As a result, I left the patio roof looking like an unfinished job. Again, that’s not a problem that’s exclusive to the Mac Allister 1,800W, but if you’re looking to buy a pressure washer for the purpose of cleaning your conservatory roof, you might want to reconsider. Mac Allister 1,800W review: Verdict Our in-house experts at the GHI assessed the pressure washers' performance on common outdoor cleaning tasks, using their high-power jet sprays to take on muddy patios, windows and cars. The testers noted how easy the pressure washer was to set up, use, manoeuvre and, of course, the time it took to get the job done. For fences, dirty cars and cleaning grime off paving slabs, look for a model with 120 bars of pressure. Anything above this is best reserved for complete garden overhauls and other industrial outdoor tasks. Flow rate

This all depends on how much you can afford and how powerful and durable you want your pressure washer to be. Medium duty pressure washers tend to be a mix of high-end own-brand models and cheaper premium-brand models. As such, you'll find a confusing array of high-powered-but-basic models by garden machinery brands such as Stihl or Nilfisk, mid-powered Karcher, Bosch or Vax models with some choice of accessories, and high-powered and highly accessorised machines from Qualcast and Mac Allister.To choose the best pressure washer for you it is worth taking time to think about what you'll be cleaning, how dirty it will be and how often you'll use it. The window and patio cleaning tests factored in whether the pressure washer left an attractive streak-free appearance, and during muddy car washing, they paid particular attention to whether the pressure washer was able to access all the nooks and crannies, including wheel arches and the underside of the car. Patio cleaner attachment: circular plastic hoods with a brush around the bottom edge. Stops you having to stoop and helps ensure dirty water doesn't spray everywhere.

Pressure washer pump fails - Store the pressure washer in a frost-free place, such as a cupboard in the house, and make sure that the water is turned on and at adequate pressure before running the pump. Takes steps to remedy a pulsing pressure washer. Pressure washers (also known as jet washers and power washers) deliver a powerful concentrated jet of water to remove dirt more efficiently than a brush, and using less water than you would with a garden hose. If you’ve ever tried to take on a muddy patio with just a brush and some elbow grease, you’ll know that some garden jobs just need a little extra investment. While all of the models can be used with detergent (the 1,300W model requires an external detergent pump), none come with any in the box. Nilfisk's entry level models tend to have more powerful motors and come with an aluminium pump head rather than a plastic one for durability.And if you don’t have access to a tap, it’s important to note that there’s no option to draw rainwater from a water butt. There is, however, a built-in detergent tank – not something you find with every affordable pressure washer. Mac Allister 1,800W review: Cleaning performance

The most powerful models cost hundreds of pounds so to avoid your pressure washer breaking, take a look at how to avoid issues, such as leaking and pump failure.Electric pressure washers are more suited to domestic cleaning, while petrol pressure washers are designed for professional, large-scale jobs. Best for: Cleaning small areas of lightly soiled paving, bicycles, small cars and garden furniture. Buying a new pressure washer can be confusing. There are usually several models in each manufacturer's range, with different types of motors and impenetrable model numbers which mean that useful accessories are either included in the price, or have to be bought as an extra. Karcher has a higher customer score of 78% (sample size: 2,271) versus Nilfisk's 74% (sample size: 185). This reflects how satisfied respondents are with the brand and how likely they would be to recommend it.

Best for: Cleaning extensive areas of paving, grimy 4-wheel drive vehicles, commercial vehicles and caravans In the end, I abandoned the brushes in favour of the vario nozzle, twisting it to the high-powered pencil jet spray (it also offers a wider, gentler spray). The impact was immediate, and within moments all the ingrained mud, oil and bird poo was nowhere to be seen. Our expert advice will help you find one that has the right power and features for your cleaning jobs. Light duty It undoubtedly has its faults – that broken adapter left me tearing my hair out and I doubt I’ll ever use the brushes out again – but if you’re looking for a pressure washer on a strict budget, it’s not a bad option.

Thanks to their concentrated water jets, pressure washers will save you valuable hours on the most heavy-duty tasks, as well as being incredibly satisfying to use on dirt and grime. The first thing you need to consider when investing in a pressure washer is which area or outdoor items you’re looking to clean. This will determine how much pressure – measured in bars – you need your washer to have. Wheels: handy for heavier models. But, if you have lots of uneven ground or steps make sure you can still carry the machine. Fewer owners of Karcher pressure washers experienced faults within the first seven years of owning it - 8% said they had (sample size: 2,271) versus 16% of Nilfisk owners (sample size: 185). My other main gripe with this Mac Allister pressure washer is that the adapter that connects the water hose to the machine shattered the first time I turned on the tap. It’s possible I hadn’t connected it properly, but you’d still hope it would be more robust than that.