I Rarely Recommend Gas Pressure Washers to Homeowners. This Westinghouse Is the Exception.

4 min readI’ve often said that gas pressure washers are the best choice for professional job sites, while electric pressure washers are a better fit for DIY projects and home maintenance. The Westinghouse WPX3400 pressure washer has prompted me to reconsider that advice. Here’s why: It delivers true gas power at an affordable price while minimizing the drawbacks of a gas engine.Gas pressure washers traditionally deliver the most powerful cleaning, but come with a higher purchase price and recurring maintenance responsibilities. I’ve spent lots of time on job sites while workers huddled around a pressure washer, yanking on the pull cord and trying to troubleshoot a malfunctioning engine—not to mention the noise, weight, and fumes that come with a gas engine. But the WPX3400 is quieter, lighter, and more reliable than any of the other gas pressure washers I’ve used. It’s robust enough that it’s made me rethink my default recommendations for most homeowners.If you’re a DIYer who wants maximum power and performance, and you aren’t deterred by working with a gas engine, this pressure washer will more than deliver.ProsPowerful psi and GPMRugged construction stands up to heavy-duty useRelatively light for a gas-powered pressure washerConsWheels struggled when crossing uneven or muddy terrainKey SpecsTypeGasPower212cc engine Weight63 lbCleaning Power3400 psiMax Flow Rate2.6 GPMPowerful but (Relatively) QuietThe Westinghouse WPX3400 delivers powerful performance while minimizing the downsides of a gas-powered tool. Rated at 3,400 psi and 2.6 gallons per minute (GPM), it’s the most powerful pressure washer we’ve tested, both in terms of water pressure and volume.I used the Westinghouse WPX3400 to clean concrete sidewalks, vinyl siding, and brick walls, as well as to refresh an earthenware chiminea and wash my truck (with a third-party foam cannon). The Westinghouse excelled on each of these surfaces. It had the power to clean stained and dirt-caked sidewalks, while its even spray and high GPM made car washing straightforward and hassle-free. Cleaning the chiminea and brick wall was effortless because the Westinghouse offers consistent psi. If pressure fluctuates up and down, it’s possible to damage surfaces such as brick or mortar.Dan StoutThe Westinghouse performed well on a range of surfaces, including concrete. In this before-and-after photo, you can see the difference, with a satisfying final result.So what about the downsides? This pressure washer has a gas engine, so it produces exhaust, and I certainly wouldn’t call it quiet, registering 89 decibels when idle. Still, that’s not overly loud in terms of gas-powered pressure washers, many of which can register well over 90 decibels. I expected the hard plastic wheels on the WPX3400 to make it louder and rattle-prone, but this issue seems to be counterbalanced by the soft rubber front foot. That same rubber foot seemed to help it withstand my durability tests, as well. The wheels did struggle some when moving across uneven surfaces and muddy terrain.The Westinghouse pressure washer also went through evaluation for several months by Test Editor Paul Smith. “I spent the better part of the summer putting the Westinghouse WPX3400 to work on vinyl siding, a driveway, patio, and fence,” he said. “This thing is a workhorse. It has serious cleaning power, knocking all of that stubborn algae off the siding portion of my house that lives in the shade, my fencing, and all of my pressure-treated landscape timbers. There’s a lot of satisfaction in watching all of that green disappear with each pass of the wand and seeing the original surface restored.”Smith found the WPX3400 to be relatively quiet compared to other gas-powered models he has used—benefiting both him and his neighbors. “If I have one gripe, it’s that I found the hose between the machine and the wand to be a bit short, which required a few extra moves of the machine,” he shared. “Beyond that, it’s a pressure washer perfectly suited to homeowners who want to wash a bit more—and faster—than they might with an electric model.”Durability and MaintenanceOne of the reasons that gas-powered pressure washers are popular on professional job sites is that they can take a lot of abuse. The WPX3400 stood up to everything I threw at it and kept running without a hitch.I tried to find failure points by attempting to kink the hose and running it on an uneven surface, but the Westinghouse sailed through those tests. Next, I dropped it onto a concrete pad from a foot up. The rubber foot that also served as a drop buffer absorbed and distributed the fall impact.I intentionally ran it out of gas, and I pushed it by using it with low oil. In all instances, it came back to life once I refilled the fluids. At the end of the testing, I winterized it—a straightforward if somewhat messy process of loosening a single bolt to drain gasoline from the float bowl (rather than the entire tank) and stocking the pump with antifreeze. It’s more winterization work than an electric model requires, but not much more. When I break it out next year for the buying guide refresh, I’ll get to find out how well it comes back to life.Should You Buy This Pressure Washer?If you need true power to deal with intense dirt and debris or if you have large jobs that would take hours with a less powerful washer, then this is a smart choice. And the user-friendliness of the WPX3400 minimizes the additional work of a gas engine. I have found small engines can be finicky to get started, and many require tinkering to keep them running. Not with the WPX3400, which has started easily every single time I used it.If you dislike dealing with standard engine maintenance, or you need to store your pressure washer in your home over the winter, this machine may not be the way to go. And (just like any gas-powered option), it’s definitely not for anyone who plans to use their pressure washer indoors or in an area with poor ventilation.Throughout my testing, the WPX3400’s power, durability, and ease of use impressed me at every turn. It’s my top recommendation for DIYers who are looking to make a pressure washer purchase.Shop the Westinghouse WPX3400 Pressure WasherOther Pressure Washers We RecommendAt 3,000 psi and 2.0 GPM, the Greenworks Pro GPW3002A tackles tough jobs, making it comparable to many gas-powered models, minus fumes and maintenance costs. Its low center of gravity makes it stable and easier to move around on uneven terrain. Even after substantial rain, though, its 10-inch wheels never got bogged down in the mud.Battery-powered pressure washers offer freedom from a power cord, and the HPW3204-2 even comes with a siphon hose to allow feeding water from a bucket, a well, or other water source. The Power+ HPW3204-2 offers three power settings, typically providing about 60 minutes, 45 minutes, and 20 minutes, in ECO, High, and Turbo modes, respectively.If your cleaning tasks will be entirely in or around your property, there’s no need to worry about how mobile a pressure washer might be. I found the 100-foot hose could reach about 95 percent of my home and yard—simply by walking with the wand, with no need to wheel a cumbersome mounted washer.A former residential remodeler and maintenance manager, Dan Stout has worked in nearly every part of the construction and DIY industry, from project planning and permitting to plumbing, drywall, carpentry, and more. He loves to write about the weird history of everyday objects, and to help readers make informed decisions about their homes.Jamie, Senior Reviews Editor, joined the Hearst Enthusiast Group in 2021. She has covered technology and consumer lifestyle gadgets since 1995—and shared her expertise in print, digital, and in broadcast originating the role of The Gizmo Girl for ESPN’s Cold Pizza. She has written about, tested, and reviewed everything from turkey fryers to high-definition TVs. Her byline has appeared in TWICE, Sound & Vision, Consumer Reports, and many others. In her free time, Jamie is in a yoga class, searching for the perfect matcha latte, or walking the boards.