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How to save water with a Kärcher pressure washer

BMW sedan sitting in a driveway next to a Karcher Pressure Washer
Pressure washers are great for cleaning many things around the house, including cars, decks, pavers and outdoor furniture. But did you know they can help you save water? Find out how.

How much water does a Kärcher pressure washer use?

In New Zealand water can be a precious resource and at times, water restrictions may apply in some regions. To encourage more kiwis to clean smart, Kärcher conducted an experiment to test just how little water a Kärcher pressure washer actually uses when cleaning a standard size car compared to a garden hose.

A standard garden hose uses 25L of water per minute, while a Kärcher K4 Pressure Washer uses 7L per minute; but just how many litres do you save by switching over to Kärcher?

In Kärcher's experiment it took 2:40 minutes of pressure washer use to clean the car, meaning a total of 16.5 litres of water was used. If we used a garden hose for the same amount of time to clean the vehicle, a total of 66.5 litres would be used. So, by switching over to Kärcher, a total of 50 litres of water could be saved.

You may have also noticed in the video above that syphoned water out of a bucket instead of a mains tap. This is a simple process that can be done with any type of Kärcher's K3–K7 pressure washer range.

Water restriction rules vary between regions. During periods of water restrictions, some councils may limit vehicle washing methods or require water-efficient practices. Always check your local council's water restriction rules before washing your vehicle. In addition to using a bucket, Kärcher pressure washers can also draw water from rainwater tanks. Rules around the use of rainwater tanks may vary between regions, so it's important to check local requirements. In many cases, it's as simple as connecting your garden hose to the tank outlet. If your tank does not have a tap, a suction hose can be fed into the top of the tank and connected to the pressure washer in the same way as drawing water from a bucket.

How to use a bucket of water with your Kärcher pressure washer

To operate a pressure washer using this technique is simple, all you need is a bucket of water and a suction hose.

  1. Fill up your bucket with water.
  2. Prime the suction hose by filling it with water to remove the oxygen inside.
  3. Connect one end of the suction hose to your pressure washer.
  4. Put the other end of the suction hose into your bucket of water.
  5. Connect lances and attachments to the pressure washer ready for use.
  6. Turn on your pressure washer and start using.
  7. When finished, press the yellow trigger at the end of your suction hose to release the water inside.

A woman using a pressure hose fed from a tub of grey water instead of a tap

Take a look at the full Kärcher range

Need to clean something? Check out the full range of Kärcher pressure washers and accessories.

 

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Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.