Karcher 1,750 PSI 120-Volt Electric Pressure Washer #K 3.67 M

Leaked like a sieve at the water hose connection, whined for a minute then tripped out. Never got any pressure. It's on its way back.

I've had a consumer grade Karcher electric pressure washer for a number of years, and the one listed here is no different. It has served me faithfully for many years until yesterday, when I stepped on the input garden hose just in front of its input hose bib - crack!! (*&#$*&(*&#$

Its input hose bib was plastic (polycarbonate?) and not strain relieved!!!

I dissassebled the plastic case (deeply recessed torx screws!! - no problem) and discovered that the plastic hose bib is integrated into the cylinder head and was non-replaceable.

Karcher's web site has no useful consumer information re: non-waranty repairs or parts. Only non-waranty repairs are for pro-grade gas washers (which have nice brass hose bibs by the way). No parts list available for my model and discontinued.

I ended up encasing the cracked hose bib with epoxy putty. Sealing the margins with RTV silicone, then conpressing the RTV with adhesive conpression tape, so maybe I can finish my deck project before having to buy a new washer.

What I find disheartening is here you have a moderately expensive piece of equipment, ~$200, with moderately expensive components (electric motor, precision machined pistons, check valves, GFI switch, etc.) and it's completely destroyable by a non-replaceable, non-strain relieved, externally exposed, cheap plastic hose bib! They could have put in a brass one, or mechanically supported the plastic one, or even mechanically decoupled the whole thing by a short flexible section of hose!

-Bruce

Neither the manufacturer nor the retailer stock replacement parts for these units. If it fails in the warranty period (three months), they replace the whole thing. When I accidentally stripped the threads on the inlet hose connection I went to Karcher for a replacement. They sent me to two companies that supply spare parts. Neither had the part, even though it showed up in Karcher's thorough online parts list. They couldn't get it from Karcher either. No explanation, except that Karcher showed a list price of $60 for the unobtainable part and that seemed more than anyone would pay.

This is my second Karcher pressure washer. The first one was bought at Costco about 15 years ago. It was a 1500psi. I was quite pleased with it because it cleaned my deck, my neighbors' decks and my mother's vinyl siding around the entire house, plus the gutters. It probably would have lasted longer, but I lent it to a neighbor who kept it outside for months after using it. Of course, by the time I wanted to use it again it was busted. That's the end of letting my neighbor use my stuff!

I purchased my K 3.67 from Walmart on Monday. I paid $160. Although the unit was packaged like new, when I opened the box, the unit itself looked like it might have been "reconditioned" becuase there were a few dings and dust on the yellow housing, but I went ahead and put it together. It came with the two wands and a brush attachment. I used it yesterday to clean my 20' x 12' deck and part of my house's aluminum siding. It worked great. It is relatively quiet and easy to use. The only drawback is the hose placements on the unit. Because the hoses hook up close to each other, it is quite easy for them to get tangled together. I hate that! Plus there is no where to store the hose and elctrical cord on the unit. My old one had a reel that at least held the hose and wand, but this one stores only the wands. The pressure was adequate for my needs I guess, but it you need more power for extra large areas or very, very heavily soiled decks, I would suggest a more powerful unit. It took me at least 6 hours to do my deck, but that included moving stuff around, etc. Plus, my deck had not been cleaned in at least 8 years, so I was extra diligent in taking my time and doing a respectable job. I'm an old broad, so speed is not one of my strong points...

Our second Karcher pressure washer has bit the dust in a 4 year period. The pump broke on both of them. I do not recommend purchasing a Karcher pressure washer.