Kärcher K 4 Premium Power Control Pressure washer (cleaning review)

The Kärcher K 4 Premium Power Control Pressure washer is from its K4 series for use around the average home. It cleaned ten years of baked-on gunk in seconds – impressive.

Of course, you could look at the more expensive K 5 or K 7 series, but these are for really in-grained dirty homes, and you don’t want to admit that – do you? I already own an older K 5, so I have a great benchmark.

Optional Kärcher K 4 Premium Power Control Pressure washer accessories include

It has a huge variety of optional accessories

• T7 Plus Surface cleaner and extension wand $186.90
• T5 Surface cleaner and extension wand $142.90
• FJ 10 Connect and Clean bottle attachment $43.90
• TLA 4 Telescopic Spray Lance $234.90
• Drain or Pipe cleaner 7.5m $93.90
• Gutter and pip[[e cleaning kit $164.90
• 10m pressure hose $142.90
• Sand/wet blast set $149.90
• WB 150 Power Brush $87.90
• Various special-purpose nozzles

Kärcher K 4 Premium Power Control

Website	Range and product
Price	$579
From	Kärcher online, Bunnings, Sydney Tools, Mitre 10, Total Tools and Supercheap Auto.
Warranty	5-year ACL plus two more when registered
Country of origin	Italy
Company	Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG is a German family-owned company that operates worldwide. It is known for its high-pressure cleaners, floor care equipment, parts cleaning systems, wash water treatment, military decontamination equipment and window vacuum cleaners.
More	CyberShack Kärcher news and reviews

We use Fail (below expectations), Pass (meets expectations) and Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the class leader) against many of the items below. We occasionally give a Pass(able) rating that is not as good as it should be and a Pass ‘+’ rating to show it is good but does not quite make it to Exceed.

You can click on most images for an enlargement.

First impression Kärcher Yellow – Pass+

It is a relatively compact, tidy unit with an onboard pressure hose and spray lance storage. It also has an accessory compartment. All this is in an 11.95kg device on wheels with a telescopic handle ( a little too short for me).

This may be the baby, but it is up to 2100 psi and seven litres per minute (more later on about its eco-friendly credentials). It is IP X5 rated – water is not an issue but don’t pressure wash it.

The ‘Premium Full Control’ identifies the accessories that come with it.

• High-pressure gun, G 145 Q Full Control
• Vario Power Jet
• Dirt blaster
• Integral high-pressure hose reel
• High-pressure hose, 9 Metre
• Quick Connect on machine
• Detergent application via, Plug’ n’ Clean system
• Telescopic handle
• Water-cooled motor
• Soft bag
• Integrated water filter
• Garden hose adapter A3/4″

Use – anyone can do it – Pass+

Connect to a garden tap (or an unpressurised water tank reservoir), plug-in power, choose the right lance, and pull the handle trigger. All you need is to add an HPM Electresafe Power Centre with two USB outlets REPC410USB (review) earth leakage detector, and a decent outdoor-rated extension power cable.

The right lance depends on cutting power versus cleaning power. The Vario’s head is best for most work – cleaning paths, cars, bikes etc. The dirt blaster can remove ground-in dirt and even paint, which is much more precise.

Plus, you can adjust the pressure on the handle from full (stone, paving), medium (cars and bikes), soft (wood and rattan) and mix (detergent). It has 2 x AAA batteries to run the indicator that will last years.

The 9-metre water hose is great, but it is pretty rigid, and you need to look after it to avoid twisting. Carefully roll it back on the storage wheel.

Power use

• 1900W under full load, so it should not be on a circuit with any other heavy load device. It will cost 60-70 cents per hour at typical electricity rates.
• Dangerous – no, but we recommend an earth leakage device and a proper outdoor power cable.

While the dirt blaster water jet is enough to remove paint, if you spray your foot (and you should not have bare feet anyway), there is a mild stinging sensation at worst. It is safe around kids with supervision.

Eco-friendly

The maximum water flow is 7 litres per minute. Sydney water provides a minimum of 18 litres per minute, with some suburbs at the double that rate. So, while it allows for cleaning pressure, it uses water sparingly.

It is also a detergent miser at 300ml a minute (diluted) – make sure you use that setting sparingly.

Before and After

We tested with both the Karcher K 5, which has 2300ps/8 litres per minute, versus the K 4 at 2100psi/7 litres per minute. In either case, the clean was identical removing mould and in-grained dirt. We timed a 10m2 wall area, and the K5 was slightly faster at 15 minutes versus 20 minutes.

Noise – as expected – Pass.

Typically 75dB

Maintenance – Pass+

There are no user-replaceable parts other than the 9m hose and accessories. It has a 7-year warranty with registration, so Karcher must be sure of its quality.

CyberShack’s view – Kärcher K 4 Premium Power Control Pressure washer cleans up

Pressure washers are all about the right tool for the job. In my sexagenarian lifetime, I have owned a ‘baby’ Kärcher and the K 5. For me there was, then and now, no choice of brands – Kärcher is to pressure cleaners as Kleenex is to facial tissue.

In the 90s and noughties, I cleaned two huge homes inside and out with the “baby. It did it without complaint. I gave that one to my son, and it is still going strong (one replacement pressure hose in that time).

The K 5 is a little faster (2300 psi, 8 litre-per-minute, 2100W, 15kg) but not really more effective for general household use. This Kärcher K 4 is the right size for most.