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Can you use hot water in a pressure washer?
Updated
Not hot, and usually only barely warm. Almost all home electric pressure washers are cold water machines. Kärcher's soap FAQ says most residential pressure washers cannot generate or use hot water. One Sun Joe model guide we read lists a maximum water inlet temperature of 104°F (40°C), which is warm, not hot.
Why hot water is a problem
The pump inside a home washer is built for garden hose water. Water hotter than the rated limit can wear the pump seals and lead to leaks. Sun Joe even warns against storing its washers near a furnace because heat can dry out the pump seals.
Check your own limit
The 104°F limit is from the Sun Joe SPX3500 guide, a different model from the SPX3000 on our list. We did not see an inlet temperature limit on the Amazon listings for our five picks, so check the spec table in your own manual.
What to use instead of hot water
Soap does most of what hot water would. Kärcher's FAQ makes the point that the surfactants in soap loosen dirt so it rinses off more easily. For grease on a driveway, use a degreaser made for pressure washers, let it sit, then rinse. See our guide to what soap you can use.
What about hot water machines?
True hot water pressure washers have a burner or heating coil built in, and they are made for commercial use like fleet washing. The home electrics on this site are not that kind of machine. Pouring hot water into the inlet of a cold water unit does not turn it into one.
Our picks
All five of our picks are cold water electric washers. The one to buy depends on your jobs, not the water temperature. The Westinghouse ePX3500 fits most homes at 2,400 cleaning units. Its catch is no 40 degree tip in the box.
Check any listing's numbers with the cleaning units calculator, or see all five machines on our picks page.