Best Rated Pressure Washers

Consumersearch.com regularly does wide-based reviews of many products. They use popular rating services like Consumer Reports, Amazon ratings, Money Magazine, Popular Mechanics etc., to research how professional raters and consumers evaluate the products. This broad-based review covers a lot more territory that just a single review source, and it includes specialty retailers like Pressure Washers Direct as well as Sears, Wal-mart etc. who provide customer reviews.

In April 2009, they released their pressure washer ratings, and their research told them that these 3 machines received the highest ratings:

Best Overall Pressure Washer

Karcher K5.93M
Like last year, this electric model that was deemed to have the best mix of value and function. It is quieter than most pressure washers, and easy to use. The downside is that these aren't as long-lived as more expensive models, it isn't powerful enough to strip paint or remove stains from concrete, and the electric cord limits how far you can take it. It averages in price around $280 and will do the job that most people want: cleaning cars & other vehicles, lawn furniture, keeping driveways and decks clean.

The Karcher K5 pressure washer is pretty regularly found on eBay.

Best Light Duty Power Washer

This lightweight, portable pressure washer is good for small jobs like washing a car or bike. The low-power Karcher K 2.93, rated at 1,400 pounds per square inch (psi), makes it easy to avoid damaging paint and … tires. Despite the budget price, this pressure washer is powered by an induction motor and is covered by Karcher's rapid-exchange program during the one-year warranty period. The price includes a rotary surface cleaner to speed cleaning of small decks and patios, but for cleaning a larger area you'll need a more powerful pressure washer. Estimated price for this model is around $130.

Available on eBay, but you'll have to keep checking back since these light duty models aren't always listed. The good news is that sellers offer competitive prices and many offer free shipping.

Best Gas Powered Pressure Washer

Ridgid RD80701
This pressure washer, rated at 3,000 psi, is getting rave reviews from owners. There's enough power for any homeowner job, from cleaning big decks to stripping paint, and a flow rate of 2.6 gallons per minute (gpm) speeds… the works. Owners also praise the Subaru OHV engine, which meets even California's strict emission limits. It's unusual to find a durable pump in this price range, but the Ridgid pressure washer uses a CAT triplex pump. This is the brand and pump type that reviews find most durable, so it can actually cost less in the long run than a lower-priced pressure washer. The three-year warranty is also longer than most. Estimated prices is around $550.

This Ridgid pressure washer can be found on eBay for a discount price. Also for sale at Home Depot as this is their house brand.

Check out the consumersearch.com for the full selection of pressure washers reviewed, then come back to eBay to buy your pressure washer. Prices on eBay are the most competitive as sellers tend to be plentiful. Be sure to factor in shipping costs when making your comparisons! On bigger items this can add a substantial amount to the cost, so a good deal might not be so good once it's delivered to you.