Silverline Silver Storm Pressure Washer What Your Patio Needs Now
Independent Review by Peter Brett
I am not the greatest gardener, nor am I that keen on living and cooking on the patio in the summer. But I do have a garden and a decent-sized patio that needs cleaning after the ravages of winter, so I was quite pleased to get the Silverline 1850w pressure washer to try out – just in time for spring. Unpacking the pressure washer from its compact box was simple, with all the parts carefully packed and secure, with wires and hose properly coiled to avoid kinks and damage.
On closer examination, the washer stands under my waist height and is quite slim and tidily arranged, so it will only take up a small corner of the garden shed when it is stored. The plastic body fully covers all the working parts so the only bits that need to show are the inlet for the water hose and the outlet to the pressure lance. In terms of enhancing electrical safety this complete covering must be a good step forward.
On top of the handle is a detergent reservoir that I find an obvious and very sensible place for it to be, since it is easy to access and fill, as well as being easy to monitor the level of detergent in the tank.
Underneath the body of the washer is a pair of 140mm diameter plastic wheels that are large enough and strong enough to allow the washer to be wheeled easily over fairly rough terrain like muddy grass and rough tarmac. Very little is needed to prepare the washer for use, as everything you need to get started is included. All you need to add is the water, hose and electrical power. The lance comes in two parts and just needs to be attached via the bayonet fitting to make a very decent-sized 80cm long instrument. This length means that reaching over a car bonnet or under a wheel arch is easy. The lance is just the right length for most users to stand upright when working, so no need for uncomfortable or back-breaking bending. A brass fitting under the handle is where the pressure hose is attached. I find this easier to use than the commonly used attachment under the lance handle, as the pressure seems to be more easily controllable. The other end of the pressure hose is screwed into the threaded socket on the bottom front of the machine.
The large trigger has a safety lock-off device to ensure that it can’t be used accidentally. At the business end of the lance is a cunning screw device that allows you to choose the spray pattern for the water. Cleaning my patio the “wide and flat” option was incredibly efficient at cleaning swathes of moss in one sweep.
There is even a “push and click” type hose connector included that is screwed onto the socket at the bottom of the washer once you have connected your hosepipe.
Under the moving handle are a pair of “horns” that are used to wind the electrical cable up when stored. These are very much needed because the washer has a generous 5 metres of waterproof rubber-coated cable attached. Users will definitely appreciate the sheer practicality of having such a generous allowance of cable, so that even if you have to use an extension cable, it is possible to keep it away from the wet and spray that will spell danger for electrical connections. Combine the cable length with the equally generous length of the pressure hose, and users will find that there is enough reach and radius to cover large patios and all the way around most ordinary cars. I have worked with washers that have smaller hoses, and believe me, they can be very limiting, because you always want to stretch just that little bit further.
Storing pressure hoses is always a slight problem for users of pressure washers since that pressure hoses are, by design, stiffish and coiled. A very cunning little plastic hook holds the lance to the side of the washer, but inevitably the pressure hose will tend to trail around a bit. There is no facility provided on the washer to store the pressure hose, but I compromised by unscrewing the lance and washer connections and looping the hose around the top of the handle above the electrical flex. This worked well, and helps keep all the bits where they can be easily attached when you want to use it again.
16 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE
www.toolbusiness.co.uk
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