Pressure washing a filthy patio using a Karcher K4 pressure washer

[@bigtedshome]

Amazon links to the equipment used in this video can be found here: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/bigtedshomegarden?ref_=cm_sw_r_em_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfbigtedshomegarden_PTSA60EFA7XSXVWGW5G1 International amazon links are in the video description. Clicking on the UK product link should take you directly to the product listing on your local amazon site.

[@jcc6664]

After my older Karcher pressure washer failed I bought a Karcher K4 Premium Logic. It failed within warranty and had to be replaced and then failed yet again after very little use. Karcher quoted £145 to service and fix it but I bought a fantastic AVA Smart P160 currently on sale from the manufacturer for £199. Much more power including a patio cleaner and with a 10 year warranty. Tremendous performance and quality and so much better than the karcher K4. The reason I bought the AVA was the excellent reviews on KZbin by Epic. Epic tests many machines and said the K4 was lacking in pressure. The features and engineering of the AVA are brilliant.

[@dr.impossibleofcounterpunc1984]

The same thing happened to me. But this time, it was a Bosch pressure washer, and it wasn't cheap. The build quality is made to fail these days on most stuff. Makes you realise what mugs we are. You go out and buy another one, and then that fails. Revenue for the companies that manufacture stuff.

[@philipcavanagh1696]

This was both informative, and had an element of ASMR! Thank you for a lovely video

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks Philip 🙂

[@Kateule33]

Thank you!Now I know what k4 set I should buy:)

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks. I'm glad you found it helpful 🙂

[@jcc6664]

I would add that the AVA uses the same fitting as the Karcher so you can keep your accessories although you might have to cut a little plastic off the Karcher screw collar to allow the bayonet to fit snuggly. It also has an extendable lance which really helps prevent backache plus a Snow Foam Cannon. I also bought a Bosch 6 metre pressure hose extension for £15 from Amazon. Whats not to like.

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks for commenting JC. I've heard a lot of good things about AVA pressure washers and will certainly consider them when I need a new machine.

[@windsor7584]

It could be cleaned more. There is still a lot of embedded dirt .I recommend using the intensive nozzle. It takes longer but will improve the look even further. An annual clean will then suffice.

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks for commenting. I agree that using the dirtblaster nozzle would remove some of the more ingrained dirt but the surface cleaner is much faster and doesn't cover everything nearby with the removed dirt.

[@brandonheaber50]

excellent video! keep up the good work 😁

[@bigtedshome]

Thank you 🙂

[@Londrahandyman]

I bought the k4 new series by watching the videos. It has no problems in washing the floor and car, but the drain opening apparatus does not work with pressure. I called the customer services many times to take it to the service, then I took it to the service, but this way it is without pressure. It was said after the test they did that it worked. I can say that it was a failed apparatus. They did not receive a refund. My money was a baton.

[@johnwilson230]

You get a cleaner finish by useing just the lance and as for a cleaner washing up.liquid brush over the are left and lanced over this allni ever do.all the bedt

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks for commenting John. I agree that the dirtblaster lance is better at cleaning than the surface cleaner but the problem is that the dirt gets sprayed over everything nearby (not a good idea when the washing is on the line!). I find it better to use the surface cleaner to remove most of the dirt and then finish off the stubborn areas with the dirtblaster lance.

[@rooroo3199]

Great video, very clear. Only sealing afterwards I am unsure about.

[@bigtedshome]

If you want to seal it afterwards something like this would do the job amzn.to/41tj2SO Personally, I don't use a sealant but then again I quite enjoy pressure washing 😉

[@mowburnt]

2 questions - 1 why did you have to push the bottle on so hard - should be an easy drop in place (mine is). 2. Why was no detergent coming out? When I use ours with the stone cleaner (great stuff) it really foams up nicely - might be worth checking it’s working properly as it makes a massive difference

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks, I've got the drive to do in the next week or so and will look at it in more detail then.

[@AdenosineDiphosphate]

Thanks this is very helpful

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it useful 🙂

[@jd100-x1z]

I wonder if you need to use the detergent or if T5 surface cleaner would do the work even without it. Thanks.

[@bigtedshome]

The surface cleaner will remove most of the grime without the detergent. I don't normally use detergent when cleaning my drive but the paving in this particular video had not been cleaned for a long time.

[@arvindtaylor6871]

I have a problem detergent not coming out, does it only come out on low pressure settings? When taking the bottle out the nozzle on the machine side looks it’s gone in at an angle! Is that normal?

[@rbs7919]

10-1 mix of chlorine in a watering can, sprinkled over area, as a final step to kill any residual mould.

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks for the tip RBS 👍

[@juicer404]

Do u pop green nozzle out of bottle

[@zsoltpasztor7]

Can I use it without a tap water (which is under some kind of pressure) and get water from a water tank (clean rain water), water bucket?

[@bigtedshome]

I have used my K4 successfully from a rain water butt. This video shows how I did it kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmmXkGipgZmLrsU

[@anthonypaul7989]

Not sure if my surface cleaner is working very well it’s the Kärcher t351 and the symbol on the Lance shows soft, is that correct or should it be higher, I’ve turned the dial on the surface device to max.

[@Fraptor-co9bq]

Can you you please tell me when using this k4 pressure washer with T5 patio attachment what is the pressure reading on your handle ? Is it mix, soft ,medium or hard ? I have one and it’s only showing medium, I would really appreciate it if you could come back to me ? Great Channel thank you 🙏

[@bigtedshome]

I'm lending my K4 to a friend at the weekend, so I'll check this when I'm showing her how to use the machine.

[@Fraptor-co9bq]

@@bigtedshome thank you 🙏

[@bigtedshome]

@@Fraptor-co9bq I've just checked. The pressure reading on mine is also on medium when the patio cleaner is running

[@sallywells2524]

I have just set up the Karcher 4. I am not getting any visible change to the pressure gauge in the handle of the gun. I am twisting the wands to High but that seems to make no difference. The videos dont refer to this. Is there anything else I should be doing. The spray is not powerful enough to remove dirt from slabs as shown in the video.

[@bigtedshome]

Only the vario lance allows you to change the pressure but even on high this lance is not great for cleaning paving. Try the dirtblaster lance instead, it's much more powerful.

[@axeman33333]

The adjustment knob only lowers or raises the spray nozzles in the surface cleaner

[@MrKChurchill]

Our one isn't dispensing detergent when using the T5 - is it by design that the detergent only comes out on the mix lance?

[@bigtedshome]

Yes, that's how I understand it. You spray the detergent on first and then switch to the cleaning head.

[@crystalken]

Detergent only comes out when you use the lance on low power mode, as soon as it's on high then it stops sucking it out...thats what mine does anyway.

[@bigtedshome]

@Crystal Ken Thanks Ken 👍

[@ThanhsChannel]

At hard surface mode on the T7, the pressure gauge on the gun could reach maximum level or lower ?

[@bigtedshome]

Thank you for your question. I'm not at home at the moment but will check on this when I return.

[@frankmurray9172]

I have a K4 whıch has been workıng fıne but now won't suck the detergent through the system. Any ıdeas.

[@bigtedshome]

I've not had this problem but it sounds like you've got a blockage somewhere. You could try cleaning the cap of the detergent bottle and the inlet port on the K4. If that doesn't work, I would get in touch with technical support at Karcher UK

[@frankmurray9172]

@@bigtedshome Thanks a lot for your reply. I had another go at it today. It turned out to be the bottle not properly engaging, although it felt like it was. A few extra shoves and all was alright. I've been using the same bottle for a while and filling it with snowfoam. I think a new bottle is in order. Your advice made me look at the bottle again. Thanks a lot.

[@bigtedshome]

@frankmurray9172 That's great Frank. I'm glad you've sorted it out 👍

[@monstrousgaara]

subscribed! Will this work on porcelain slabs?

[@bigtedshome]

Yes but use a lower pressure especially around the joints. This article explains why: www.londonstone.co.uk/blog/how-to-clean-outdoor-porcelain-tiles/#:~:text=While%20porcelain%20is%20a%20very,damage%20when%20cleaning%20porcelain%20tiles.

[@andrewhayes7055]

Still dirty and needs re-grouting or the slabs will move

[@cypeman8037]

I dont think its a pressure setting, it alters the height of the nozzles.

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks, I'm away from home at the moment but will check it out when I get back.

[@johndriscoll1950]

The problem here is Black spot mould. none of the karcher tools will remove this. You need a specialist black spot mould cleaning fluid. They are VERY expensive and I havent tested any for that reason. Anyone tried one?

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks John. You're right, they are expensive. It would be great if anyone could recommend a black spot remover that they have used successfully 👍

[@mowburnt]

Actually I don’t think you do. We had black mould on our artificial grass and I used bicarbonate, left for 15 mins then added white vinegar, left 15 mins then rinsed away and it was incredible. Will be trying on patio soon as it worked so well

[@gj8153]

All very Alan Partridge...

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks. I'll tell Lynn to send you a signed photo.

[@jcc6664]

I just feel AVA are so much better value for money and since the recent Sale reductions in price, the Smart P60 X Bundle with a Patio cleaner at £199 is a bargain. And of course you can draw water from a water butt or bucket. I use one of my water butts. I paid pre-sale price of £309.90 for my P60 a day before the reductions and after a bit of a moan to AVA they sent me £110 refund.

[@bigtedshome]

At £199 you got a bargain. The P60 specifications are actually much more comparable to those of the Karcher K5 rather than the K4.

[@mikebotta4494]

Get rid of the yellow peril !,, buy an AVA !,,, will last more than Karcher junk!

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks for commenting Mike. AVA make excellent pressure washers and I would certainly consider one of their machines in the future but for now I am very happy with my K4 I've had it over 2 year now and it does everything I want it to and has never let me down. My previous Karcher was over 20 years old before I finally had to replace it.

[@videos40058]

what a bad job at the end.

[@leeedsonetwo]

It was cleaner but not clean, helpful as I will not buy one.

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks for commenting. You might want to look at the Karcher K7 or the Kranzle pressure washer range if you want something more powerful

[@russellfoot1605]

Mr happy

[@pi1325]

I do not understand why all ,,foreigners" use cheaper tools. Like this brush, which is an old model. Also, you dont adjust the pressire on the brush, you adjust the distance of the rotative arms from the pavement.

[@bigtedshome]

Thanks for commenting. The T5 surface cleaner used in this video may not be the best that Karcher offer but it is the model that is supplied with the K4 in the UK. You are correct that adjusting the dial changes the distance of the nozzles from the surface. This does increase the pressure applied though (remember pressure = force/area).

[@hamzah3138]

Very disappointing. But glad I watched it as I won't be buying one now.

[@bigtedshome]

I've saved you £200 then 😃