Before you buy a pressure washer, you have to ask yourself how much power you really need to accomplish the various kinds of cleaning you need to do. A good electric pressure washer is far more suitable for most homeowners than gas-powered alternatives. Gas-powered pressure washers are largely for professional commercial operations because they need the extra power. More importantly, professionals know how to use them without hurting themselves or damaging the items or surfaces they are cleaning.
The combustion motor needed on a gas-powered pressure washer is much bigger than electric motors. There also must be a gas tank to hold the fuel. Because these machines are designed for professionals, the hose is going to stretch longer than most homeowners will ever need. All these features mean gas-powered machines are bigger, bulkier, and much heavier than the electric pressure washers that will satisfy any homeowner’s needs.
The difference here is no joke. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a gas-powered pressure washer that weighs under 60 pounds, and it’s going to take up significantly more room in your garage—where storage space is scarce to begin with. By contrast, the Worx 1500 PSI model is about the size of a toolbox (17 inches long, 12 inches high) and weighs only 15.8 pounds. Our 1600 PSI model sits in a vertical rolling cart frame with wheels and includes a handy hose reel, and it still only weighs about 29 pounds.
It’s also worth mentioning that by burning gasoline to power the machine, you’re producing polluting emissions that have negative impacts on both human health and the planet’s atmosphere. An electric model has environmental impacts as well, depending on how the electricity is produced, but cleaner electricity is on the rise. If you buy a gas-powered machine, you are guaranteed to be polluting the environment every time you use it.
