Pressure washers come in corded electric, battery-powered and petrol-powered forms: corded machines keep you connected to mains electricity, battery models need charging, and petrol models need fuel and engine upkeep. Petrol engines must run outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents because of their exhaust. Start by deciding where the washer will stand and how far you need to work from it, accounting for both its power source and its water supply.
Hose reach determines how often you must move the washer when cleaning around a car, along a fence or across a patio. Among the 12 products that list hose length, most fall between 20 and 25 feet, and 25 feet is typical. Allow for routing around obstacles instead of judging reach by the straight-line distance to the farthest spot. A longer hose can reduce repositioning, but leaves more hose to coil and store. If steps separate your cleaning areas, compare item weight and lifting-handle placement; wheels help on a continuous path but do little for carrying the machine upstairs.
Next, match the spray controls to the surfaces you intend to clean. Check whether pressure washing is permitted by the surface manufacturer's care instructions, then look for suitable nozzle patterns and adjustable working pressure for those tasks. A concentrated jet can damage paint, timber and joints, so interchangeable tips are useful when their spray patterns suit the work. Maximum pressure and maximum flow rate cannot tell you suitability on their own: compare the manual's working settings for the same task, and look for the nozzle and water-supply conditions behind advertised performance. For broad paving, compatibility with a surface-cleaning attachment is worth checking to avoid buying a machine that cannot support the attachment you intend to use.
Before buying, confirm the required water-inlet pressure and supply flow, and whether the washer can draw from a container if no tap is available. The tank-volume filter needs closer inspection: establish whether it describes a detergent reservoir, fuel tank or water container before using it to judge capacity. Hose extensions, spray guns and cleaning attachments need matching connectors and suitable operating ratings; compatible accessories may be sold separately. For detergent use, the manual should identify permitted formulas, how detergent is applied and how to flush the system afterward. Finally, check the pump's draining and frost-storage instructions, plus availability of replacement seals and inlet filters.
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