Choose an electric pressure washer: ratings, hose, cord and US packages

Separate maximum, rated and unlabeled figures

Maximum pressure is reached when flow is restricted, and maximum flow is reached when pressure is low. Greenworks states this directly for its 2700 class unit: 2700 max PSI at 1.2 GPM, and 2.3 GPM at 100 PSI. Westinghouse publishes both a max pair, 2300 PSI and 1.76 GPM at lowest pressure, and a rated pair, 1900 PSI with 1.2 or 1.24 GPM depending on the document. Multiplying a maximum pressure by a maximum flow produces a number that no setting of the machine delivers.

Some makers publish only one kind of figure. Sun Joe labels 2030 PSI and 1.2 GPM as certified rated and prints no maximum. RYOBI publishes 1900 PSI and 1.2 GPM without a label on the pages read. In this catalogue, an unlabeled figure is recorded where the maker placed it and the basis is spelled out in a separate field. Unknown means a distinct figure was not published; it does not mean the rated and maximum values are equal.

Treat certification wording as a label, not a test

A brand page may say its electric washers are certified by the Pressure Washer Manufacturers Association, and a product page may carry a PWMA Certified badge or mention a CSA listing. These statements identify a program the maker refers to. They do not tell you the standard revision, the test conditions or whether the exact SKU in front of you was the unit measured. Record the wording, keep the standard number only when it is printed, and avoid turning a badge into a performance ranking.

Check the motor description against the manual

Universal, brushless and induction describe different motor constructions, and marketing pages do not always match the manual. For the Greenworks GWP2700 the product page describes a brushless 15 A motor while the linked manual lists a universal motor at 14 A. The Greenworks 1800 PSI manual names a universal motor and the page states brushless motor: no. Westinghouse publishes only 120 V, 60 Hz and 13 A. When sources disagree the catalogue keeps both statements as a conflict; the rating label on the delivered unit is the place to settle it.

The electrical input matters for the outlet you will use. Every unit here is a 120 V, 60 Hz corded machine and the manuals advise against or restrict extension cords. Read the manual requirements for the circuit and cord gauge instead of relying on a general rule.

Measure reach by hose, cord and GFCI, not by a slogan

Hose length and cord length are separate specifications and neither is a working radius. The packages here pair a 25 ft hose with a 35 ft cord, or a 20 ft hose with a 35 ft cord, and one Greenworks unit stores its 20 ft hose on a reel but does not publish its cord length. Hose descriptions such as kink-resistant, non-marring or wire-reinforced are supplier wording, not measured properties. Westinghouse is the only maker among these to publish the hose diameter and the M22 quick-connect fitting, which is the detail you need when buying a longer hose.

A GFCI built into the plug or cord is documented for all five packages, either on the product page or in the manual. This catalogue records it as a component the maker lists. It is not a safety certification and does not replace the manual instructions for testing the device before use.

Weigh the body style against where you will store it

Published weights run from 19 lb dry for the compact Westinghouse unit to 47.0 lb for the wheeled Greenworks 2700, with the Sun Joe upright at 24.3 lb and the RYOBI wheeled frame at 21 lb from its Canadian manufacturer listing. Check whether a weight is dry, assembled or packaged; Westinghouse prints both dry and package weights. Wheels, a telescoping handle, casters, cord arms and nozzle panels change how a unit moves and stores, but body dimensions are not the clearance you need with the hose, wand and cord attached.

Detergent systems also differ in kind. A 1-gallon onboard tank, a 20 oz tank, two removable 0.9 L tanks and a tank that installs on the trigger gun are different handling arrangements. None of them establishes compatibility with a particular cleaning product or a cleaning result.

Confirm the exact US package before ordering

Count the nozzles for the SKU you are buying. RYOBI lists three, Sun Joe and Westinghouse list five, the Greenworks 2700 lists five without a 0 degree tip, and the Greenworks 1800 page lists four while its manual packing list names two. Bundle pages that add a foam cannon, surface cleaner or water broom are separate offers, and a pictured accessory is not included unless the package list names it. Nozzle angles describe spray pattern; they do not establish that a surface will be cleaned or left undamaged.

Keep the model suffix with the listing. SPX3000 shares its name with XT, XT1, QW2 and MAX offers that publish different ratings, ePX3100 is not the ePX3100v, and the RYOBI US page shows RY1419MT while the manufacturer specification table carries RY1419MTVNM. Where a page showed the unit as sold out or out of stock when it was read, that is noted; prices, stock and ratings are not part of this catalogue.