Q: I want a Karcher Pressure Washer with a built-in detergent tank-no siphoning. Is the Model K2.425 my only choice? I will be using the unit for general exterior house cleaning,etc. No commercial work. by Arnold on February 25, 2012
A: No, there are a few models that Karcher offers with a detergent tank or bottle. Along with this model, models K3.48M, K3.740, & K5.740 have either a detergent tank or bottle built into the machine. by Bill, Product Expert
Q: I need to pwer wash brick, cinder block, and blue slate at my home. Which power washer will get the job done? by Reese from New York on June 27, 2011
A: Something lik this would do the job, as long as this is just a cleaning and not a deep clean or resurface. It is most likely going to take you a while to do this, but would should do the job. You may want to bump up to something a little more powerful though to cut down your cleaning time and make everything easier.
Q: Comparing the different Karcher models, I still have the same 2 basic questions.1) Does motor shut off with the trigger wand? and 2) where the water hose connects is it metal or plastic and is a kit needed to covert it to metal? by Judy Averhart from Mississippi on March 27, 2011
A: Yes all Karcher electric models have the total stop feature when you release the trigger gun. Some of the Karcher models have brass water inlet fittings and some models have plastic. This specific model has plastic garden hose fittings and comes with a plastic quick connect attachment to prevent the user from cross threading the threads. To convert the fittings to plastic, you would have to purchase a brass garden hose quick connect kit.
I posted the product below that I am referring to:
Q: Do you have any self priming pressure washers for sale (gas or electric) ? I have wood deck on my 1/2 acre pond to clean & would like to be able to use the pond water. Thankyou. by John from Ohio on March 25, 2011
A: Yes, all Karcher branded pressure washers both the gas and electric versions have self priming pumps that can pull water from a standing source such as a tank or pond. We also sell Kranzle and DirtKiller brand pressure washers which too have self priming pumps. Kranzle and DirtKiller only offer professional grade pressure washers while Karcher offers residential and prosumer grade models.
I would definitely recommend that you use a filter on the end of the hose that is placed in the pond to prevent debris from entering the pump. Karcher makes a hose with filter for this purpose that we sell as an accessory. by Bill, Product Expert
Q: What happens when you use hot water in a Karcher electric power washer? I never knew they were (Electric-Cold Water) listed. by Bob Mills from Michigan on March 25, 2011
A: Karcher's cold water pressure washers can accept water up to 104F degrees. This is common with all cold water pressure washers. Using water hotter than 104F degrees in a cold water pressure washer will definitely damage and wear away the seals in the pump, causing the pump to fail. This is the fastest way to damage a pump that is rated for "cold water". by Bill, Product Expert
Q: Just bought the Karcher 3.74 from you guys. What is the "Pump Guard" which is recommended for storing and protecting the pump? And how do I use such? by Preben Jensen from California on March 24, 2011
A: The Karcher pump guard is a chemical that is designed to extend the life of the pump and the seals within. Pump guard or pump saver as it is also called, will lubricate the seals in the pump and also prevent any water that is left inside the pump from freezing during the colder months.
To use this product, you simply attach it to your garden hose water inlet fitting and turn the machine on for a few seconds. Once the chemical exits the outlet high pressure fitting, the pump is protected.
You should defintely run this chemical through the pump every time you are going to store your pressure washer away for extended periods of time such as over 30 days. You should also run this chemical through the pump periodically throughout the year to keep the seals moist. by Bill, Product Expert
Overall Rating
3.6
(Based on 9 Reviews)
Sort By
Bill Mikenis, Product Expert Pressure Washers Direct
Bill's Recommendation
Our "Best" slot goes to the newest design in electric pressure washers- the X Series from Karcher.
They have re-engineered their axial cam pump using a new polymer that completely resists corrosion, allowing the pump to last much longer than aluminum versions.
This unit comes with an on-board detergent tank, which is far more convenient than having to drag a bucket around. The reliability of this model surpasses pretty much any other model we carry in this category.
Karcher also includes a Dirtblaster Turbo Wand for hard-to-remove, embedded stains. With this turbo wand the K2.425 delivers great results cleaning durable surfaces like concrete, stone, & pavement.
For added peace of mind, the “Rapid Exchange” warranty that Karcher offers is superb and hassle-free should any issues arise.
September 01, 2012
Patricia M. Antioch, IL
Could Be Better
I bought this unit mainly to wash the siding on my house. I knew the power would not be strong but I wanted to be able to do an adequate job without dragging a heavy machine around.The unit is light and the motor seems to work well.
My biggest complaint is the wand hose. It is not flexible at all and very difficult to work with. When you use an electric power washer you have three big headaches: the power cord, the wand hose and the water hose. You want as much flexibility as possible and this wand hose kinks up and is almost impossible to straighten out.
I checked to see if I could get another hose and found it would cost about a third of the cost of the unit itself and then I don't know if it would work any better. I used to own a Husky and the hose worked much better than the Karcher.
Also this unit is all plastic and I don't have a lot of hope for its longevity, especially at the connections. The other headache is there is no place on the unit itself to store all of its parts. There is no storage for the sprayers and the wand hose.
PWD RESPONDS: If you can lay the hose out straight in the sun it will relax a bit; then coiling it in loops (not wrapped around your arm) when you store it may help limit kinking.
I bought this unit mainly to wash the siding on my house. I knew the power would not be strong but I wanted to be able to do an adequate job without dragging a heavy machine around.The unit is light and the motor seems to work well.
My biggest complaint is the wand hose. It is not flexible at all and very difficult to work with. When you use an electric power washer you have three big headaches: the power cord, the wand hose and the water hose. You want as much flexibility as possible and this wand hose kinks up and is almost impossible to straighten out.
After several attempts to get the pressure washer to draw water from the lake with this attachment, I gave up, since no water was making it to the pressure washer.
The washer itself worked fine once connected to water from our well, but would not draw lake water. Service indicated that if the height of the draw from the lake was in excess of two feet, it might not work. This draw was less than two feet and it still did not work, making this component useless.
I am retuning it, hopefully for a full credit. There is an element of false advertising here, since the promotional material indicates that all Karcher pressure washers will draw water from a pond or tank. Apparently, they all do not.
PWD RESPONDS: Karcher's pumps are one of the few that will self-prime, meaning they don't need the back pressure from city water that most other pumps need.
They are not powerful enough to suck water up hill or against gravity- so that 2 foot limit is on relatively level ground as opposed to straight up and over the side of a boat, for instance.
They work well with gravity fed water tanks or a short hop from a lake to a dock where the water level is close to the dock.
If you need to move water uphill from a pond, lake, or up and over the edge of a tank then you may need a pump designed for that purpose, which would then feed your pressure washer.
After several attempts to get the pressure washer to draw water from the lake with this attachment, I gave up, since no water was making it to the pressure washer.
The washer itself worked fine once connected to water from our well, but would not draw lake water. Service indicated that if the height of the draw from the lake was in excess of two feet, it might not work. This draw was less than two feet and it still did not work, making this component useless.
I am retuning it, hopefully for a full credit. There is an element of false advertising here, since ... more
July 25, 2012
John C. Saranac Lake, NY
Electric Pressure Washer
Once I determined that this unit would not pump water from the lake and hooked it up directly to our well, the unit worked fine. It might be a little under powered for my use, cleaning a wood deck of three years of dirt and algae that results from living within thirty feet of a lake and a little more power would have helped. But the electric unit worked just as well as the gas unit I previously used, except that its range is limited by its power cord. There were no leaks whatsoever, and the detergent unit worked ok, once you reealize that it is to be applied before power washing as a soak, and not during the actual power washing phase. If I had to do it over again, I would get a 2000 psi model.
Once I determined that this unit would not pump water from the lake and hooked it up directly to our well, the unit worked fine. It might be a little under powered for my use, cleaning a wood deck of three years of dirt and algae that results from living within thirty feet of a lake and a little more power would have helped. But the electric unit worked just as well as the gas unit I previously used, except that its range is limited by its power cord. There were no leaks whatsoever, and the detergent unit worked ok, once you reealize that it is to be applied before power washing as a soak, ... more
July 16, 2012
Jerry Chalfont, PA
Life Cycle On The Spraying Head
The one wand with the adjusable spray tip only work one time. We cleaned and it still does not work. You would think it has a longer life cycle.
The rest of the unit is working great.
April 12, 2012
George H. Copperas Cove, TX
Unknown Karcher X Series 1600
I purchased the Karcher K2.425 about a year ago. Its a great pressure washer. I ran into a problem when squirrels invaded my barn during the winter and decided to gnaw on the detergent tank and the inlet assembly. I figured Id contact Karcher about my problem and buy the necessary parts to repair the item. Im 73 and find this machine to be relatively simple. Everywhere I went to on line, this power washer cant be found. Authorized dealers cant find the specs for this washer. I finally found one company who is suppose to be able to get parts for eveything made. No such luck. The difficulty, again, was to find a listing for this washer. Next, there was no listing for the parts I needed. I was told to be patiernt while they contact Karcher. I still havent heard from this company. There seems to be a problem with obtaining parts to repair these washers. There also seems to be a problem with identifing the x series of Karcher. I did notice one thing in my search, it seems like the x series is made in Germany and the rest of the washers are made in China. I need help to obtain parts, not all the excuses Ive received from different companies. I was told to go to an authorized repair business in my town. I did this and found out that I know more about this washer then they do. They have no idea about these machines or how to obtain parts. The official Karcher web site is poorly presented.When I finally found a phone number to talk to a tech, she had no listing of my particular washer. It was back to the computer and more research to find someone who could help me. As of right now, I have a new washer that I cant use because of lack of knowledge about this particular washer.
PWD RESPONDS: The only clue we can provide is to check with the place you bought it (we didn't find you in our files), and see which distributor they purchased it from; then find out where they got the unit from.
If it was imported through South America or Africa it may have a different model name than Karcher USA is familiar with.
I purchased the Karcher K2.425 about a year ago. Its a great pressure washer. I ran into a problem when squirrels invaded my barn during the winter and decided to gnaw on the detergent tank and the inlet assembly. I figured Id contact Karcher about my problem and buy the necessary parts to repair the item. Im 73 and find this machine to be relatively simple. Everywhere I went to on line, this power washer cant be found. Authorized dealers cant find the specs for this washer. I finally found one company who is suppose to be able to get parts for eveything made. No such luck. The difficulty, a... more
September 27, 2011
Norman H. Ontario, NY
Major Disappointment
It is a major disappointment. It only has enough pressure to wet the deck. There was more pressure straight from the water hose than from the washer
PWD RESPONDS: Obviously there's a problem- please check to make sure your garden hose is 30 feet or less, and isn't kinked; then check to make sure there's no grit or debris blocking the screen filter where the garden hose attaches to the pressure washer.
Please squeeze the spray gun trigger and let the water run through the unit before you turn it on; this clears any vapor lock. There are some basic troubleshooting tips in your Owner's Manual; if these don't help please contact the folks at Karcher directly, toll free, at (800) 537-4129.
It is a major disappointment. It only has enough pressure to wet the deck. There was more pressure straight from the water hose than from the washer
PWD RESPONDS: Obviously there's a problem- please check to make sure your garden hose is 30 feet or less, and isn't kinked; then check to make sure there's no grit or debris blocking the screen filter where the garden hose attaches to the pressure washer.
Please squeeze the spray gun trigger and let the water run through the unit before you turn it on; this clears any vapor lock. There are some basic troubleshooting ... more
July 12, 2011
Jerry V. Niles, MI
Karcher X Series 1600 Psi (electric-cold Water) Pressure Washer Review
This Is My 2nd Washer...
First One, Used It For Less Than 3 Hours, and Would Not Work...Called Karcher...Received Warranty People Phone Number. Delivered to Warranty People, They Called Back Next Day.. the On and Off Unit On Cord Was Bad...Warranty People Called Karcher..They Said Could Not Repair Because Had a Part # But No Price Available On That Part...When Told No Price Needed Because It Was Warranty...They Insisted No Repair... a Runaround of Three Days.
I Called Karcher Back He Told Me Then I Would Have to Send the Part in..They Would Have to Inspect It..and Then Make a Determination...Which Would Take Two Weeks.. He Said That Is Policy!!!!!I Needed the Unit Now to Finish Project...
Called Pressure Washers Direct and Told Them My Story...They Seemed Baffled by Karcher Decision...He Made Arrangements to Warranty It Have Another Sent to Me in Three Days....I Have Now Over 20 Hours On the New Unit...
Very Happy With the Performance...Note: Don'T Expect to Receive Warranty Satisfaction From Karcher.
Pwd Responds: We Will Pass Your Comments Along to Our Karcher Contacts. They Try Very Hard to Provide Good Customer Service, and We'Re Sure They Will Use This as An Opportunity For Improvement.
Most Electric Pressure Washers Are Covered by Karcher's Rapid Exchange Program, Where They Send Out a Replacement Machine Once They Get the Malfunctioning One Back. Since the X Series Is New, They May Want to Keep a Closer Eye On Any Problems That Arise.
Be That as It May, We'Re Glad We Were Able to Help, and You'Re Happy With the Replacement Unit!
This Is My 2nd Washer...
First One, Used It For Less Than 3 Hours, and Would Not Work...Called Karcher...Received Warranty People Phone Number. Delivered to Warranty People, They Called Back Next Day.. the On and Off Unit On Cord Was Bad...Warranty People Called Karcher..They Said Could Not Repair Because Had a Part # But No Price Available On That Part...When Told No Price Needed Because It Was Warranty...They Insisted No Repair... a Runaround of Three Days.
I Called Karcher Back He Told Me Then I Would Have to Send the Part in..They Would Have to Inspect It..a... more
May 25, 2011
Jerry VanD. Niles, MI
Did Very Well
My main use is for landscaping blocks. What made me decide on this model was the rotating nozzle.
I needed power enough to take off moss, residue and ground in dirt. This model has done just that. I was disappointed about the water leak spray I get from the hose connection. Tried three different connections and no luck. It does not take away from the performance, its just annoying.
Just cleaned over 200 blocks, did very well.
PWD RESPONDS: You could try wrapping a small piece of teflon pipe tape (about 99 cents @ a hardware store) around the hose threads. It should stop the leak in a jiffy.
A set of quick connects between your garden hose and the pressure washer, although more expensive, will also keep any leakage to a minimum, and is easier than finding the roll of pipe tape every time you want to use the pressure washer.
My main use is for landscaping blocks. What made me decide on this model was the rotating nozzle.
I needed power enough to take off moss, residue and ground in dirt. This model has done just that. I was disappointed about the water leak spray I get from the hose connection. Tried three different connections and no luck. It does not take away from the performance, its just annoying.
Just cleaned over 200 blocks, did very well.
PWD RESPONDS: You could try wrapping a small piece of teflon pipe tape (about 99 cents @ a hardware store) around the h... more
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Owners Manual
