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Hose, cord and outlet: the parts nobody checks
Updated
Your reach is the power cord plus the high pressure hose. Come up short and you will be dragging the machine around the car or up the driveway every few minutes. Check both numbers before you buy.
Hose length
- Our picks range from 19 ft on the Karcher K1700 to 25 ft on the Westinghouse ePX3500 and the Greenworks.
- To walk all the way around a car without moving the machine, 25 ft is the comfortable number.
- Listings can disagree with themselves. The Westinghouse ePX3100v says 20 ft in one place and 25 ft in another. Ask in the listing's questions section if it matters to you.
- Need more reach? Add garden hose on the inlet side first. It is cheap, and the machine stays near the outlet. Check your manual for the longest inlet hose it allows.
Extension cords and GFCI
- Water and mains power are a bad mix. Plug into a GFCI protected outlet. It cuts power in a fraction of a second if current leaks. Many electric washers have a GFCI built into the plug. We did not see it stated on the listings we read, so check the manual for your model.
- Many manuals say not to use an extension cord at all. If yours allows one, it will name a heavy wire gauge and a length limit. Follow it. A thin or long cord starves the motor, which runs hot and can trip breakers.
- Keep every plug and connection off the ground and dry. Do not spray the machine, the cord or any outlet.
- These motors draw close to everything a 15 amp circuit can give. The Greenworks lists a 14 amp motor. Run it on a circuit with nothing else big turned on.
This is general information, not electrical advice. If you are not sure about an outlet, ask an electrician.
Motor types
- Universal motor: light, low cost and loud. Common in small, low cost washers. Brushes wear over time.
- Induction motor: heavier and quieter, and generally longer lived. Often found in larger machines.
- Brushless motor: no brushes to wear, and efficient. The Greenworks listing names a brushless motor, and owners say it runs quietly.
Most listings do not say which motor is inside. We did not see the motor type named on the Westinghouse, Sun Joe or Karcher listings we read. Weight is a rough clue: an 18 pound machine is unlikely to hold an induction motor.
The two Westinghouse listings and the Karcher listing say the pump stops when you let go of the trigger. That saves wear. Still, do not leave the machine switched on and idle for long stretches.
See the full list on our picks page.