DIY Pressure Washer Review & Buying Guide

If you're looking for the best DIY pressure washer, this page was written for you!  I share my pro advice on how to rate and compare units so you can choose the right  pressure washer for all of your DIY cleaning jobs. And your budget. And you can check out my #1 DIY gas pressure washer and my top electric pressure washer choice on Amazon.

Checklist for Choosing Your
Perfect DIY Pressure Washer

Pressure washers are great cleaning tools for homeowners because they're up to 60 times more powerful than a garden hose - yet they use 80% less  water. You'll clean faster and more thoroughly! And you can check out my #1 DIY gas pressure washer or my top electric pressure washer pick that's available on Amazon.

There are two basic types of DIY pressure washers on the market: electric and gas. Let's talk about which projects electric and gas pressure washer units can handle best:

Electric pressure washers are a great choice if you have lighter cleaning jobs to do like washing porches, decks, cars, RV's, bikes, windows, walkways, patios, etc. They're lightweight, easy to move around, quieter than gas units and they don't produce any fumes.

A few things you should know about electric pressure washers: they cost a lot less than most gas units but they aren't powerful enough for paint stripping or large cleaning jobs like swimming pools or the outside of large brick buildings.  You need to have an electrical outlet nearby but you won't have to worry about refilling the gas tank.

I want to mention that electric pressure are very  easy to start.  Just plug it in, turn the switch to "on" and its ready to clean. If you have an arm injury, disability, etc, an electric unit will be easier to start than a gas unit that requires pulling hard on the engine start cord.  

And electric pressure washers can be used indoors, too, while gas models can only be used outdoors.

Gas pressure washers are a better choice for DIY projects if you plan to clean often - more than a few times a month - or if you need to tackle more heavy duty cleaning jobs like large patios, buildings, stripping paint, removing graffiti, etc.

They are heavier & noiser than electric models, and do produce fumes, but they are built with stronger engines & pumps, so they'll last longer. Gas units are more expensive than electric ones, but they are a better value over the long run.

Once you've decided between gas or electric, check these two universal pressure washer ratings in order to compare models: PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) and GPM (Gallons per Minute).

The PSI rating is the force of the water that the pressure washer pump creates. And GPM stands for the speed of the water flow through the unit. Basically, the higher the PSI or GPM rating, the more cleaning power.

By comparing PSI and GPM on any DIY pressure washer models, you'll be able to make the best choice for you & your budget.

And here's my own handy pressure washer comparison chart to help you quickly compare the best electric and gas pressure washers:

My Top Recommendation for the Best Electric and  Best Gas Pressure Washer:

I highly recommend the AR Blue Clean AR383 as the best electric pressure washer for any homeowner! Here's why I think it's the best electric unit:

It provides 1900 PSI which gives you very good cleaning power & speed - and  it has an Annovi Reverberi Triplex 3 axial piston pump!  As a pro, I know very well that the quality of your pump is critical for good cleaning results, consistent performance & long life. This Annovi Triplex pump is a much higher quality & longer lasting pump than you'll see on other electric washers.  And you can read other customer reviews on Amazon.com.

And I  know you'll really appreciate that this AR Blue Clean has a hose reel! Finally - you can get a hose reel on an electric unit! Trust me, the fact that you can neatly & quickly store your 20ft hose on the unit will help you work faster & more safely. And it's also easier to store. You can check this item at Amazon.com.

And comparing power, speed, quality & price, I highly recommend the Generac 6596 as the #1 gas pressure washer! Here's why I think it's the best gas unit:

You'll get a whopping 2,800 PSI with 2.5 GPM - which is a powerful amount of cleaning power! You'll be able to clean much faster than if you were using an electric unit.

And I want to say that I really like the strong & high quality 196cc Generac OHV engine and it's sturdy axial cam pump. It's built to last. And you can read other customer reviews on Amazon.com.

I also want to let you know that the spray gun is molded so it's comfortable in your hand - even if you're using it for a long time. And I really like the oversized, Never-Flat tires. Goodbye to irriating flat tires while you're working.

The Generac 6596 is an excellent gas pressure washer at a great price.  You can see it on Amazon.com.