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Karcher X vs AR Blue Clean Pressure Washers – The Showdown
So let’s say you are in the market for an excellent electric pressure washer for use around the house – it’s likely you’ll end up making a decision between a Karcher X Series and an AR Blue Clean AR383. Both of these are outstanding choices. Now I’d like to compare them side by side so that I may help you make a better informed decision if you find yourself weighing these options.
|
Karcher X Series K5.540 |
AR Blue Clean AR383 |
|---|---|
| Electric | Electric |
| 2000 PSI | 1900 PSI |
| 1.4 GPM | 1.5 GPM |
| 3.8 Stars | 4.1 Stars |
| $$ | $ |
Power
The Karcher X Series K5.540 features a water-cooled induction motor and a powerful 2000PSI pump. The AR383 from AR Blue Clean has an air-cooled Triplex 3 axial-piston pump that produces 1900PSI.
Advantage: Going to have to go with the Karcher on this as I think the benefits of the water cooled pump may show as they age, though in terms of pure power I don’t think there is much of a difference here. Both are going to get the job done for you.
Flow
The Karcher flows 1.4 gallons per minute, while the AR flows 1.5 gallons per minute.
Advantage: AR Blue Clean wins here. The additional flow can speed up your pressure washing work.
Mobility
The K5.540 weighs in at 31 pounds, while the AR383 comes in at a 15% lighter weight of 27 pounds. Both feature plastic wheels and a hose reel for convenient storage.
Advantage: AR383 wins this one. I definitely prefer the lighter weight model when possible, especially when shopping for a home machine. The easier a machine is to get out and use, the more likely you are to put it to work doing a bit more than collecting spiders in the garage!
Warranty
The K5.540 has a 1 year warranty. Karcher offers an excellent no hassle rapid exchange program for defects that occur under this warranty. Rather than take your broken pressure washer to a repair center and wait weeks or months for service, Karcher will replace a defective unit with a brand new identical or equivalent washer. AR Blue Clean also has a 1 year warranty and industry-leading customer service.
Advantage: You simply won’t find a better warranty program than that offered on the Karcher pressure washers. However, if they earn a 100% here, AR Blue Clean is 99.5%. You simply can’t go wrong with either one here.
Price
The Karcher hovers right around $270, while the AR Blue Clean typically sells for about $155.
Advantage: This one is obvious! You can really see how great of a value proposition the AR Blue Clean is here – typically selling for least $100 cheaper.
The Winner
I think the AR Blue Clean AR383 is an excellent value here and it is hard to justify the extra cost of the Karcher when they are so equally matched in all other respects. The only thing I will say for the Karcher is that the unique water cooled induction motor may be a better choice for someone that intends to give their pressure washer heavier than typical use, as this could extend the life of the machine.
Click Here To See More User Reviews of the AR383
I hope this helps you make your decision! Feel free to leave any questions in the comments or send an email if you think I’ve missed something here.
