Kärcher K 4 Power Control Home high pressure washer: Intelligent app support – the right solution for heavier soiling – incl. home kit
1 CLEVER 2 SUSTAINABLE 3 EFFICIENT 4 COMFORTABLE
Kärcher high-pressure washers: performance classes in comparison
 K 4 Power Control Home |  K 7 Smart Control Home |  K 5 Power Control Home |  K 3 Power Control Home |  K 2 Power Control Home | |
| Pressure | max. 20 – 130 bar | max. 20 – 180 bar | max. 20 – 145 bar | max. 20 – 120 bar | max. 20 – 110 bar |
| Flow rate | 30 m²/h | 60 m²/h | 40 m²/h | 25 m²/h | 20 m²/h |
| Surface performance | max. 420 l/h | max. 550 l/h | max. 500 l/h | max. 380 l/h | max. 360 l/h |
| Max. Inlet temperature | max. 40 °C | max. 60 °C | max. 40 °C | max. 40 °C | max. 40 °C |
| Weight without accessories | 11,5 kg | 17,6 kg | 13 kg | 4,4 kg | 4 kg |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 402 x 306 x 588 mm | 458 x 330 x 666 mm | 402 x 306 x 588 mm | 297 x 280 x 677 mm | 246 x 280 x 586 mm |
| High-pressure hose length | 8 m | 10 m | 10 m | 7 m | 5 m |
| Water suction | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Connection capacity | 1,8 kW | 2,8 kW | 2,1 kW | 1,6 kW | 1,4 kW |
| Surface cleaner | T 5 | T 7 | T 5 | T 5 | T 1 |
| Weight: | 11.5 kg |
| Dimensions: | 40.2 x 30.6 x 58.8 cm; 11.48 Kilograms |
| Model: | 1.324-034.0 |
| Part: | 13240340 |
| Colour: | Yellow |
| Pack Quantity: | 1 |
| Batteries Required: | No |
| Manufacture: | Kärcher |
| Colour: | Yellow |
| Quantity: | 1 |
Impressive high quality power washer and excellent customer services from seller iBuyTech-UK
The Karcher K4 pressure washer is a very impressive piece of equipment, particularly compared to our very old similar version which needed replacement. We already have various items from Karcher and know the brand is excellent. On this occasion I must also mention the seller, we had a couple of minor issues and contacted the company, they responded and sorted things immediately to our complete satisfaction. I can only compare such high calibre customer services when dealing with John Lewis so highly recommend and would buy again from iBuyTech-UK.
Good product and something need improve
The product was easy to use. But the assembly manual not very clear. Unfortunately, the carry handle was easy to crack because it was not use the heavy duct plastic. It was broken when I used in day one.
Great piece of equipment.
Bought it to replace my old K2 which was not so efficient. Used the K4 to clean my paving blocks and it did a great job in less time than the K2.
Impressed
I am impressed with the jet washer. It was very useful in cleaning the driveway and getting rid of weeds. I found it easy to clean the car too. The attachments are easy to attach and remove.
A small clip was missing
The machine did not work as it was missing the small clip which held the hose to the pressure washer.
Rather than return the machine I purchased a clip on line.
So much for the assurances that the machine had been removed from it original packaging to ensure that a pre-delivery inspection was carried ou
I am very happy with it. The T5 racer (patio cleaner) helps a lot. I’ve tried both with the dirt blaster lance and with the patio cleaner and the patio cleaner speeds things up and helps keeping the mess under the hood.
The only disadvantage of the pressure washer is that the hose tangles. I’m planning to buy the anti twist adapter (20) or a new hose (50). Also, the hose is too short, so 10 or 15 m would be better.
If you don’t have experience with a pressure washers, here is what I have cleaned with it so far: car, bins, shed, patio, path, concrete, storage boxes, parasol, stripped old paint.
For car, I got a separate foam lance.
Overall, the performance is great – I wanted K4, as it has water cooled engine – you can use it longer.
The best model
The k4 home pressure washer is the best on the market, used it as soon as it arrived. Did a great job on getting the garden and driveway looking clean. The right size and power for you to use yourself. No longer have to pay a ridiculous amount each time to pay someone else to do a job I can easily do myself.
4.0 out of 5 stars Beware of Flawed Surface Cleaner Attachme
I recently purchased the Krcher K 4 Power Control Home high pressure washer with the hope of being able to tackle some tough cleaning jobs around my home. The added feature of intelligent app support was a real selling point and the home kit was a nice bonus.
Out of the box, the Krcher K 4 Power Control Home looked great and was easy to set up. The high pressure washer was well designed and felt sturdy while being used. The intelligent app support was an added bonus which allowed me to control the pressure of the washer with my phone, and made using the device incredibly convenient.
The Krcher K 4 Power Control Home was able to tackle tough cleaning jobs with ease, such as removing stubborn dirt and grime from my patio and garden furniture. I felt confident using the high pressure washer, knowing that I was in control of the pressure and intensity of the water flow.
However, I did have an issue with the Surface Cleaner attachment that was included with the Home Kit. Sadly, it broke during its second use, which was disappointing and frustrating. Although I was initially impressed by the Krcher K 4 Power Control Home, this experience did sour my opinion.
Overall, I can say that the Krcher K 4 Power Control Home high pressure washer is a great tool for tackling tough cleaning jobs and the intelligent app support made it incredibly user friendly. However, it’s important to be aware that some of the included accessories may not be as durable as you might hope.
5.0 out of 5 stars wow what a pressure washer!
I found this very powerful compared with previous electric pressure washers that i’ve used. It does a really good job on everything I’ve tried it on, ranging from decking, to walls to cleaning the path and patio using the T5 patio cleaner. For non commercial use I doubt many will need anything more powerful than this.
Easy assembly
I’ve seen a few reviews on here with regard putting together the Karcher Power washer and how difficult it was. I’m no DIY expert but after downloading the app it couldn’t have been easier. Took me no more than 20 minutes.
Pros:
* great piece of kit, super powerful with lots of accessories (see the before and after pictures of my patio!)
* patio cleaner is a real highlight, very impressed with how effective this is
* Hose reel is nice and long, as it the plug to turn power on
* The app is a real plus, can be difficult to use initially, but once you get your head around it, it makes cleaning your home/car much easier and helps produce great results
Cons:
* hose is very stiff
* setting up the machine can be difficult, use the app instead of the booklet provided in the box!
* had a lot of trouble getting the hose into the nozzle at the start, okay once I got going but really had to fight it
* spray gun absolutely eats through the detergent – I’d recommend buying another brand, much better options out there!
Change the pressure hose
I have had three Karchers over many years and i like them because they are reliable
The only gripe i have is the pressure hose which is a real pain and it doesnt have to be.
Just go on line and look for recommended upgrades. Its well worth th emoney to get a longer and more flexible hose.
Ive looked at other pressure washer but never felt the need to change
Powerful jet wash , brought has a replacement for an old one , cleaned the back yard in half the time as the old one so good my husband is even washing the car himself instead of paying to have it cleaned , a little expensive but it will save us money in the long run & a quality brand.
I was surprised that I had to do so much construction of the washer before I could use it. I think that at the price the manufacturer could have done more and attached the various panels and wheels only leaving attaching the the water supply cable and the lances to the customer. I found this particularly annoying as the instructions for assembly are abysmal: tiny little diagrams that are difficult to see. The information on the App is better but I was grateful to a help chap on uTube who demonstrates clearly how to assemble the machine.
I found attaching the lances very difficult at first until I discovered that before twisting the two parts together one has to press the end firmly down on the ground before the parts will engage.
Glad to say that after all this the performance of the washer is excellent. I found the best approach is to use the patio cleaner first to shift the dirt. It does use a lot of water. Then I used the variable lance to move most of the debris and dirt onto soil or a drain. THe variable lance does a pretty good job of cleaning when set to ‘Hard’ but doesn’t remove weeds, lichen or stubborn stains/dirt. You need to use the high powered lance. Be warned it kicks up any remaining mud or dirt. The first time I use it I was covered in spatters and had to wash my face and hair. Thereafter I dressed in full waterproof gear and wellingtons. Also be careful near windows as it throws spatters several feet in the air.
The water supply hose to the spray heads is too stiff and remains in coils: it would be so much better if made with a more pliable material. It gets tangled repeatedly making gate unit awkward to move.
Overall I’m pleased with washer but think it could be better with a few modifications.
UPDATE 28 April 2023
I mention above that the hose that links to the attachments is infuriating in the way it keeps coiling and tangling. I’ve found a way to reduce this by laying the hose flat and completely stretched and leaving it for a day or so. I guess that if done in hot weather it would be even more effective as I’ve found for plastic garden hoses. Even better if water is left in the hose as it will get hot in the sun and further soften the plastic in uncoiled state. Good luck!
I’ve had a couple of good pressure washers. This is as good as any. Recommend.
Pull up handle is a bit flimsy but good enough.
Powerful with a selection of heads. Tried it with the rotator on an old garden chair as an experiment. Tore the fabric.
Quite a bit of assembly required. Straightforward though.
USE THE APP FOR ASSEMBLY much clearer. The instruction book is next to useless and the PDF is just the instruction book.
Pipe is stiff and inflexible. It would be better if rubber and flexible.
This washer was very easy to assemble and the app leads you through it all step by step. I was up and running in less than 30 mins. I’m
not normally one for apps, but this one was actually really useful. It also provides step by step instructions for each type of cleaning and tells you which attachments and key strength to use.
The machine is very easy to use and it’s simple to change attachments. I used the patio cleaner attachment which was fantastic and took off years of lichen, moss and dirt in seconds with no scrubbing needed. It really was so easy. My patio looks amazing. The specific patio attachment was well worth it, although just the normal jet would have also done the job it would have taken a long time to do the large area.
Haven’t yet used the car attachment but looks very easy also and am sure it will also give great results.
As previous reviews take care in worn areas, the pressure was so high it took out some (already damaged) grout between flagstones but I was expecting this and it’s no drama to repair, my patio still looks better.
Seems solidly built and is easy to move. Whilst it’s heavy it’s not unmanageable. The wheels and telescopic handle are good features. Storage net is a little too small to hold the power cable but that’s the only negative I can find.
Definitely worth the money
Hard to assemble, easy to use and setup once assembled, the hose and the wands and accessories are cheaply made, I can see them breaking or cracking with a lot of use, I’ve upgraded straight away to 1/4″ quick connect trigger and lance using the Krcher k series quick connect, I’ve just purchased a anti kink rubber reinforced 10 meter high pressure hose with Krcher connectors online from a reputable manufacturer in the UK who do them specially for car detailing and commercial environments, the hose has linked several times winding it in.
As for rest of the accessories and Krcher shampoos I will not be using them on my car or patio as I don’t want to damage my paintwork or my brick work with something that doesn’t tell you what it contains. I just don’t want to run the risk.
I will use them for bicycles and scooters and outdoor toys and areas that’s not visible all year round.
As for power it’s very powerful and does the job no chemicals needed, makes my k2 look like it’s been used daily for 20 years it’s that powerful. 130 bar is enough to clean a patio and car without damaging it set to the right setting.
Better than my old one
My existing Karcher jet washer wasn’t working properly so I purchased this new one. It’s great. Has an extra accessory which stops the water splashing everywhere when jet washing the patio so doesn’t spray all the dirt up the patio doors. Fabulous. It’s easy to wheel and store. Good quality as usual. Also my son is quite happy with my old jet wash which he has been using so all good
Awesome price
Easy to use and bought mine on prime day so had it a lot cheape
Awesome price
Easy to use and bought mine on prime day so had it a lot cheape
Awesome price
Easy to use and bought mine on prime day so had it a lot cheape
Awesome price
Easy to use and bought mine on prime day so had it a lot cheape
Good product but quite heavy and app not greates
Liked product. Solid build but heavier than thought. App helps ease set up but not so easy to get settings to work. Liked all attachments and on highest power it was good.
Good product but quite heavy and app not greates
Liked product. Solid build but heavier than thought. App helps ease set up but not so easy to get settings to work. Liked all attachments and on highest power it was good.
Good product but quite heavy and app not greates
Liked product. Solid build but heavier than thought. App helps ease set up but not so easy to get settings to work. Liked all attachments and on highest power it was good.
... issue to raise for expansion hose owners
I’m only writing this review really to help other people who might buy this and find they can’t get it to work out the box…
You need to attach the device to a conventional hose. However, the increasingly popular expansion hose has an attachment that doesn’t fit. ..
…and annoyingly there is no attachment included. Therefore you need to buy one. Good news is they are 5 pounds and you just search for expansion hose adaptor. Alternatively I’ve reviewed one at the same time as this.
For me this is a big issue, but the power hose itself is great , hence 4 stars
Karcher say no more
Easy enough to assemble
Easy to use with nice long quick release hose to gun
Various water control via twist nozzle
Down side would be the weight of appliance
A lot Quieter than the last pressure washer I owned
Great pressure washe
Really easy to assemble & operate. Good value for money too. I use it on our composite decking and it clears any dirt and grime in seconds. The app will advise which settings/parts to use for different surfaces (e.g. cleaning the car, hosing wood or a driveway). 10/10
Easy to use
Excellent product. Used loads and been great. Well worth the price
Generally ok with a few design issues.
Krcher K 4 Power Control Home high pressure washer: Intelligent app support – the right solution for heavier soiling – incl. home kit
In the box.
The main washer, hose, nozzle kit, telescopic pressure gun and deck cleaner plus instructions all in a solid box. It comes with full instructions and link to an app which advises you on setting etc. The instructions to set it up are easy to follow. It runs from the UK mains and has a lead with a fitted plug.
Quality.
It is a Karcher so it is robust and well designed. It is easy to manoeuvre. One thing I find annoying is that the hose is so easy to kink which stops the flow of water. They have designed it to be flexible but that makes it soft and easy to twist — some more thought needed here Karcher!
In use.
It is easy to use once connected but the hose kinks so easily it becomes annoying to say the least. It is not too noisy in operation. I have used it on concrete paths and it did a great job at cleaning then up. The deck tool is useful but I do prefer the pressure hose to be honest. This can also be used to get a lot of pressure on heavily soiled areas of paths, decking and patios. The app is useful and a source of advice on cleaning many different surfaces. It is great at getting mud off cars too!
Overall.
A good pressure washer from Karcher with a few design issues like the super easy kink hose. I did eventually replace this with a stiffer third party one which does not kink at all. I have used it a lot and it is very reliable. Worth getting if you need the patio cleaning system included with this model.
Fantastic
I had an old Karcher K2 that had lost power. I decided to buy a new version rather than try to repair the old one – I was amazed by the increase in power compared to the K2 when it was new. The dirt blaster lance is my new toy! I’ve cleaned my patio, my decking and my neighbour’s patio in the first 24 h – it just cuts through the muck. 5/5
It works!
It cleans grime off my sandstone patio as hoped for / shown, and brick walls, the car, the drive, wheelie bins, windows, and anything you can think of. It works brilliantly. The pressure – 130bar/1880psi – is perfectly adequate. Recommended.
It works!
It cleans grime off my sandstone patio as hoped for / shown, and brick walls, the car, the drive, wheelie bins, windows, and anything you can think of. It works brilliantly. The pressure – 130bar/1880psi – is perfectly adequate. Recommended.
he benchmark
I have this and a battery operated one from a different manufacturer.
The battery one by comparison is weaker but easier to hold and far more portable.
However when it comes to function, its hard to beat the Karcher.
I can clean the driveway, wash the car and clean the patio in half the time.
As a result its hard to beat the Karcher, at least in my limited experience.
An excellent upgrade.
Robust design with improved and easier foam delivery. Higher flow rate than my earlier model (which did do the job reasonably well). Repair costs are high so best to replace if you’ve had satisfactory, hard use over a number of years.
Must have for car wash!
Fantastic pressure washer for all purpose, my main use is to was my car on the weekend. Does fantastic job!
Very impressed.
I’ve had this for about a month now and must say that I’m very impressed. I have used it to clean 2 cars, and pressure wash our patio both with excellent results. The Karcher foam cannon also works very well for cleaning the cars as a pre wash.
Great piece of kit!
This power washer cleans better than any previous machine I’ve owned.
Brought my decking back to life without damaging the wood and cleaned
my fencing back to ‘as new’ condition (and It’s 10 years old!)
Great piece of kit!
This power washer cleans better than any previous machine I’ve owned.
Brought my decking back to life without damaging the wood and cleaned
my fencing back to ‘as new’ condition (and It’s 10 years old!)
Large
This was to replace older model seems powerful enough time will tell as it gets used how good it is
Great quality washe
Great product, does what it says on the tin. Only criticism that I have is that the hose becomes tangled very quickly. Although in fairness I dont think there is a hose that simply rolls out and stays untangled.
Great quality washe
Great product, does what it says on the tin. Only criticism that I have is that the hose becomes tangled very quickly. Although in fairness I dont think there is a hose that simply rolls out and stays untangled.
Good item
Good item just a bit less powerful than you’ll expect for an item this expensive
Good item
Good item just a bit less powerful than you’ll expect for an item this expensive
Easy to use
it is a great item and best value for money.
Great pressure washe
Recommended washer, good quality from karcher and easy to use
Great pressure washe
Recommended washer, good quality from karcher and easy to use
What can I day, does what it says. Got plenty of power to get rid of stubborn stains. First class
Easy to use, it’s not that light but stops it tipping over. Highly recommended
What can I day, does what it says. Got plenty of power to get rid of stubborn stains. First class
Easy to use, it’s not that light but stops it tipping over. Highly recommended
Astonishingly effective
On the first use of this machine, I couldn’t believe quite how good it was.
My last pressure washer was made my RAC and was noisy and ineffective from the start. I persevered with it for several years until the motor gave out, catching fire.
The first time I used the Karcher to clean our patio I was amazed at how quickly and efficiently it did the job and much, much quieter than the RAC too.
Powerful Jet wash
Did the job two large patios and paths
Hard to control pressure seemed full on or stop. Replaced a similar model that stopped working 11yrs old New model much more pressure
Does what it says on the box
I used it on the slabs at back of my house and on the car love it.
Does what it says on the box
I used it on the slabs at back of my house and on the car love it.
In a class of its ow
For me pressure washing is a necessary evil. I really hate doing it, I always end up cold, wet and splattered with dirt. This Karcher K4 model however is in a class of its own and really elevates the experience compared to my old clapped out machine (also a Karcher). There are a few design elements that make this one much more pleasant to use.
First of all, it’s really quiet (for a pressure washer). Second, the hose is really long at 8 metres. It means I don’t need to keep moving the machine about so much. In fact I can do virtually all my patio area not move the machine at all. This is a huge bonus as I always end up with the hose pipe, the mains water hose pipe and the electricity cable all tangled up. Third, the handle is really comfortable to use and allows the user to select various pressures. Fourthly, there are a selection of heads supplied for different tasks including a beefy rotating spray for cleaning paving, which cuts down the amount of spray and dirt thrown around. It’s much more heavy duty than my old one.
WIth a 1.8kW motor, this is a powerful machine. It’s noticeable that my paving isn’t as wet and flooded as it used to be with my old one – I put that down to the power being greater so it doesn’t need as many passes to get clean, hence using less water overall.
There’s a receptacle on the main machine for detergent, a patio cleaner is supplied with the unit and a car cleaner is available separately.
The app support mentioned is basically a glorified instruction manual, this isn’t a smart item that links to the app in any way. It’s useful to have though.
The only draw back with the long hose is that it’s a pain to store. The pipe has mind of its own and doesn’t willingly coil back up to rest neatly on the little holder built into the machine. The cord storage pouch isn’t that great either. So it does look a bit of an untidy mess after each use.
This is a heavy item, with a retractable handle to drag it around like a suitcase. Not an issue for short trips but if you have a lot of steps in your garden, or you travel with it and lift in your car a lot you’ll notice the weight.
In summary this is really useful and powerful washer. For anyone who is maddened by less powerful jet washers like me it really is worth the extra power, hose length and general build quality.
Great product and so easy to use
So easy to use and assemble. So easy to clean my car and clean the decking as well
Great product and so easy to use
So easy to use and assemble. So easy to clean my car and clean the decking as well
Great product and so easy to use
So easy to use and assemble. So easy to clean my car and clean the decking as well
Love i
Great power washer. Instructions clear to set up and the app is great too. Garden all cleaned ready for Spring. I also used the car part and works great to clean my car.
Love i
Great power washer. Instructions clear to set up and the app is great too. Garden all cleaned ready for Spring. I also used the car part and works great to clean my car.
Excellent company to deal with
Bought the K4 pressure washer to replace an old and worn out Black and Decker one, and so glad I did. It did the job of scrubbing my concrete driveway 100% better than the B&D.
I did have a minor problem with one of the parts, however I contacted Karcher via email with a couple of photos attached and within 7 days a brand new part was delivered FOC, no argument.
What a quality product and what a quality company to deal with.
Other companies should take note of how to deal with customers.
A bit awkward to store hose but brilliant at doing its job
I would give this 4.5 stars if I could as it’s almost perfect, but isn’t. If it were easier to assemble (or even came fully put together) and if the high pressure hose were easier to wind up and store, then it would be a straight 5. But while it works brilliantly, removing dirt from our patios with ease, this lack of attention to storage is irritating. The hose has a mind of its own and resists being rolled up neatly, leaving sprawling lengths of hose all around the place when not in use. When in use, though, it is a joy and I would strongly recommend it for larger household tasks.
K4
works well. it could do with a anti tangle lance
Karcher K4
Belter typical Karcher..
Spot on
Good power.
Sturdy unit
Easy to store
All the hoses tend to come out the one way
I’ve tripped over it a few times but that’s probably me
Karcher K4
This Karcher is one of the best I have ever had fantastic value for money & quality so easy to put together with the extra tools and patio cleaner make this a perfect all round cleaner the app is more a help and on line manual but that said is registration so easy to use see photos for true item full five stars
Does the job
Wanted a pressure washer for some time and went for this one as it’s compact and powerful at a decent price, so would recommend.
Water cooled motor.
Great machine, only 2 ways to improve it. 1. Replace hose with longer and more flexible one. 2. Use screws thru plastic body and into both handle shafts, to stop it sliding shut when leant on. (Nearly fell over twice before locking it with screws.) Use Gardena stop valve click fitting, close when changing fittings or releasing hose otherwise water pressure makes it nigh on impossible, even with tap off!
I bought this item from the Amazon Warehouse, so it was an item returned by someone and refurbished by Amazon, sold at lower price.
Little bit annoyed by the listing saying minor cosmetic damage, but when I opened it, the casing had huge cracks, but the unit worked fine anyway, so can’t be bothered going through the return process, but the listing should be more accurate.
Bought this to clean my garden patio, driveway, fences, car and also bird feeding station/feeders. It works brilliantly well, I’ve attached an image of a patio which had been under a decking for maybe 15years. It had a thick amount of dirt and grime build up on it for all the time being under the decking, and this machine completely cleaned it all away.
It comes with the base unit, a hose for the jet, one gun handle, and 2 Lances (one being the powerful one, and the 2nd being a gentle variable one).
The variable Lance I didn’t have much luck with, I suppose it’s what you’d use on your car but I haven’t attempted that yet. The variable Lance isn’t very good at cleaning away dirt from patio, or even wood, which it’s advertised for. I ended up just using the dirt blaster Lance on everything, and it absolutely destroys any grime and dirt, but don’t use this one on delicate wood or your car, as it is too powerful.
Used it to clean away all moss and bird poo that had accumulated on my bird feeders, handled this task like a hot knife through butter. Usually takes me about 1 to 2hours to completely wash the bird feeding station by hand, with this I done it in about 10minutes.
Overall happy with this purchase, paid about 160 from Amazon Warehouse, despite some cosmetic damage, it works fine and does everything I need it to do and exceeds at this.
A significant step up from the K2, but annoying self-assembly
This was an upgrade for my existing K2 which I have had for 5 years and so I will be making some comparisons between the two models during this review.
The K4 in this variant (with Home kit) comes in a big and heavy box. The weight is due to the main body of the washer which definitely needs its wheels. The K4 is significantly heavier than the K2 which, in comparison, is easy to move around by just picking it up and the wheels aren’t really needed.
The large size of the shipping box seems solely to make room for Surface cleaner attachment and the extra packaging put around that item. All the rest of the parts included, of which there were many, were just left loose floating round the internals of the box. A few items had marks from where they bashed against each other, and the internal polystyrene had taken a significant beating from multiple internal impacts.
I’m not sure why so little care was taken to secure the internal parts within the box, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this resulted in some parts arriving damaged for some customers.
NB: It wasn’t that they came loose, it seems they were all just thrown in there to roll around loose by design.
The power cable comes pre-attached to the main body of the washer, as you would expect. You will find the 8m hose is also pre-attached, despite the box photo which might make you think otherwise. Please note this included hose, is to attach tools to. You still need your own (not included) hose to hook the K4 up to your mains water supply. You don’t have to worry about the filter mentioned on the box, this comes already fitted inside the connection where you hook your own hose pipe up to.
If you were expecting to just unpack the K4 and start using it, you will be disappointed to find that you need to attach several parts to the main body yourself with the provided 3 types of screws. I found attaching some of the parts to be fiddly and by the end of the assembly I was left puzzled why the customer had been tasked with doing this at all. Usually, these self-assembly tasks are to allow the shipping boxes to be smaller. But only one of the parts seemed to alter the size of the main body in any significant way. I felt like maybe Krcher did it to give me something fun to do, because people that like to use pressure washers probably also have fun building stuff? I didn’t find it fun; it was just annoying. Especially screwing in the handle grip over the already existing handle grip — why can’t this be done in the factory?
The assembly process isn’t helped by the sometimes-confusing instructions. I appreciated the diagrams depicting how to put things together, but the repeated choice to try to cram two steps into one picture almost made me go wrong a couple of times and use the wrong screw type.
One of the last things you may do is plug the included hose into the bottom of the gun. According to the instructions, I’m supposed to line it up with a tab, but I couldn’t see any tab on my hose or gun. The hose will only go in if lined up correctly and the only way I could do it was looking down the hole in the gun and trying to work out myself how it should be lined up.
The K4 uses a water-cooled pump, and the K2 uses an air-cooled pump. I had wondered beforehand if this would make any significant difference in the noise when running. The K4 wasn’t significantly quieter than the K2 but I felt it was quieter overall.
I tested the K4 out cleaning sections of driveway, path and patio which I had done many times previously with my K2. Despite the K4’s apparently small on-paper step up in power from the K2 (110bar on the K2 vs 130 bar on the K4), I found the K4 to be a significantly more powerful machine and makes the K2 feel like a toy in comparison. Where I had cleared my block drive with my K2 and cleaned the surface up pretty well, the K4 did that and also blasted clean all the gaps between the blocks and was able to cut through embedded weeds with little trouble.
The only downside to all this power is that a lot of the dirt blasted clear ended up on me or sprayed elsewhere which I then had to clear up afterwards. Whereas the surface cleaner attachment is a bit of a gimmick on the K2 and you can do much the same with the lance, you really need the extra attachment for the K4 unless you want to spray what you are blasting all over the shop.
Specifically, about the K4 surface cleaner attachment: I found it quite difficult to attach the extension arm compared to the other attachments. It does fit eventually but required a lot more force than the others. The power control dial on the top of the surface cleaning is a nice touch, but all it really does is raise or lower the jet compared to the surface. Be careful when used on full power, because it may catch on any uneven slabs as the nozzles are spinning really close to the surface at that setting. One downside I found to using the surface clear in comparison to the normal lances is that it seems to put down a massive amount of water in comparison. I cleaned two sections of drive as a comparison and the section cleaned with the surface cleaner started to build up a pool of water very quickly as my drainage isn’t that great. It is the better way to clean and quicker, just be aware you need good drainage to support its use.
Beware the power! I found the K4 was actually taking some splinters out of softwood when I used it with the dirt blaster lance. Whereas when using the K2, I was always thinking I could do with just a bit more power, with the K4 I found myself thinking I should really turn it down a little before I break something.
I’m sure for some the move up to the more powerful model above the K4 might be useful, but for me I can’t see a need to go any more powerful than this for home use.
I’m awarding the K4 4-stars. It has more power than I know what to do with and I particularly loved the dirt blaster lance. I’ve dropped one star for the badly designed packaging and seemingly needless and sometimes badly documented self-assembly.
A great price
The K4 power control with a great price, easy to assemble, easy to use, a reliable brand
A great price
The K4 power control with a great price, easy to assemble, easy to use, a reliable brand
Made in Italy, much better than those made in China
Very high-quality product. Easy to assembly and removal. Mighty water pressure. The online manual helps me to find suitable water pressure under different circumstances. Recommend.
powerful
This has to be the most powerful of the pressure washers I’ve tried. Beautiful cleaning action and comes with a stone and patio cleaner. Very powerful. If it was a bit warmer I’d wash the car, too. Easy to assemble and very easy to use.
Very good once built but assembly instructions poo
Once assembled, a very effective piece of kit. Surprised at how poor the instructions were, based on previous experience with Karcher products. Quite intuitive assembly, but admit to a quick youtube check to figure out some steps! On first use, the hose between the unit and lance needed some work to unravel and it wanted to remain in loops for some time. The adjustable lance display is useful. Cleaning the car is a joy and the maximum setting for paths and patios is very effective. This is the third Karcher jet spray I’ve used and very satisfied to date.