ELECTRIC PRESSURE WASHERS

We currently sell four powerful pressure washers with water-cooled motors:

• K5 Premium Smart Control Car & Home

• K5 Premium Smart Control

• K5 Power Control

• K4 Power Control

In addition to being water-cooled, the motors on these models are also induction motors – which are generally more powerful, efficient and longer lasting than universal motors. 

No. 

The Kärcher app is available to provide useful tips and guidance when using Power Control and Smart Control models.

The app can also control the settings on the Smart Control models via Bluetooth®, if desired.

But you are able to use both the Power Control and Smart Control models with or without the app - the choice is yours. 

There is no need to buy a special hose to use with a residential power washer. A regular good quality garden hose with these specs will work perfectly:

• 5/8" or larger diameter (5/8" is the most common garden hose diameter in the US)
• 50 feet or less in length

A hose with these specifications should deliver the necessary water flow. Most homes will already have one or more.

Please also note: you also need to have a sufficient water flow rate from your home's outdoor spigots – specifically, a water flow of 4 gallons per minute at a minimum of 40 PSI. Most homes in the US will meet this requirement.

Any regular residential water supply is fine (city or well water). For optimum results, you should have a water flow of 4 gallons per minute at a minimum of 40 PSI (pounds per square inch). Most homes in the U.S. will meet this requirement.

To find out your home's water flow rate: 

1. connect your garden hose to an outside spigot
2. insert the other end of the hose into a 5 gallon bucket
3. turn the water spigot fully on
4. allow the water to run into the bucket for one minute, then switch it off
5. After you have followed the above steps, see how much water is in the bucket. It should be at least four gallons or more.

(Side note: Our K4 and K5 models can also draw water from a standing source, like a bucket or cistern. Please consult the owner's manual for additional information.)

If you need to use well water, be sure to use a water filter. If you plan to draw standing water from a bucket or lake, be sure to use a suction hose with filter.

Yes, with a few cautions.

Preferably, electric pressure washers should be used without an extension cord. However, if one is necessary please make sure it is:

• outdoor rated
• size 14 or smaller gauge (smaller gauge numbers indicate larger wires)
• no longer than 50 feet

For your safety and optimal performance, you should never:

• use an indoor extension cord with a pressure washer
• attach multiple extension cords to a pressure washer
• remove an extension cord's grounding pin
• use an extension cord without first visually inspecting it for wear and damage

Electric pressure washers are designed to be used with or without soaps and detergents.

If you choose to use soap / detergent, make sure it is specifically formulated for use with pressure washers. 

Example soaps formulated for use with pressure washers include Multipurpose Detergent and Vehicle Wash & Wax. 

Corrosive chemicals such as bleach or chlorine can harm a pressure washer's pump and should never be used. Please note that use of corrosive chemicals will void a pressure washer's warranty.

No

Residential cleaning machines are designed to work with your home’s tap water. The water temperature should not exceed 104℉. Use of hot water (e.g., from a water heater) will damage a residential pressure washer's pump.

For most homes it is not necessary to clean with hot water. Use soap / detergents instead to help loosen dirt and grime, if needed.

If you absolutely need to clean with hot water, please consider a commercial hot water pressure washer.

Kärcher K2, K3, K4 and K5 models ship with the following spray nozzles, which are built into the spray wand:

• Vario Power Spray (VPS): This nozzle allows you easily turn the water pressure up and down by simply twisting the wand. Advantage: you never need to worry about which nozzle to use! Tip: turn the wand to the lowest pressure setting to dispense detergent. 
• Dirtblaster®: Use this turbo wand when you encounter hard surfaces that need more intense pressure than the Vario nozzle provides. It concentrates the spray down to a rotating pencil jet for super intense cleaning. Not for use on delicate surfaces! (Use the Vario Power Spray on delicate surfaces)

Thr VPS and Dirtblaster attach directly to the included spray gun.

NOTE: Use caution when cleaning our patented Dirtblaster® nozzle. The intense spray from this nozzle can damage delicate surfaces or possibly strip paint. ALWAYS start with the VPS wand and move up to the Dirtblaster nozzle only when required, and only on appropriate surfaces.

Kärcher PS (Performance Series) models ship with the following Quick Connect nozzles (also called spray tips¹):

• 15° nozzle [yellow]: General purpose, use for everyday cleaning
• 65° nozzle [black]: Use to dispense detergent.
• Turbo nozzle: For use on hard surfaces with stubborn soiling and stains, this nozzle produces the most pressure. Not for use on delicate surfaces!²

Additionally, the K2100PS, K2200 PSB and K2300PS models also ship with the following Quick Connect nozzle (spray tip*):

• 40° nozzle  [white]: Use to clean more delicate surfaces

All of these Quick Connect nozzles attach to the end of the included spray wand.

¹ Some people use the term "nozzle", while others use the term "tip". Here they mean the same thing.

²NOTE: Use caution when cleaning with a Turbo nozzle. The intense spray from this nozzle can damage delicate surfaces or possibly strip paint. ALWAYS start with one of the lower pressure nozzles and move up to the Turbo nozzle only when required, and only on appropriate surfaces.

All Kärcher Home & Garden electric pressure washers are certified for safety and equipped with a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter). Furthermore, they are double insulated, so they are actually designed to work in a wet environment!

The amp draw is a house-friendly 13 amps on most models.

Every day millions of customers around the globe rely on our electric power washers to safely and easily clean their homes.

The gallons per minute (GPM) on Kärcher Home & Garden models with an electric motor ranges from 1.0 GPM to 1.5 GPM, with the most common being around 1.2 GPM to 1.3 GPM. Please see each pressure washer's product page or owner's manual for the exact GPM rating.

Kärcher residential electric pressure washers are designed to be maintenance-free. However we do offer a few tips to keep them in top shape:

• If your model has a removable detergent tank, you should rinse it after you're done cleaning.
• If you live in an area where temperatures fall below freezing, you should use a Pump Guard before storing it for the winter.
• You may also want to use a Pump Guard during the warmer months to help lubricate and protect the internal pump components.

STORAGE: All pressure washers should be stored in an area that is protected from extreme cold or heat. For most people this will be a garage, basement or tool shed.

WINTER STORAGE: Pressure washers should be drained, treated with Pump Guard and stored in a dry area that is preferably not exposed to subfreezing temperatures.

Our powerwasher models are available for sale in select US stores and online. While you can purchase Kärcher Home & Garden products here on our website, you can also find them at these fine retailers:

In store

Our pressure washers can be purchased in store at select independent and chain dealers, including

• Do It Best
• Aubuchon
• Big R
• Friedman's
• and at larger home improvement retailers on a seasonal basis

Online

Shop 24/7 at these retailers' websites:

• Amazon
• Home Depot
• HSN
• Lowe's
• Pressure Washers Direct
• QVC
• Target
• Tractor Supply
• Walmart

This is only a partial list. If you don't see your favorite retailer listed, please contact the retailer directly for availability information.

Troubleshooting help for Kärcher Home & Garden products can can be found at:

• The Kärcher FAQ's page
• Kärcher's dedicated tech support help website (where you can get US-based email support): karcher-help.com 
• Kärcher's US-based call center: please call 800-537-4129

All of these troubleshooting and customer care services are offered free of charge to owners of Kärcher Home & Garden products. We're here to help!

Kärcher K6 and K7 pressure washers are not available in the US due to their voltage requirements.

In Europe the standard voltage is 230v. The K6 and K7 are demanding machines that require 230v in order to operate.

In the USA, the standard voltage is 120v. Therefore we are able to offer our K2 - K5 models (up to 2100 PSI) but not our K6 and K7 models.

SIDE NOTE: 120v Electric pressure washers that claim to generate significantly more than 2300 PSI in the US are often ignoring PSI measurement standards or measuring PSI in laboratory conditions that don't match real world use. Be informed! 

The OC 3 will be available in the US market starting in March 2024. Read more about the low pressure, highly portable OC 3 Mobile Cleaner. 

Kärcher has manufacturing facilities around the globe. Designed and engineered in Germany, Kärcher pressure washers sold in the US are made in the following countries:

• Our current K 4 and K 5 models are made in Italy
• Most of our K 2 and K 3 models are made in Germany (except the Entry and Follow Me models)
• All other Home & Garden models with an electric motor are made in China. 
• Our Home & Garden gas pressure washers are made in North America (Mexico).