Kärcher Washer – Clean up and also Beat the Hosepipe Ban
I am sure that you all groan, as I do, when you hear contestants on the “X Factor” talk tearfully about their “journey” on the program. I feel as though I had a “journey” trying out this Kärcher Xpert Deluxe, and this was entirely due to the circumstances of the test, rather than any shortcomings of the machine. In fact it might have been a “journey“ with an Unhappy Ending if it wasn’t for the Kärcher. So let us begin. I have been plagued by a growth of moss on my
front path and down the side of the house for a while. It wasn’t until my neighbour reported it to me that I realized that the cause of the moss was a slightly overflowing drain. What better real-life scenario than to test the power of the Kärcher clearing a mossy path and trying to unblock a slightly dodgy drain? Now this Kärcher Xpert Deluxe has a clever trick
– it is able to beat the current hosepipe ban by using a filtered pipe to feed the pressure pump straight from a water butt or even from a cleanish pond or stream. It involved a bit of back and forth from the water butt, but I was able to feed the Kärcher from one of those flexible garden buckets, so I was well within reach of the garden path. So just a quick look at this Kärcher Xpert before I proceed with the “journey”. Unpacking the Kärcher I realized that this was
This is not because using a pair of scissors is difficult, but simply that you need a Torx screwdriver to remove the tank cover, and in my experience most people don’t have ready access to a Torx screwdriver. I searched the box, but I don’t think one is supplied. Once all the hoses etc are plugged in and the handgun is assembled with your choice of nozzle, it is time to power up and you can start squirting. If patio cleaning is the
reason you want a pressure washer, then the Xpert Deluxe will also take care of that. Included is a brush that clips neatly onto the end of the pressure gun. You should alter the pressure nozzle to “detergent” setting for this. At the back of the washer is a detergent pipe with a filter. This pipe needs to be pulled out and placed into a container of approved detergent and it will feed through automatically to the pressure hose when you start pressure washing. But to return to the
“journey” – I fully expected the level of pressure I got from using a bucket instead of directly from a hose to be a lot less, but it wasn’t. I got going on the moss and I managed to clear a five metre length of path in about five minutes. You might expect that I used more than a bucketful of water for this, but in fact, the pressure spray is not only powerful, but pretty economical as well. (Not to advertise too much, I did try the washer with a direct hose feed too, and you can’t tell the difference in pressure.) Suitably emboldened by my success with the
indeed a professional quality pressure washer. It is heavy, but fortunately it stands on a pair of 20cm diameter wheels, so is easy to move about. There is of course a loop handle on the top and a cunning handhold underneath the pressure tank, so it is possible to lift it bodily if you need to. The Xpert Deluxe has another fine feature
which is a hose drum, around which the very impressive length of fifteen metres of pressure hose can be wound, so you really can work at some distance from the washer. This helps to keep the machine a decent distance from high-pressure water spray and the inevitable debris that accompanies most pressure washing jobs. There is a five metre length of plug cable as well,
so again, this keeps a distance between electrical power and water. Getting the pressure washer going straight out of
the box is quite simple. The only job that is a bit tricky is removing the nipple from the cap of the oil tank.
18 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE
moss, I refilled the bucket, took off the gridded drain cover and directed the full power of the pressure lance straight down the drain. The resulting spray flew up, narrowly missing me, so it was clear that the drain was only draining a very little at a time. I decided to use the half-bucket of water left on the front path and return to pressure wash the drain again in a while. This I did. The drain gave an audible gurgle and started draining away as normal. Amazing! The power of the Kärcher had done its job. I couldn’t believe how easily this had been achieved. But something was floating on top of the drain, so I reached in and pulled out the semi- rotting corpse of a bird – probably one of the rooks that nest around here. My smelly “journey” was over. But I have to admit to a certain satisfaction of having a beautifully clear path and a fragrant drain, and without the power and drought-busting capability of this Kärcher
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Xpert Deluxe I would not have had the problems solved so quickly. Tidying up the machine after use is so much easier
than many other pressure washers I have used. The pressure hose needs to be straightened out and kink- free, and then it is a simple matter to wind it on to the hose reel. The pressure lance has a space next to the handle with a clip that actually works to hold it in place. The electrical cable is wound around the cleats at the back of the machine and it is all neatly in place so that the machine is easy to move. This Kärcher Xpert Deluxe would have
endeared itself to me without my “journey” because it is quite simply, a great piece of kit. Efficient, easy to use and powerful, it does a great job at the more professional end of the range of pressure washers. Thanks Kärcher.
Reply No. 207
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