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 |
This washer is a dream to use better than my old one by fa
Overall good product the hose connector would not seal had to fit new seal hence 4star only works fine now
Overall good product the hose connector would not seal had to fit new seal hence 4star only works fine now
Overall good product the hose connector would not seal had to fit new seal hence 4star only works fine now
The Karcher 4 did an excellent job of cleaning my back garden patio and garden path and also my front garden block paving. I have now used it to clean my car and found the attachments very useful.
The Karcher 4 did an excellent job of cleaning my back garden patio and garden path and also my front garden block paving. I have now used it to clean my car and found the attachments very useful.
The Karcher 4 did an excellent job of cleaning my back garden patio and garden path and also my front garden block paving. I have now used it to clean my car and found the attachments very useful.
The Karcher 4 did an excellent job of cleaning my back garden patio and garden path and also my front garden block paving. I have now used it to clean my car and found the attachments very useful.
Best buy ever
No one can beat amazon for this price full kit 233
Great kit makes cleaning so easy
Did my patio in no time
Works brilliant and is such a versatile piece of equipment to have around, can clean near enough everything with it. Even without the cleaning solution it still does a great job, not really noticed too much of a difference between the K3 and the K4 apart from the accessories and the size. With the K3 being a lot smaller than this one. And the power control model only really seems to include better accessories than the older models.
Overall very good piece of kit, well built and will definitely last!
This is simply the very best pressure washer you can get – and we have tried a few!
Sadly though, this version is let down by the time it took to assemble. At this price point, I think you should be getting a fully assembled and functioning unit (which would also cut down on the reams of unnecessary packaging. So many fiddly little bits – I nearly had a tantrum doing it!
However, once up and running, it is reliable, and effective, it has made light work of many household tasks.
The quality of the build is so important as we are fed up of purchasing replacements – once you know you need to pressure wash, you just have to have one that lasts.
I particularly like the power this one affords which makes this easy to operate.
Recommended.
Instructions for putting it together not great. Does exactly what it says on the box. Very pleased with it operationally. Used it on garden tiles, slabs and garden walls. (raised planter areas). So far seems good value for money.
Instructions for putting it together not great. Does exactly what it says on the box. Very pleased with it operationally. Used it on garden tiles, slabs and garden walls. (raised planter areas). So far seems good value for money.
Instructions for putting it together not great. Does exactly what it says on the box. Very pleased with it operationally. Used it on garden tiles, slabs and garden walls. (raised planter areas). So far seems good value for money.
Clean the patio like a dream and the car came up looking brand new
Absolutely love i
Clean the patio like a dream and the car came up looking brand new
Absolutely love i
Found the assembly a bit tricky but once up and running it does what it is supposed to do.
Made a great job of cleaning a heavily green algae covered path.
What a superb tool, assembled quickly 15 minutes.
Powerful and controllable, had my previous powerwash over 20 years and that was good, this one is brilliant, cleaned the drive in under 20 minutes, previously took an hour.
Highly impressed
Liked everything nothing to dislike about this product just thought it would come with a dispenser bottle
Liked everything nothing to dislike about this product just thought it would come with a dispenser bottle
Very poor assembly instructions and this item needs a bit of assembly
Very poor assembly instructions and this item needs a bit of assembly
Very poor assembly instructions and this item needs a bit of assembly
Does what it says, loads of power – made short work of my patio
Does what it says, loads of power – made short work of my patio
A bit awkward to manhandle into position. But brilliant after for patio
A bit awkward to manhandle into position. But brilliant after for patio
Decent, fairly well made and robust. Putting it together at home wasnt the clearest, nor necessary. I’d rather just pay an extra ten quid and get some guy to build it for me.
Decent, fairly well made and robust. Putting it together at home wasnt the clearest, nor necessary. I’d rather just pay an extra ten quid and get some guy to build it for me.
Decent, fairly well made and robust. Putting it together at home wasnt the clearest, nor necessary. I’d rather just pay an extra ten quid and get some guy to build it for me.
Decent, fairly well made and robust. Putting it together at home wasnt the clearest, nor necessary. I’d rather just pay an extra ten quid and get some guy to build it for me.
Decent, fairly well made and robust. Putting it together at home wasnt the clearest, nor necessary. I’d rather just pay an extra ten quid and get some guy to build it for me.
Decent, fairly well made and robust. Putting it together at home wasnt the clearest, nor necessary. I’d rather just pay an extra ten quid and get some guy to build it for me.
Got this discounted great price and product won’t use any other make
Got this discounted great price and product won’t use any other make
This is a Karcher K4 Power Control Car & Home High Pressure Washer 1800 W it weighs 12kg so a good solid weight that won’t keep falling over like cheaper models, once it is assembled you can wheel it with ease with the extending handle and push fully down and grip both handles and you can carry it. The best thing I like is the hose that can be wound up at the back of the Karcher which makes it easier to store . This is a step up in power and accessories from the K2 model I had as you can access an app and by turning the spray wand the led display on the full control power gun makes it easy to check the setting mode to use . The rotating brush gives a gentle clean on a car, plastic sills on windows bikes etc and the right solution needed car shampoo or deck patio cleaner bottle is popped in the top of the Karcher and off you go or you can use the attachable bottle (small one) to attach to your lance instead.
Good replacement for an older Karcher. Very powerful, and especially good at cleaning flagstones. A bit cumbersome, but very versatile.
Good replacement for an older Karcher. Very powerful, and especially good at cleaning flagstones. A bit cumbersome, but very versatile.
I’ve had this power washer for a couple of months, it’s very good, would recommend it. I read a couple of negative reviews before I bought it, but I’ve had no issues.
I used it on my paving slabs, it’s excellent, they cleaned up like new.
I’ve had this power washer for a couple of months, it’s very good, would recommend it. I read a couple of negative reviews before I bought it, but I’ve had no issues.
I used it on my paving slabs, it’s excellent, they cleaned up like new.
Good replacement for an older Karcher. Very powerful, and especially good at cleaning flagstones. A bit cumbersome, but very versatile.
Excellent power washer, well made and easy to set up and use.
If I ever need another one, will go for one with a reel to wind up the power hose.
First washer I have had that actually covers the car completely in soap. Fantastic finish.
Also used to wash very dirty decking and results were amazing. Definitely recommend.
First washer I have had that actually covers the car completely in soap. Fantastic finish.
Also used to wash very dirty decking and results were amazing. Definitely recommend.
First washer I have had that actually covers the car completely in soap. Fantastic finish.
Also used to wash very dirty decking and results were amazing. Definitely recommend.
I have nothing to compare it to apart from another model that died after one use – this has already been well used on the flags in front and on the dirty, weathered decking at the back. Brill!
I have nothing to compare it to apart from another model that died after one use – this has already been well used on the flags in front and on the dirty, weathered decking at the back. Brill!
I have nothing to compare it to apart from another model that died after one use – this has already been well used on the flags in front and on the dirty, weathered decking at the back. Brill!
I have nothing to compare it to apart from another model that died after one use – this has already been well used on the flags in front and on the dirty, weathered decking at the back. Brill!
As expected, does a great job. The patio scrubber is a wonderful addition.
As expected, does a great job. The patio scrubber is a wonderful addition.
As expected, does a great job. The patio scrubber is a wonderful addition.
As expected, does a great job. The patio scrubber is a wonderful addition.
As expected, does a great job. The patio scrubber is a wonderful addition.
brilliant really powerful and really cleans, although my dad complained it took him an hour to put it together lol. worth it though.
brilliant really powerful and really cleans, although my dad complained it took him an hour to put it together lol. worth it though.
brilliant really powerful and really cleans, although my dad complained it took him an hour to put it together lol. worth it though.
Does what a jet wash should do. Has the option of 3 stage pressure setting.
Does what a jet wash should do. Has the option of 3 stage pressure setting.
Does what a jet wash should do. Has the option of 3 stage pressure setting.
Does what a jet wash should do. Has the option of 3 stage pressure setting.
Does what a jet wash should do. Has the option of 3 stage pressure setting.
Easy to assemble. Having wheels on it helps when needing to move it as it is quite heavy. Very easy to use. Patio and driveway came up a treat, also used to clean car. Noise level is lower than other pressure washers I’ve used.
Easy to assemble. Having wheels on it helps when needing to move it as it is quite heavy. Very easy to use. Patio and driveway came up a treat, also used to clean car. Noise level is lower than other pressure washers I’ve used.
Easy to assemble. Having wheels on it helps when needing to move it as it is quite heavy. Very easy to use. Patio and driveway came up a treat, also used to clean car. Noise level is lower than other pressure washers I’ve used.
Pretty good – seems high quality and durable – couldn’t get the soap dispenser to work – inverted the soap bottle into the dispenser holder – but no soap came out of the pressure wand – no big deal I guess – the foam gun worked fine (though the soap reservoir is a bit small)
Pretty good – seems high quality and durable – couldn’t get the soap dispenser to work – inverted the soap bottle into the dispenser holder – but no soap came out of the pressure wand – no big deal I guess – the foam gun worked fine (though the soap reservoir is a bit small)
I had been able to cross compare the K4 against the K2 and K7. This has given me a better chance to give a reasonable review I hope. I already had a K4 washer but that was without any accessories. I go into more detail on that review and don’t wish to repeat myself.
That unit was fantastic but as you’ll see with that review it was let down by missing accessories which came with the K2 and K7.
The K4 is the midrange unit price wise and the original one I had is identical. The only differences in price come from what you get in the box.
It’s slightly different when it comes to assembly than the K2 but assembly is required. With the K7 it’s just a case of taking it out of the box and attaching the hose.
You will need to screw parts together but it’s fool proof. You will need a Philips head but that’s it. The K2 was clip together for comparison. Again I found the instructions slightly lacking. There were pictures, but I was confused at points with the original one, because I’d done this once that helped me put this together.
With this being screwed together (rather than clipping – K2) it definitely feels more secure. It looks a whole lot more premium than the K2 as well.
It comes with two lances which attach to the handle as well as an extender. There’s the high pressure one which is seriously high pressure and then the other allows you to turn between different levels of pressure. It has a dirt buster mode and it rotates the flow to hit points, rather than it being direct. I find this messy if I’m honest and an absolute nightmare between block paving. Prefer precision when it comes to cleaning that.
The handle has an indicator when using the turnable lance so that you know what pressure level you’re at. It’s automatic and you don’t adjust with buttons. Just turn and away you go.
That’s ideal for using on more delicate surfaces and goes all the way up to high pressure but it wasn’t as powerful as the other lance. You just change the pressure for your car for example or wood, concrete etc.
Now with the original K4 I had that was all you got, this has some pretty decent accessories. It has a T5 patio head, these are worth their weight in gold in my view. The K7 had the T7 and I loved it. This is great for cleaning patios and any area where you don’t want splashing. It’s so much faster than using the lance too. You just use it like you would a hoover. It really works well.
It has a car cleaning brush attachment although I haven’t used this on a car (don’t own a car) but I used it on my bike. It worked well. You get a bottle of car cleaning solution, I just used that for the bike in combination with the foam nossle that’s also included. Wasn’t sure about the foam nossle and think it’s better suited for use with a car however.
It has a patio cleaning solution too, I used this on block paving as well as concrete walls.
Both the K2 and K7 that I had prior came with patio attachments, my other K4 didn’t. This has them, that is excellent and I’m very pleased to see them with this kit.
The unit itself has a section to attach the solution on top just like with the K7. With the K2 you put a tube into the bottle.
Like with the K7 the hose is on a reel and this is so much better than having to leave hanging over the unit itself. Again like with the other you get a good length of 6m. You’re supposed to unravel before use but I didn’t. If you have a smaller are it will probably get in the way.
I have a power socket outside but you get a decent length. You can wrap this up and it will sit in the netted compartment at the bottom of the unit.
All in all I’m very happy.
I’ve owned Karcher pressure washers previously, and they seem pretty robust and reliable, so I was looking forward to trying out this updated and more powerful model.
There is some assembly required before you can get up and running, but thankfully nothing too taxing. It’s mostly just screwing on bits of plastic which all lined up nicely, although some of the screws were a bit tough to get in. I did get in a tangle with the hose that leads to the gun, as you’re supposed to feed it through the plastic body, but it’s very thick and a bit unweildy. I managed to get it sorted in the end though.
One thing I appreciated was the QR code on the box which you can scan with your phone or tablet to give you easy to read instructions once you’ve downloaded the app. I seemed to make the mistake of registering the washer before creating a Karcher account, which meant I had to re-register it. Karcher really should look at improving this process.
This unit comes with two wand attachments, but only one space next to the gun/handle to store them. Looking at the pictures, they expect you to store the unit with one of the wands attached, which seems a little odd to me.
In use the washer works really well. It’s pretty heavy, so the extendable handle and wheels make it easy to move around. The variable pressure wand is new to me, so I was very keen to try it out. It seems to work very well, although even on full power it didn’t have the cleaning power to get the gunk off my patio, so I switched to the ‘dirt blaster’ wand for that.
There’s a couple of minor niggles with this washer – including the assembly, lack of storage space and the app, but the fact that it does the job it’s supposed to do really well tips it over into 5 stars for me.
Easy to assemble. Used on car with snow foamer really good. Would recommend.
Easy to assemble. Used on car with snow foamer really good. Would recommend.
Easy to assemble. Used on car with snow foamer really good. Would recommend.
Easy to assemble. Used on car with snow foamer really good. Would recommend.
A beautiful machine, looks and feels very solid and durable. Easy to set up. Pretty quiet in use, which is great for a powerful machine like this one. Powerful spray – used it to wash the car and made the job so easy. You can adjust the pressure which is handy. And you can buy a plastic container which you insert into the machine and fill with shampoo for the car, cleaner for the patio etc. Highly recommended by myself and my son.
This premium power control pressure washer from reliable manufacturer Karcher is pretty much all the cleaning power you’ll ever need. There are more powerful models available, this one sits in about the middle of the range and is more than up to any job around house or garden.
With past machines I’ve struggled to control/store the stiff pressure line but with this model it is on a drum at the back of the machine keeping it tidy. For me that is a huge improvement on previous machines. Additionally the supplied T5 surface cleaner is terrific for easily cleaning large areas of patio with minimal mess. I haven’t used it yet for cleaning walls but it has handles for doing just that. The power lance is maybe a wee bit more powerful than the T5 and is just the job for getting rid of stubborn stains.
Also included is a rotary car wash brush which looks pretty clever but I’m not sure if it brings any great benefit to the job, a foam spray and a soft brush work fine.
The bottles of cleaner that come with the kit just pop into the top of the machine and work fairly well but get used up at an alarming rate and replacements are quite expensive.
Having had a number of these, I would say this is by far my favourite version of Karcher’s pressure washers. It has all the accoutrements and is as powerful as one ought to need for general use around the house and garden.
This particular K4 has a reel for the hose which makes putting it away that much easier, unlike another K4 I have which simply has a hook on which you have to try to squeeze all the hose and wire, then try to wheel it away without everything falling off it again.
On the topic of wheeling, by golly does one need those wheels! The weight of this thing would enough to give me a good workout were I to try and lug it around. As it is, it feels like a carry-on suitcase.
With regard to the accoutrements, I generally prefer the dirt buster with its cyclone effect, as this seems to get ingrained dirt off much more easily than any of the other options, probably because the water is that much more concentrated.
The brush is a very useful tool for cleaning glass and other areas that require a softer touch, but a little scrub as well.
The rotating T-5 racer is alright for cleaning large areas, but those areas can’t be as ingrained with dirt as my paths obviously are, otherwise it’s not as effective as it could be.
In spite of all these good points though, there are still cheaper versions on the market that can do an adequate job. However, you do get what you pay for and this ought to last.
I am not a DIYer, so putting this machine together was a little tricky. In fact, there are two screws that create the handle which remain exposed as I was physically unable to screw them in fully. All the rest of the screws required quite a bit of muscle to get them fully into place. Of course this means everything is secure, except for the handle.
When I finally got round to using it, I simply could not figure out how to get the pressure any higher than 0 and spent a fully half hour going online, looking at videos and searching for instructions, even downloading the app in desperation. However, when I went back to the machine for the umpteenth time, I suddenly saw a dial at the front to turn the dratted thing on! None of the instructions that I saw included that simple step! Boy! Did I feel a little silly! But also relieved. I thought something was wrong with the thing.
When I started it up, it was powerful! I gradually increased the power and the LED lights on the handle showed clearly each notch as I ramped it up. However, I had to turn it on before the power would increase. The nozzle was almost too easy to twist, which could be a problem in the remote scenario that something knocked against it.
There are two fittings to this particular machine: the vario lance and the dirt blaster lance. For cleaning the paths, I found the dirt blaster lance to be the most effective. It uses a circular motion like a miniature cyclone and is automatically set to the strongest setting. It did the job so well I had to wear goggles to stop debris flying into my eyes.
The vario lance starts like a hose when on the lowest setting, but on the highest setting it flattens out and becomes much more powerful. Nevertheless, it still isn’t strong enough to get the ingrained moss off my driveway. All the same, it cleaned the car nicely.
I forgot that when one is pressure washing something, everything else around it gets blasted with whatever is coming off what is being cleaned, so I ended up having to wash the car, then the garage doors as well! So everything is clean now! Well … until the next time that is.
Putting everything away was a little tricky with so many wires and no reel, so there’s room for improvement there.
You get what you pay for, but there are cheaper options out there which are as effective.
Weight: 11.4 kg
Dimensions: 30.5 x 58.4 x 39.7 cm
Wattage: 1800 watts (K5 2100w)
Max pressure: 130 bar (K5 145 bar)
Flow rate: 420 litres per min (k5 200l per min)
Hose length: 6 metres (K5 8m)
Cord length: 5 metres
As you can see the K5 is better all-round in terms of power, but don’t let that put you off as even the K2 &3 are capable of handling most pressure washer tasks and all the new models have water-cooled motors which should add greatly to the life of the machine. One thing worth clarifying though is what you get with all the various packages. Now, when you see the word “Premium” attached to any Karcher, what that essentially means is that you will get and LED display on the main lance (as opposed to no display, just twist and go), a power hose winding in wheel & docking station, a docking station for the power cord and in the larger models (including the K4) a plug and clean shampoo dispenser. Of these, the power hose winder is probably the best feature to have (amazingly Karcher considers this basic feature to be premium), though as anyone who has owned a power hose already knows, irrespective of whether the machine comes with a winder or not, the hose is a nightmare to wind-in & store neatly. Despite all the promises, NONE of the Karcher power hoses are anti-curl.
Being both the Premium and Car & Home model you get all the above plus the T5 surface cleaner, Snow foam adapter, Car brush and a bottle of surface cleaner and foam cleaner. All good and from experience, the T5 is a superb addition for anyone who has a stone patio or wooden deck as it is both effortless to use and great on all flat surfaces. The brush you won’t use on cars (trust me) but it would be handy for items such as bikes, garden equipment, furniture etc. And that’s really my only gripe with this range topping model, namely value for money. The K5 compact is roughly 100 cheaper, smaller yet more powerful all round. The K4 Compact has the same power, flow rate etc as this model but comes in at almost half the price without the added extras. Now, If there is one thing I have learnt about using Karchers in practice these past few weeks it is this — get the most powerful model you can afford in terms of flow rate & pressure & add only the essential extras you need to get the job done. So, if I wanted say a K4 for predominantly my patio, I’d buy the K4 compact plus a T5 patio cleaner and still have over 100 change for precisely the same performance and power. It is for this reason and this alone that I prefer the basic compact models over their premium cousins, but having said that, the K4 is a really good all rounder with all of those extra features and add-ons under one roof. With this in mind, at the price quoted (343) my one star deduction might seem a bit harsh (4.5 would be a more accurate rating), but all I am really saying here is that before buying, carefully consider what it is you really want from your pressure washer, what features are really important to you and what you’ll end up using it for. Doing this should ensure you end up with the best value machine that works for you and if it is an all singing & dancing machine you want the K4 premium is a pretty good bet!
Karcher are the Brand in power washers. This is a great power washer. Its the mid range one. They go from the K2 up to the K7. This is an 1800w one. Its more than powerful enough for anything you want to do. It comes with all the brushes you could possibly need. This is the best of the K4 range and it has a little phone app you can use to control the settings on the washer. Or enter the type of surface and it will do that for you. It also has a very long hose so you dont need to drag the device itself around when you are washing the car or patio etc. It also comes with complimentary washing liquid which is PH neutral. I spoke to the Karcher helpline and they assured me the detergents are PH neutral and wont kill your grass for example. The device has a 2 year warranty . And at any point if you break a peripheral like a wand or the wheels for example they will simply send you new ones. I think this is a fantastic washer. Its not the cheapest in the range and its not the most expensive and it does everything the other more expensive ones do and has the same apps etc. Its not as powerful as the 700- washer but I think its more than powerful enough for any task you are likely to do. I think if you want a washer that will last possibly for ever can be repaired by a reputable company that has been around for a long time and is THE name in pressure washers and dont want to spend a bomb but dont want a cheapy then this is the one to go fo
Some assembly is required and, as others have stated, the assembly instructions in the manual are not particularly clear but it’s not a terribly complicated process. Only after had I assembled it did I download the Krcher app to register the appliance and found that the app has detailed diagrams and instructions on how to assemble it! I would therefore make the app your first port of call…
The device feels very sturdy, as you’d expect from Krcher. There are good storage options on the device for the hose, power cable, pressure gun and one nozzle. This is rather bizarre as all previous Krchers that I’ve had have included storage for both nozzles that they come with.
There are a couple of minor niggles. With all modern Krchers, I do not understand why the electric cable goes in the back and both the input and output hoses (if you use the feed hole in the frame) are at the front. This makes the device a little awkward to move when in use. For me it would make much more sense for the input hose to be on the back of the unit. The idea of the guide hole for the pressure hose would be great if it worked as it is meant to prevent the hose from kinking and getting tangled when being pulled through. This, however, did not work for me but that may be because the hose is new and really wanted to stay coiled, so I guess it may improve over time and with use. This guide hole works really well on a K5 with the integrated hose reel.
The mobile app is only useful as an instructional guide for the K4 and a lot of the pressure setting are common sense. On the pressure lance, when using the variable nozzle, the pressure that you are selecting is clearly indicated by the yellow pressure gauge and is a great visual indicator for checking that you have the right pressure setting.
The high pressure hose is nice and long which is a definite improvement over some of the lower models. The combination of the two nozzles and other Krcher accessories means that this is a very versatile unit that can be used on many outside surfaces. Overall, I would highly recommend this for people that need to maintain larger driveway/deck areas as it really does feel like a quality piece of kit that should last.
Krcher jet washers I love them, The style yellow and black colour they just look brilliant better than any other jet washer I’ve had. The performance and power from this K4 is fantastic it took the green mould off my flags within seconds. The foam gum did a great job on the car but I was a bit sceptical to use the stinging brush at first but it’s soft tips just don’t press on too hard I didn’t I was too scared of damaging the paint but it still did a brilliant job getting dirt from the bottom half of the car. These one comes with the car kit and patio T5 cleaner and two bottles of cleaning liquid car and patio.
If your budget can stretch I would definitely go for this home and car set.
If you’re a serious SLR camera-owner, you’ll know just what I mean when I say that this K4 is a bndge model – part way between the serious 500 3kw K7 and the (relatively) little 1.4kw K2 at 100 or less. And this is a kit deal – Just about everything thrown in to enable you to be the cleanest household on the block.
As with all bundle deals, the first thing you have to do is check the kit price against the prices for all the bits bought separately – unless all you care about is the convenience of just getting everything in one place with one click.
The Karcher range is just about as full as it could possibly be, and could perhaps even be thinned out a little to help making up your mind which model to buy, which may currently may not be easy; but if you’re a domestic user, this K4 bundle deal is likely to give you everything you would possibly need, and you certainly won’t be disappointed with its power and reliability. Going any higher up the range would probably mean that you were spending more just because you could. Which is fine…
This version of the K4 also sports the pressure hose reel at the back, to make storage less of a nightmare, a no-brainer for me.
I do have a moan, though; this is the first model going up the range where serious self-assembly is required, all below it being merely push and click. Aside from the operating attachments, there are no less than eight separate bits which have to be permanently attached to the body with a variety of screws and dowels. This may be fine for the average able-bodied (it requires juggling with the 12kg chassis), but less so for those no longer in the first flush of youth, or for delicate ladies.
I cannot for the life of me see why these attachments cannot be fitted in the factory, indeed I can detect no purpose in requiring the purchaser to do it. except as some form of punishment or a penance, perhaps, for the good of the soul.
Karcher make the very best units for domestic use. This is the very best I have had so far. A complete unit with no need to get any extras. Possibly a little over the top in digitizing its controls but it is bang up to date. Does a fabulous job of anything you put it too. Quality sturdy construction with all the power you will ever need. The only thing an industrial unit does is sometimes heat the water – perhaps this is next? Fantastic bit of kit.
What are the benefits of a pressure washer?
There are multiple benefits such as keeping many surfaces clean with minimal effort and restoring multiple surfaces to their original condition.
It is a fast and effective tool using the various tools and accessories that accompany this model.
For somebody like me with back issues this is a god send. It saves me carrying buckets in and out of the house, saves on cleaning materials. You just need an available power socket and somewhere to attach your hose and away you go!
Pressure washers work by blasting water at high velocity, and the power of the water is enough to lift stains and mildew without the need for harmful chemicals so saving on environmental harm which in my books is a plus.
This particular model contents includes:
1x K 5 Compact 1x One Way Lance 1x Dirt blaster lance 1x G 180 Q Trigger Gun 1x 8m High Pressure Hose
The machine itself comes in a compact box. It is not too heavy without its accessories but you have wheels so that not an issue anyway.
Does it do a good job, yes it does and with its very long hose and long power cable which makes it very flexible in terms of the distance you you can pull it without difficulty to perform your tasks.
Easy connection functions and away you go! Flow is managed by the two lances
You can purchase optional extras should you please for other cleaning tasks that are not compatible with the accessories that come with this particular model.
Well priced given what you can do with this powerful mid range model. Bear in mind that whatever your budget you can’t beat a karcher in my opinion. I’ve always considered them to be the Roll Royce of power cleaners it did a marvellous job on my daughter in laws garden which was green and grungy looking.
I have just bought a flat and the garden is fully slabbed and can do with a good clean. I can’t wait to move in to release my new karcher on it
I hope you found this review helpful
Assembly
========
The pressure washer came securely packed and required a degree of assembly to connect the hose, attach the wheels and to assemble the handle. You will require a Philips/cross head screwdriver for the handle only. Assembly takes 5 minutes.
Once assembled you are presented with the Karcher pressure washer as illustrated. Setting up for use requires you to connect a water and power supply.
Operation
========
There are two separate controls, both of which are simple to operate. An rotary on/off switch on the main body of the washer and a separate 4 option control on the spray wand; this allows for variable spray pressure for hard substances such as paving through to soft timber, such as garden furniture (easy to operate rotary controller with a graphic display). Additionally there is a separate high pressure lance which directs a more concentrated and powerful jet for hard or stubborn stains. Personally I found that the variable lance offers sufficient force to tackle the majority of jobs, including removing heavy deposits off car alloy wheels. Both lances are easy to remove and secure.
The Krcher K4 comes with the added Plug and Clean system whereby you can attach a bottle of concentrated detergent or similar which will be mixed in the machine and delivered under pressure. It is a significant advance on previous models where there was an option to insert a pipe to draw the concentrate into the washer. I have used the car cleaner and found that it used the concentrate far quicker than I felt was necessary and therefore I would suggest that you experiment with concentration and do not attach a full bottle the first time you use it. I found that diluting the concentrate at a rate of 5:1 was more than sufficient to coat my car in foam: you just need to decant the remaining 80% into a separate container for future use.
Additional items supplied
====================
There are 5 additional items, all of which can utilise the Plug and clean system:
T5 Surface Cleaner – despite the fact that it is early spring, we tested the K5 on a small patio. we found that it did not clean anywhere near as effectively as the high pressure spray on its own HOWEVER there is considerable benefit from this reduced effectiveness in that the patio we tested the item on is made from sandstone and we found it significantly less abrasive. It was somewhat more effective when used with the patio cleaner, although common with all of the Plug and Clean products, it uses them at a very rapid rate and it is quite an expensive option. Perhaps we should use this cleaner a couple of times a year as the rotary action whilst not as powerful as the jet, it did the patio quicker and it did produce a noticeable result with minimal circular marks.
The foam nozzle, which is not a snow foam lance, produces a good enough foam to coat a car. I have allied previously to diluting the supplied detergent. Personally I prefer to fill this bottle with detergent rather than use the Plug and Clean option – but either works fine.
2 bottles of detergent. One for cleaning patios or similar and the other for cleaning cars: do not throw these bottles away after use as you can buy the detergent in 5L bottles, which is significantly cheaper.
The final and I believe the weakest part of this product is the car brush,
The final element is the Karcher rotary car brush. Personally I think that this product which you can purchase for a tad under 32.00 is the weakest part of this whole kit and this lets the side down, but not enough to lose a star. A far better brush is the standard Bruch which costs a quarter of that cost, You can use the rotary brush with the Plug and clean system, but for cleaning a car I use the following process:
+. Power wash/rinse
+. Coast with foam
.+ Standard power brush to remove the foam, grit and surface drift
+. Microfibre Mitt and warm soapy water in a bucket
+. Power wash and rinse, followed by chamois.
I actually felt that the rotary brush isn’t that good, it turns at roughly 20 spins a minute and the slightest pressure cause it to stop. Combine that with quite flimsy bristles and as I say, the weakest part of the package.
Functionality
==========
The washer supplied to me was not the upgraded model as advertised and did not have the retractable hose . In all other respects though pressure output is the same and the model is fully functional. It works really well, the 8 metre hose and 5 metre power cable permits me to access all sides of two family saloons parked parallel on my drive.
The unit is not exceptionally heavy, in fact the weight is quite reassuring. My wife commented that it was quite heavy, but not excessively and her only reservation would be lifting it any height (11.5kg)
Storage is relatively simple. The hose and power cable pack neatly to the rear and the wands are held securely at the front of the main unit.
The Krcher App
=============
The Krcher app is only used on this model to register purchase and to provide guides and tips, although higher spec models allow the app to control certain settings. A useful product guide which saves having to search for the manual if you wish to confirm any element of operation.
Overall
=====
A powerful mid range power washer which is ideal for the average home. There are more powerful models and those which are less powerful and smaller. For our home, this item is more than adequate for cleaning cars, which I suspect will be used for regularly, combined with annual cleaning of our patios and garden furniture. It has the added bonus of possessing two wands, a very high pressure washer and the much more convenient variable wand with four easy to control settings.
A great replacement for our old Karcher – the only downside is the assembly instructions- but didn’t take too long to assemble
A great replacement for our old Karcher – the only downside is the assembly instructions- but didn’t take too long to assemble
A great replacement for our old Karcher – the only downside is the assembly instructions- but didn’t take too long to assemble
A great replacement for our old Karcher – the only downside is the assembly instructions- but didn’t take too long to assemble
A great replacement for our old Karcher – the only downside is the assembly instructions- but didn’t take too long to assemble
Well priced and competitive but as always, a search may well turn up a cheaper price with or without accessories, it’s always worth checking other sellers. I consider the Krcher pressure washers, to be peerless, and the range very comprehensive from the K2 to the top end K7.
This K4 Krcher is a move away from the cheaper, less powerful models in the Krcher range and on a different level from other manufacturers. It comes in four flavours The Premium Power Control & Home, the Power control, the Power control Home and, the Premium Power control Home & Car, that being this model. All basically identical base units with different accessories thrown in. The exception being the top of the range K4 Premium Power Control Car & Home sports a very handy and useful reel for the 8-meter power hose, keeping it safe and tidy when not in use. I have read that it is a 6-meter hose, either that is a typo or my machines have left the factory with the wrong one fitted! All the washers are quick connect to mains water. An accessory is available to allow the supply to be a water butt or similar. All are fitted with wheels for ease of movement. They also need some assembly which is straight forward and requires a cross head screwdriver. Care is required when threading the pressure hose through its housing to the front of the machine, it is very easy to kink it if it hasn’t been carefully straightened beforehand. About twenty minutes should cover this simple job. This K4 is the top of the K4 range and has included the Home Kit, which comprises a T 5 patio cleaner and Stone & Faade detergent, and a Car Kit, with the including foam nozzle, wash brush and Car Shampoo
The K4’s all have the pressure hose emerging from the front of the unit above the water input, which I find an altogether neater arrangement than one front and one on the back. It seems a logical position. Two lances are supplied, each connecting to the trigger end with a positive and easy twist and push motion. One with a ‘Dirt Grinder’ spinning spray, the other with a ‘Vario’ power control with settings of medium hard soft and mix. The flow is sensibly controlled from the lance, twisting it will alternate between the various options and show on the display handle. The second lance has the single setting of Hard and it has the spinning ‘dirt grinder’ head.
The rear of all the variants have a small storage area where accessories can safely be stored behind a cargo net. And all have the power switch on the front.
The full range in K4’s, share the powerful 1.8kW motor producing 130 Bar, about 1900psi via the water-cooled Triplex Plunger Pump, a high efficiency and long-life unit. You wouldn’t want it pointing at anything delicate! The pressure is controllable allowing most surfaces to be attacked and cleaned efficiently and safely. The K4 and above models all have the ‘Plug and clean’ detergent intake which houses a dedicated Krcher accessory bottle holder. The liquids are available in different solutions of cleaner for various applications — stone cleaning, degreaser and detergents for various applications It’s an altogether satisfactory experience, the machine is a joy to use, it’s robust looks are reflected in the build quality, it looks a very capable machine and it most certainly is easily worth a full five-star rating…
JC
So the K4 is the midrange unit, slightly different assembly to the K2 but assembly is required. With the K7 it’s practically pull out of the box, all bar attaching the handle and hose.
With this it involved screwing parts together. The K2 is clip together for comparison. I found the instructions slightly lacking. There were pictures, but I was confused at points, I got there in the end. With this being screwed together (rather than clipping – K2) it definitely felt more secure. It looks a whole lot more premium than the K2 as well.
It comes with two lances which attach to the handle as well as an extender. There’s the high pressure one which is seriously high pressure and then the other allows you to turn between different levels of pressure.
The handle has an indicator when using the turnable lance so that you know what pressure level you’re at. At first I was searching for a controls on the handle and then realised it automatically senses.
This is ideal for using on more delicate surfaces and goes all the way up to high pressure but it wasn’t as powerful as the other lance. You can change the power for your car for example or wood. It’s nice to have that level of control. It also does a wired spinning motion spray but I’m yet to workout what this is for or if it’s just mine being a bit weird.
Now both the K2 and K7 came with patio attachments, you can see these in the pictures I’ve added. They also came with patio cleaning solution, albeit different sizes. This being the middle of the market one I would have expected to have those.
The unit itself has a section to attach the solution on top so I don’t know why they didn’t just give you one for free! I understand that when you see different names with the same model it generally indicates attachment bundles and not a different unit but the K2 at the lower end came with some accessories.
I’ve done a quick Google search and for the price you can get this model with them elsewhere. The unit I give a five but value is a bit less in my view.
The high pressure lance has a stream slightly wider than I’m used to. I had to be careful between gaps of block paving as it’s so powerful on the edges it was bringing up sand. With the K2 I had more pinpoint control but less coverage area. This definitely does the job quicker as the pressure is quite significant on a wide area. Ideal for paving or concrete.
The adjustable lance on full power wasn’t anywhere near as powerful as the other lance but still powerful enough that it would damage delicate surfaces. It’s expectedly more powerful than the K2.
The hose is apparently 6m but my I didn’t manage to use the full length. It has wheels so I just moved it around with me afterall. I struggled somewhat with the hose and getting it unwrapped and wrapped back up. For some reason you feed it through a slot before attaching to the handle. I was having to lift off the back hinge and then pull through enough so that I could use it. Then feed back through and wrapped back up once I’d finished.
It comes with a card to scan for the app and I was expecting to be able to control it with this but it’s actually for registration.
All in all its a good pressure washer and definitely better than the K2. It’s nowhere near the K7 but it looks the part. It’s well made and really stylish but it could do with the price reducing or accessories in my view. Then it would be five on everything.
If you are reading this with a view to purchasing one of these to clean patio slabs I would definitely recommend you buy one with a rotary patio cleaner (I borrowed my son’s) as they make the job much quicker and make less mess.
The only thing I don’t like is the stiff pressure hose, although they are the same whatever you buy, because it is just so difficult to control and would be better on a retractable reel or something.
Despite having wheels manoeuvrability can be a bit tricky (again, the same whatever you buy) what with the hose and power cable having to be looked after.
The bottom line though is that overall I’m very pleased with this machine
The unit needs to be fairly near to an electrical socket as the cable isn’t over long, but it makes up for that with the massive washer hose.
I switched on the unit with the rotary switch and it remained silent. Nothing happens until you press the trigger on the wand. Then you get a real surprise. I didn’t expect it to be so quiet.
The pressure of the jet is adjusted by twisting the wand, thinner jet=more power, wider jet= gentler flow. There’s an indicator near the trigger which shows the level of pressure as you adjust the flow.
I’ve included a video of this in action, also showing how easy it was to remove the winter’s green stains from my slabs.
I look forward to using this on the rest of the yard and may even try washing the car with it, it’s so controllable.
My only gripe is with the instructions again. I think it’s a generic sheet for a number of models and shows how to fit various accessories, like a rotary brush and a detergent reservoir, neither of which are included with this model. I found this a little confusing, misleading and disappointing. That apart, I cannot fault the engineering which goes into Karcher products and thoroughly recommend this one.
Well priced and competitive but as always, a search may well turn up a cheaper price with or without accessories, it’s always worth checking other sellers. I consider the Krcher pressure washers, to be peerless, and the range very comprehensive from the K2 to the top end K7.
This K4 Krcher is a move away from the cheaper, less powerful models in the Krcher range and on a different level from other manufacturers. It comes in four flavours The Premium Power Control & Home, the Power control, the Power control Home and, the Power control Home & Car, all basically identical base units with different accessories thrown in. The exception being the top of the range K4 Premium Power Control Car & Home sports a very handy and useful reel for the 8-meter power hose, keeping it safe and tidy when not in use. I have read that it is a 6 meter hose, either that is a typo or my machine has left the factory with the wrong one fitted! All the washers are quick connect to mains water. An accessory is available to allow the supply to be a water butt or similar. All are fitted with wheels for ease of movement. They also need some assembly which is straight forward and requires a cross head screwdriver. Care is required when threading the pressure hose through its housing to the front of the machine, it is very easy to kink it if it hasn’t been carefully straightened beforehand. About twenty minutes should cover this simple job.
The K4’s all have the pressure hose emerging from the front of the unit above the water input, which I find an altogether neater arrangement than one front and one on the back. It seems a logical position. Two lances are supplied, each connecting to the trigger end with a positive and easy twist and push motion. One with a ‘Dirt Grinder’ spinning spray, the other with a ‘Vario’ power control with settings of medium hard soft and mix. The flow is sensibly controlled from the lance, twisting it will alternate between the various options and show on the display handle. The second lance has the single setting of Hard and it has the spinning ‘dirt grinder’ head.
The rear of all the variants have a small storage area where accessories can safely be stored behind a cargo net. And all have the power switch on the front.
The full range in K4’s, share the powerful 1.8kW motor producing 130 Bar, about 1900psi via the water cooled Triplex Plunger Pump, a high efficiency and long life unit. You wouldn’t want it pointing at anything delicate! The pressure is controllable allowing most surfaces to be attacked and cleaned efficiently and safely. The K4 and above models all have the ‘Plug and clean’ detergent intake which houses a dedicated Krcher accessory bottle holder. The liquids are available in different solutions of cleaner for various applications — stone cleaning, degreaser and detergents for various applications It’s an altogether satisfactory experience, the machine is a joy to use, it’s robust looks are reflected in the build quality, it looks a very capable machine and it most certainly is easily worth a full five star rating..
JC
Assembly
========
The pressure washer came securely packed and required a degree of assembly to connect the hose, attach the wheels and to assemble the handle. You will require a Philips/cross head screwdriver for the handle only. Assembly takes 5 minutes.
Once assembled you are presented with the Karcher pressure washer as illustrated. Setting up for use requires you to connect a water and power supply.
Operation
========
There are two separate controls, both of which are simple to operate. An rotary on/off switch on the main body of the washer and a separate 4 option control on the spray wand; this allows for variable spray pressure for hard substances such as paving through to soft timber, such as garden furniture (easy to operate rotary controller with a graphic display). Additionally there is a separate high pressure lance which directs a more concentrated and powerful jet for hard or stubborn stains. Personally I found that the variable lance offers sufficient force to tackle the majority of jobs, including removing heavy deposits off car alloy wheels. Both lances are easy to remove and secure.
The Krcher K4 comes with the added Plug and Clean system whereby you can attach a bottle of concentrated detergent or similar which will be mixed in the machine and delivered under pressure. It is a significant advance on previous models where there was an option to insert a pipe to draw the concentrate into the washer. I have used the car cleaner and found that it used the concentrate far quicker than I felt was necessary and therefore I would suggest that you experiment with concentration and do not attach a full bottle the first time you use it. I found that diluting the concentrate at a rate of 5:1 was more than sufficient to coat my car in foam: you just need to decant the remaining 80% into a separate container for future use. I would also recommend that you purchase at least one of these bottles of detergent should you wish to use your own detergent in the future. as you will need a dedicated bottle
Functionality
==========
The washer supplied to me was not the upgraded model as advertised and did not have the retractable hose . In all other respects though pressure output is the same and the model is fully functional. It works really well, the 8 metre hose and 5 metre power cable permits me to access all sides of two family saloons parked parallel on my drive.
The unit is not exceptionally heavy, in fact the weight is quite reassuring. My wife commented that it was quite heavy, but not excessively and her only reservation would be lifting it any height (11.5kg)
Storage is relatively simple. The hose and power cable pack neatly to the rear and the wands are held securely at the front of the main unit.
The Krcher App
=============
The Krcher app is only used on this model to register purchase and to provide guides and tips, although higher spec models allow the app to control certain settings. A useful product guide which saves having to search for the manual if you wish to confirm any element of operation.
Overall
=====
A powerful mid range power washer which is ideal for the average home. There are more powerful models and those which are less powerful and smaller. For our home, this item is more than adequate for cleaning cars, which I suspect will be used for regularly, combined with annual cleaning of our patios and garden furniture. It has the added bonus of possessing two wands, a very high pressure washer and the much more convenient variable wand with four easy to control settings.
I haven’t cleaned the car yet but used it for the patio. I’m pretty pleased with the results. It did a great job, can’t wait for the wet cold weather to go so I can try it in the car.
Instructions included and pretty straightforward to follow.
I hope you found this review helpful