Customer Reviews

Karcher Electric Cold Water Pressure Washer - 1750 PSI, 1.5 GPM, 120 Volt, Model# K3.92

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I have rented pressure washers that were in the 2500 psi. range. They were very powerful and even at times hard to control. This one though you have to be pretty close for really dirty cement but it does do the job the first time. I'm very pleased with the fact that this model is powerful, quiet and doesn't need gas! For the lady of this house this is GREAT! You can do it all and by yourself. For men, I would guess you probably want more power just because, but know this, this one will do the job. For the price and the fact that it doesn't need that ever expensive gasoline it's tops in my book. I'm really glad I bought it. Things I've cleaned in the past 3 days, gutters, pool cage, patio/lanai deck, lawn furniture and stucco exterior... the truck is next.

The price is right, right? Wrong - you will pay later, and dearly. My unit cost about $160. Cracked the nozzle tip - no problem I have seen numerous replacement nozzles - wrong, I have to replace the whole Vario wand attachment - cost $50 plus $17 S & H - this after light use occasionally for just over a year (out of warranty). Three of these and I will have bought a new unit (for a cheap plastic nozzle insert the size of a quarter). Plus the pressure hose and inlet hose fittings are cheap and nasty - you are better off buying a more expensive unit (ever wonder why these seem like such a good deal when all others around seem so expensive). You get what you pay for, very dissapointing from a company I had a high opinion of.

If Karcher has changed the hoses I apologize upfront, nonetheless, I paid good money for my 1600 Karcher from a big box store two and a half years ago. Right after the year warranty expired water sprung in 3 places from the (now brittle) hose line. Before you ask, I keep my pressure washer in our garage and the weather doesn't get extremely cold or hot. I noticed you would have to fight with the cord to get it to unkink itself or to wrap it after using. After I replaced the first cord (best price $30) I was EXTRA careful with it. One strategy that worked to unkink the cord was to hang it off our top deck (gently) to have the weight of the gun straighten out and make the hose cord more supple. But alas, again 1 year later, I sprung leaks in the hose once again. So, I just bought a Husky from the rival big box guys. I dare not buy a pressure washer I can't return locally. If anyone has suggestions about what can prevent this from happening I am open to them!

I had this item for about a week before returning it, when I did, the woman at customer service said one comes back each week. It worked great for about 15 to 20 minutes then it would blow the fuse. After tripping the fuse, it worked again for 5 minutes then the fuse blew again. Then the unit wouldn't turn on at all. It did work again a couple of days later, this time for maybe 10 minutes. Then, nothing. That can't be normal.

I first purchased this unit to clean my deck. It took an incredibly long time as I had to hold the nozzle about 3 inches from surface to get to bare wood. That was fine, as it did clean the deck. However, after 2 days of cleaning the deck and very litle use thereafter it developed a severe leak from somewhere inside near the cleaning hose outlet. Of course this is inaccessible for the homeowner. I sent it back to Karcher under their Rapid Exchange program and they sent me a refurbished similar but lesser model, the K3.86, saying they had none of mine and I would have to wait.
This bothered me, but it was close enough that I did not bother to hassle with exchanging again.
It was barely used again until the following year, when I took it out to clean off some siding. I tried to fire it up, it turned on briefly and then died. Nothing I could do would make it work. Now it is 2+ years old, out of warranty, and I am SOL. There is one service center for their electric washers, but they are so heavy that it would be ridiculous to ship it for repair. I would end up paying the purchase price over again for shipping and service.
I haven't even bothered to call the company, it took so long to get satisfaction the first time that I can't be bothered wasting my time again. As evidenced by most of the reviews here these products are clearly unreliable and poorly made and the company does not stand behind them. Those that have them still working are fortunate, they are the exception, not the rule. They will likely fail eventually.
I purchased this electric model because they got good reviews for performance in Cons**er R*ports, and I did not want to hassle with an internal combustion model. Clearly they had no way to test longevity. I think I'll just rent a gas model when I need it. too bad, it would have been a nice tool to have around the house.

I bought this unit and had it assembled an running very quickly. It was amazing. I used it all weekend (literally) and ran it almost constantly with no problems. Amazing results, using nothing but water straight out of the hose. Cleaning large areas takes a while with a smaller home unit, but that is to be expected. Family members are lining up.

I bought the model just below this one from a big box store. After about five hours of use the gaskets in the pump blew out. Luckily it was still under warranty (barely), but I expect the replacement will last about as long. If I had known I would only get 10hrs of use out the piece of junk I would never I purchased it, but would have rented a professional one from time to time.

I bought one a little over a year ago. It failed within 9 months, and the manufacturer had to send me 4 different "rebuilt" units before I got one that was OK. Now, past the 12-month warranty, it has failed again. Karcher will only repair these at one shop in Illinois. There is no local service. It's very heavy and the shipping costs are enormous.

Never again will I buy a Karcher product. I have learned my lesson!

I purchased mine from a local Sears store late last summer. It leaked a bit from the trigger handle, about enough to soak my shoes after cleaning the patio.

Stored it in a HEATED garage over the winter, WITHOUT solution in it. Tried to use it again this week, and the leak has become a torrent. Took apart the handle, there is a 3" vertical crack in a hard plastic tube that connects the flexible hose to the actual trigger. The crack is in the plastic and not a seam, so I believe the plastic part was either under engineered or made of poor plastic. In total, I've used this unit maybe 2 hours.

Tried to get help via email customer service, they were pleasant until I said that can't find my receipt. Since then they've decided to ignore my problem.

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME or MONEY ON THIS. Rent one instead.

This is a great pressure washer for home use. It fits the need. Compact for storage. I couldn't ask for anything more out of an electric pressure washer.