with mold & mildew. In addition, there is a large oak tree in the front yard that drips brown stains on portions of the driveway and sidewalk. This 1600 PSI model was more than able to remove all of these stains! As in many other reviews I have read, I didn't even need to use any type of cleaner. The pressure of the water was enough to remove the years of build-up.

The unit was easy to unpack & assemble. Just be careful of the external plastic inlet water filter. It looks a little fragile. I suspect it could break if you tried to roll the unit to a new location, dragging the weight of a water-filled hose attached to the filter.

With the supplied nozzle, it did take several hours to clean the area I wanted. In order to remove the dirt & mildew, I had to hold the nozzle about 3 inches from the surface which meant that only a narrow stream was hitting the surface. It worked very well but it was slow and a little painful on my back - walking around half bent over. I kept shifting positions to relieve the stress on my back.

I still have more sidewalk to clean, but before doing it, I decided to order the Karcher K 12 Surface Cleaner (model CS12) & a 25 foot high pressure extension hose. I am hoping it will make the job easier & faster. I decided on the extension hose so that I could cover more area (there is sidewalk on 3 sides of my property) without having to move the unit as frequently, which will reduce the amount of stress on the plastic inlet water filter I mentioned earlier. I ordered these directly from the Karcher website (buykarcher.com) because I could not find the Surface Cleaner sold by any other online site. I am still waiting to receive this unit & I will update this review after I have had a chance to try it.

Overall, I would recommend this Pressure Washer to anyone who has light to medium duty cleaning requirements. It stores in a small space & is much less expensive than the gas powered units.

I've had pretty good luck with this machine
I purchased this machine last fall and have used it a couple of dozen times without it failing me. The power was a little disappointing at first. It seems to have the spray force of about the top one-half of the car washes I've used. It would be a real chore to strip off paint with this critter but it has been more than enough power for a variety of around the house jobs. I wouldn't purchase this if I were a tradesman in that it lacks the durability necessary for day in and day out use on even smaller jobs. It is directed to the homeowner market and I think it hits the mark. It thankfully at times doesn't have too much power to ruin paint and wood stuctures which can happen with some commercial machines. Today I washed two of my cars, Cleaned tenacious bird droppings off of a porch, cleaned half of a deck and a barbeque grill, washed off some garden tools, and then cleaned a rock sidewalk. I figure when its out I should use it on all I can. It's been great in the past for my riding mower (particularly cleaning the deck), and for cleaning a motorhome and boat. I've also cleaned my vinyl siding which was laborious but effective (because its underpowered for this job...but the price was right). It comes with a accessory brush, which is pretty useless. I've read here and elsewhere that the accessory extension tubes for the wand are flimsy so I passed on them. I bought an extension hose which gives me an extra 20 feet or so of manuvering.--It is a wonderful addition in that I don't have to cart the washer unit around so much. It has a low handle and seeing that I'm 6'4" it is uncomfortable to drag it any significant distance. The electrical and wash hoses are bulky and don't store well on the amachine. I bought a couple of cheap cord hanging organizers which helps.The construction is of hard plastic externally with good fit and finish. It doesn't take up much room in my garage with the attachments hanging on the wall in the warm months. It was kind of a pain last fall and winter lugging the whole thing down into my basement in that you can't let it freeze. I did use it through the winter washing the salt off of my vehicles on warmer days and it did an admirable job. For me it has been a reliable workhorse. I see from other reviews that the experiences are pretty variable and it doesn't sound like product support is a high priorith. I've treated mine pretty gentl I think using a short wire reinforced hose extesion to reduce stress on the water intake which appears a little flimsy. I pull the hose around rather then the machine to further reduce knocks and bangs. It's worked so far. At this point if I had to do it over again I would still buy this washer.

Karcher=junk
Had the 360M model worked great for 4 hours then a cheap
"o" ring blew out in the wand..Its a nonstandard size so
you have to get the whole wand from Karcher! I live in
the same town Karcher is headquartered in and it took
4 weeks to get the part under warranty...that was 3 weeks
after I returned it to the store! It was working great, good
pressure, turbo nozzle worked great, quiet and nice...
They could change several things and make a good machine but
they dont.... ... Read more

Features

• Portable, compact, lightweight with convenient handle
• 1400 pounds per square inch (PSI) at 1.3 gallons per minute (GPS)
• Includes Dirtblaster rotary nozzle for use on concrete or brick and a variable wand which changes from low pressure to a high pressure fan jet
• Total stop function on trigger gun - machine only runs while you work
• 1 year limited warranty

Reviews (7)

Worked well and long for us.
We hove one of these pressure washers, and it has worked very well. We have cleaned our driveway, sidewalks, pool deck, and outside walls. We have even let two of our neighbors use it on their driveways, sidewalks, and pool decks. After many hours of use, it is still going strong.

Surprised by Performance!
Unlike most other reviewers who seemed to have had terrible experiences with this product, I have had wonderful performance from this little yellow machine.

I used it to power wash the clapboards of an 1840 farmhouse in preparation for painting, and the Karcher took off all the loose paint, layers of black mold and gunk. 7 hours running straight and the motor is fine.

Two of us used the machine with a garden hose and a very long heavy electrical extension cord. One person hung out of windows or straddled high roof peaks and the light weight Karcher made it all possible. I stayed inside, holding the machine on the window sill and feeding the hose and electric cord.

My friends are now borrowing the machine.

Curious if anyone else has had positive experiences with this little machine. Maybe I got "lucky".

Afraid to recommend, but I must say-- my experience has been wonderful thus far. [I do not expect it to last forever--I bought it for this one job in mind.)

DO NOT BUY
I bought and used this unit 3 times. Once on my deck and then second time cleaning my cement sidewalk. The third was an attempt to clean a brick wall that was built and then the motor burnt out???

Not a very well built washer. I have since switched to a gas powered pressure washer and so far so good.

Won't last
Used it once for about 10 minutes with no problems. About a week later, began power washing my pool deck and the motor burned out in 3 minutes. Followed instruction manual to the letter, was not even using a detergent. Can't get a response from the manufacturer either. Don't waste your money on this one.

Dave
Finally choose the model 245 at Lowe's for $108.00 because it was light and made in Germany. Wanted something I could pack up and take with me in a motor home. Used it today on my large deck to prep it for staining. It worked fine even though the sales people advise to get something larger. True the power cord does like to wrap itself around the hose, but the trade off is, it is so light and portable you can practically drag it around with you. The power was enough to clean between the planks and if not careful you could get down to the bare wood. I wasn't even using the attachment for maxium scoring. It also adjusts down and I plan on washing the car this afternoon with the lower setting. Can't tell how long it will last but talked to someone who has had one, 240 model, for 2 years and still going strong. We shall see. ... Read more

Features

• 1500 pounds per square inch electric power washer
• Pump feeds water from a standing source up to 3 feet high and capable of spraying 1.3 gallons per minute
• 2 year warranty

Reviews (5)

Wish I'd Read These Reviews First
Wow, what a piece of junk. I bought at BJ's Club and haven't tried to return yet. We'll see if their service is better than (at least this piece) of merchandise....

I threw out my money for 15 minutes of cleaning!
I purchased the karcher 1400psi 1.3 GPM less than a year ago, but didn't open box til my handyman arrived this weekend. he said the product worked fantastic for 15 minutes; then the motor died!!! first time it was used!!! amazon basically said tough luck; i called karcher 800-number, and the message is "the wait time is EXCESSIVE..." so then it tells you to try another time and hangs up on you. I paid $99.99 for mine... and is a piece of junk. i do not recommend buying any electric/electronic product from amazon... they take no responsibility for selling junk; sears or walmart would have exchanged product easily and without question... and i obviously do not recommend karcher brand either. save your money!!!! the worst purchase i have ever made in my life.

Shear disappointment - BUY CRAFTSMAN!
BEWARE! Do not purchase this or any other product by KARCHER. They, may in some cases (rare as they might be), make a fine product... not here! This fine little piece of junk burnt up after 5 uses (all vehicles! no strenuous work at all!) Forget their so-called "warranty", they refer you to a local service dealer and then refuse the claim. I guess it will make a nice $100 lawn ornament at the local landfill. My mistake. Once again, BEWARE!!!!!

Worst money we ever spent
Unless we're doing something wrong, this thing couldn't clean a clean plate, much less "cut the dirt" off anything. The only thing it will do is cut money from your bank account. Do yourself a favor. If you see this piece of junk on the TV, quick, change the channel!! If you see it on a shelf, walk slowly away from it and MAYBE what it's made out of won't rub off on you. In other words, this has to be the WORST piece of... er... refuse, I've ever bought. If I could get a refund, I would, but I'm not holding my breath. Heaven help any of you who do not heed this warning and buy this thing anyway. You have been warned.

German Engineering?
Got the wheels on this unit and realized that the case had plastic pieces floating around inside.After a closer look this is what I found...A yellow plastic piece about 1/16X1/2X1/2 which held the heavy pump. The shroud over the pump and fan had split,also flimsy and doubled as a mount.(yea right) all this caused the pump to shift and snapped the control knob and outlet,both plastic and way too cheesey!! I doubt this could stand being knocked over and dropping it would destroy it!!....If you buy it and it makes it to your place in one piece ,treat it like a Faberge' Egg...Germen Engineered ? Must be East Germany!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sometimes a garden hose just isn't enough. And when you're faced with a task like that, this little Karcher can help you out. It supplies 1500 psi, moving 1.7 gallons per minute, more than enough force to blast moss off bricks and clean up everything in its path: patios, paths, walls, swimming pools, lawn mowers, garden furniture and tools. It's perfect, too, for washing boats, cars and trucks, with its detergent injector and brush. Everything stores right on board, another feature we like. Much of the unit is plastic, so it's lightweight and easily portable, but we don't think it will stand up to heavy-duty use, so it's best for the homeowner with smaller jobs like patios, driveways, steel siding and cars to wash. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Vario Power Spray Wand with Dirtblaster rotating nozzle gives you either low pressure for detergent application or high pressure
• Standard accessories are 25-foot hose, Vario Power Spray Wand, dirtblaster rotating nozzle and wash brush
• Unit has attachment hangers for holding the wand and hose and is compact for easy storage
• Karcher high-performance direct-drive axial pump is German engineered for dependability
• Injector for detergent application gives you better cleaning power for the tough jobs

Reviews (3)

Heed the WARNINGS - This product WILL disappoint
I hate to sound like a broken record, but some things can't be said enough. I have used this washer four times since receiving it as a father's day gift last year. It has broken four times without finishing a task, a 100% failure rate. The replacement part costs fifteen dollars each time, with a life expectancy of fifteen minutes if you're lucky. Karcher does not respond to customer inquiries - buy this and you're on your own.

AGREE...DO NOT BUY!!
I agree with other reviewers - small plastic piece inside hose breaks for no reason. Renders unit useless. Must replace entire trigger (cost $40). Had it replaced twice. Karcher has no response - sends you to authorized dealer. You get what you pay for...Very sorry Amazon is offering this product. THEY ARE FLOODING THE MARKET (Karcher)with this product. Have seen it even lower at other retail locations - resist the temptation to buy.

Will break - guaranteed
I have owned two, both of them broke. The problem is the water inlet tube is made of hard plastic. If you accidently pull the garden hose, or the unit, it will break off inside the washer rendering it useless. I did not abuse either unit I bought, I thought the first time it must have already had a crack or something. If you purchase one,when it happens to you, you will be surprised how easily it breaks. I wrote the company and they never responded which is very frustrating. If you purchase then I wish you better luck! ... Read more

Features

• Built-in accessory storage
• Complete machine shut-off at the trigger gun
• Built-in GFCI protection for increased safety
• Rotating nozzle wand included increases cleaning preformance by 50%
• Trigger gun with integrated detergent applicator

Reviews (5)

Fantastic product - powerful and easy to handle
I bought this product in Germany. It is a fantastic maschine, which includes a so called "dirt blaster". This is a rotary high pressure tool, that cleans off really stubborn dirt. I clean with this machine my car, mossy garden paths, walls, my terrace, my lawn mower, etc. With this high pressure cleaner you can clean all these things very quickly and easily. And I use 80% less water than I would with a normal garden hose!

BEWARE of buying this from Amazon.com
I bought this for my husband last Valentine's Day from Amazon.com. They sent me the wrong model 3 different times and when I finally found a phone number to call them they told me that the information and picture on the website was incorrect and that they were actually selling the K205M Model (Not Plus) which sits on the ground, Has no wheels or handle and it has only 2 attachments. I sent them ALL back and refuse to buy TOOLS from Amazon since. Needless to say I ended up buying the real K205M Plus from ... [another store] and I ended up paying less anyway!

Not a "chick tool," but ...
As a female DIY enthusiast, I'm always looking for tools that are powerful, but not out of my weight class. I found the Karcher 205 pressure washer to be a powerful and easy to use cleaning tool. The manual is actually clearly written, which made the minimal assembly a quick job. I especialy like the tall wheels-and-handle arrangement, which allows for easy moving of the unit when in use--as well as convenient cord and accessory storage when not in use. Also, the spray wand rotates on the end of a good long hose, so I was able to carry the spray wand up the ladder to clean the gutters without having the drag the rest of the unit around with me. However, my favorite feature is the fact that the motor only activates when you engage the trigger on the spray wand, which lessens the noise factor. And, you don't have to worry about burning out the motor when you're not spraying, because there is a five minute "rest" period built in. Thus, you can take your time to reposition your ladder or yourself, while leaving both the motor and the water supply turned on. I have used this tool for a couple of jobs so far, and I can see where it will prove invaluable come Spring.

The only drawback, and this is very minor, is storing the unit. The manual is quite explicit that even after the unit is emptied of all water, the unit should not be stored in areas where temperatures drop below freezing, which elminates my garage and attic. However, since I am a real tool lover, I don't mind storing my Karcher 205 in the corner of the spare bedroom where I can admire it at my leisure!

Power Washed Everything but the Cat
I live in a townhouse. Rather then pay the homeowner association to do a poor job for $..., I bought this product. Works great. Mildew from the front courtyard was instantly removed. Did a wonderful job. No problems.

not a bad little washer....
I recently bought a 30+ year old house. There was mold, old paint, etc that needed to be cleaned off. also, imagine 30+ years of dirt and grime on sidewalks surrounding the house. the concrete was almost a dark grey color. After about 6 hours of washing, the concrete looks like it was poured yesterday! Granted, there were some rust stains that didn't come up, but i wasn't using any sort of a chemical cleaner, just water. The dirt just sprayed right off! Not bad for the price either, although i found a $50 cheaper brand the next day. The unit is not quite strong enough to remove paint, but it does take some of it off. The only reason the washer got 4 stars is because the hose connection on the unit is very touchy. the slightest pull or tug and it pops off, hose and all. Even just moving the unit around, you have to hold the hose so that no "pulling" occurs on the connection. Even turning on the hose too quickly will cause it to pop off. ... Read more

Features

• Built-in accessory storage
• Complete machine shut-off at the trigger gun
• Built-in GFCI protection for increased safety
• Rotating nozzle wand included increases cleaning performance by 50%
• Trigger gun has integrated detergent applicator

Reviews (4)

BAD CUSTOMER SUPPORT
I will never buy another Karcher product again, I used the unit 4 times, the pump leaked, brought it to their service center, Got nothing but run around and after 5 months I still don't have a pressure washer. They done nothing ... and DID NOT follow up on what they said they would do. They don't keep records of what's going on. NEVER AGAIN.!

Yes, it works, but watch out!
I, too, was completely satisfied with the efectiveness of this pressure washer(pw). However, during the first usage of my pw, the plastic intake connecting the hose to the compressor broke off without any undo tension on the hose. In fact, there was considerable slack left in the hose. Because I could not find the receipt, Karcher would not replace this equipment. Also, I sent an e-mail asking if they couldn't inspect my pw and determine its age or extent of usage. I got no reply(I did get a reply to an earlier e-mail). So, be careful when using this pw and save that receipt.

Works Well for a GREAT Price!
I just received my Karcher K240MPlus Pressure Washer. The product was well packaged in a factory sealed box and was easy to assemble (WITH ONE EXCEPTION - the dreaded missing screws to attach the handle unit to the washer - more on this later) which consists of snapping the wand to the hose and the hose to the motor unit with a screw on connector. Connect a water hose and plug into an extension cord, turn the power switch to "ON", squeeze the trigger and your up and running! I began using this product on my house siding and eaves which had numerous cobwebs, mud wasp nest attachments and general dirt. After getting the technique down (a slow, sweeping motion concentrating the water pressure on the area to be cleaned, pushing the dirt ahead of the spray) this product did a nice job! Enough pressure to get the job done and not tear up stuff. I also did the clean up without detergent. I suspect this would do even better with a cleaning solution applied!
I washed windows, and my son's redwood and cedar play structure prior to waterproofing. It get's the dirt out easily!
Back to the missing screws - most company's really are hard to get through to for customer service. At Karcher I got through after ( drumroll PLEASE) TWO rings, one button push on the automated system and about ten seconds of waiting!... To a HUMAN!.. I highly recommend the product and the company for that factor alone!
Realize this is NOT a high pressure STEAM unit. It utilizes cold water under pressure. The uses are unlimited around the house.

Great Machine
This is just a dandy little pressure washer! It is super easy to assemble and use, and does a great job on wood (my deck has never been so clean) and sidewalks/driveways. Just can't beat it for the price. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

You'll have the cleanest house exterior, sidewalk, deck, andvehicles in your neighborhood once you bring this baby home. TheKärcher K360M moves just 1.7 gallons per minute, but it feels like thepower of the Hoover Dam once it comes out of the nozzle at 1,600 psi.Minimal assembly is required to attach the wheels and handle, making itwonderfully portable. The attachments are worth mentioning, too: TheVario wand switches from low to high pressure with a twist. It's simpleto slip the supply line into a bucket of detergent and spray it at lowpressure, then switch to high pressure for rinsing--far superior to thetoo-small detergent cups we've seen on other pressure washers. Therotating wand offers a 0- to 360-degree pencil jet for seriousdirt-busting. Note: The Kärcher literature warns against using thisnozzle on your vehicles, so that tells you what kind of power the tooloffers. Speaking of vehicles, however, Kärcher does include a greatwash brush attachment to make your chrome sparkle. Anything that makescleaning fun and easy gets an A plus in our book. --Kris Jensen-VanHeste ... Read more

Features

• Built-in accessory storage
• Complete machine shut-off at the trigger gun
• Built-in GFCI protection for increased safety
• Rotating nozzle wand included increases cleaning preformance by 50%
• Adjustable operating pressure directly at the wand

Reviews (32)

Cheap internal parts - the gun is the weak link!
I used it only about 5 times and the gun started spraying water out internally. I called for warranty part replacement and was told to call back by a recording due to high call volume....I suspect because all their pressure washers have similar problems. I did see another person here with the same problem. After three calls I finally got on a 15 minute wait cue to talk to a representative at Karcher. This is my third model Karcher pressure washer I bought and it is a similar story. I think they would do better by spending $10 more on better parts. I took my gun apart and found a small white valve with 3 O-Rings. One O-Ring had a bushing next to it and the bushing was a cheap plastic small thing that cracked under the 1600psi pressure and the O-Ring was pushing against it causing water to leak around the O-Ring that had no bushing behind it. They are sending me a new gun but it will be out of warranty soon..then what?..will I have to pay for the next one? I wish Karcher would spend a little more time in R&D making critical parts better so they don't fall apart after five uses in less than a year. It's a great idea for a machine and does a good job when it works, but if they would have just used a brass milled valve with the three O-Rings instead of plastic it would probably last for more than a year.

Buy Cheap, Buy Twice
I should have known that something made of plastic would last about as long as something made of plastic!!!. The handle on the unit I purchased blew the internal gaskets on the third squeeze. The pressure was actually not too bad before that happened. $5.00 and two weeks later I had the replacement parts from the local service center. As I expected, 3 squeezes later the gun was leaking like a stuck pig. I wrote to Karcher and they are sending me a replacement gun....FREE OF CHARGE (I'll believe it when I see it). A new heavy duty gun will run between $35 and $55. I think I'll use that $55 towards the purchase of a new commercial grade unit.....and not a Karcher. Oh...and thanks to the dude who turned me on to "Pressureparts.com." They've got what you need to fix what needs fixin'.

Poor reliability, buying a gas-powered replacement
I wish that I had spent the extra $150 and bought a gas powered one instead of buying this K360. I have owned it for 3.5 years. The unit only has ~ 80 run hours. The pressure switch has been replaced twice(out of the warranty period, of course). Repair cost $50 each time and took ~ 4 weeks each. Bad sign when the lady at the repair shop said, "We see a lot of these". After the second repair, I swore that the third time, I would junk it and buy a more-powerful, gas-powered one (Coastal TX is a mildew-coated place). Once again, the pressure switch failed.

When it worked, it worked well. But the reliability has not been that great. I love the Karcher attachments, especially the rotojet - cleans dirt and mildew off of paint without removing the paint. 1600 psi & 1.7 gpm is barely enough for down here. I have been doing a lot of comparison shopping, and the attachments from other manufacturers do not have the features that Karcher offers. Since I have a full set of Karcher attachments, I may end up purchasing another Karcher pressure washer.

Karcher 330 M Pressure Washer
I purchased a Karcher 330 last year and it worked very well for cleaning stairs and siding on the house. This year when I set out to do the same cleaning tasks it developed a leak in the plastic housing that the water hose connects. I finally found a company that sold parts (pressureparts-very good co.) and I ordered the part. After installing the new part, the machine now will not shut off. I've tried unsuccessfully find a repair shop (in the US) to take the machine to for diagnostics / repairs. It's very frustrating to learn that the only repair shops are in the UK and Ireland!!!! Why doesn't this company have any support facilities in the US where they sell these machines?

Very bad quality on parts
It seem they really want to cut the cost down to getting a higher profit margin. It work just for 1st 5 min, then the inlet connector to the garden hose broke. Since, they use a very brittle pastic. During assembly, I already very carfully install the hose. It seem there is no quick way to fix it. The only way you can do is return it to get the credit back.
I don't know why how they pass the realibilty test.
Really really bad design and don't waste the money!!!!! ... Read more

Features

• 2 year limited warranty
• 1600 PSI at 1.6 GPM
• Includes a revolutionary 4-way nozzle
• Total stop function on trigger gun - machine only runs while you work
• Mobile, compact, lightweight with convenient handle

Reviews (3)

pauls reveiw
i didn't buy my pressure washer from amazon i didn't know they sold them. but i do indeed have one, and for the price you can't beat it.

Effective but Prolematic
This washer did a great job, but within two months had to be returned under the warranty. The Quattro nozzel failed within several days. Only the highest pressure setting continued to work properly, and, since that was really what I needed, I lived with it. Then the trigger operated switch failed; the machine kept running whether or not the trigger was pulled, and I assumed that it would eventually self destruct under those conditions. I really wanted the convenience of electric, having previously had gas models, and, since I don't use the units frequently enough, I generally was never able to start the gas engine. Unfortunately, my experience with this unit will probably drive me back to gas.

More work than it is worth
I love gadgets and really wanted one of these to save work, so I ignored the low reviews of other pressure washers, much to my regret. The first washer I received totally self-destructed within the first 5 minutes of use, something under the case rupturing and spraying water everywhere. The second one has at least not blown up yet, although the documented lifetime of one of these is less than 2 years. The biggest problem is the pressure hose, which is extremely stiff and almost unuseable, gets twisted on itself or tangled with the power cord into loops that become kinks, can easily scratch a car's finish, and is extremely aggravating to work with. The soap dispenser can only be used on low pressure, so you are laying a thick layer of soap on whatever you are cleaning, after which you (hopefully) blast it off with high pressure - but many of the "made for sprayer" soaps have specific warnings that the soap should only remain on the surface briefly or spottiing will occur. And the feed line for the soap is long (out of necessity) but then wastes much of the expensive product as you clear the lines trying to rinse. Also, the head seems to clog easily in most spray patterns. To clean a patio or sidewalk (as long as you give it lots of "breaks" to avoid overheating) it does a great job of blasting mold and discoloration from hard surfaces, but for washing cars, siding, or grills, the setup and cleanup time (usually because of the cheap high pressure hose) is generally twice as long as if you just used a bucket and hose. What first appears to be a great gadget and time-saver is a waste of money and time. ... Read more

Features

• 1 year limited warranty
• 1600 pounds per square inch (PSI) at 1.6 gallons per minute (GPM)
• Includes a Dirtblaster rotary nozzle and variable wand known as a VPS wand (fan jet to low pressure for detergent injection only)
• Total stop function on trigger gun - machine only runs while you work
• Mobile, compact, lightweight with convenient handle

Reviews (2)

Requires more work to get service or repairs...
I purchased our Karcher powerwasher and was initially very pleased. It worked great! But after four or five uses, the motor quit working. Each time I used it, we had to coax it along because the powerwasher kept tripping our GFI outlets. We called the 1-800 number provided and were referred to a repair location that no longer works on Karchers. Too bad this product has so many problems...

Karcher k395
When this machine works it is awesome. The problem is, when it works. I have had to replace the wand once and the trigger sprayer once and I have only used it 4 times. My problem is with Karcher themselves. If you try to buy a replacement part it is nearly impossible to contact them and when you do you get ripped off for the replacement parts. There is no internet replacement parts center so you have to call an 800 number and hope that you have the right part. This is the 21st century, someone please tell Karcher. ... Read more