Okay, so I gotta share what I went through trying to find one of these things. My workshop floor, man, it was getting seriously gross. Oil stains, grease, stuff I don't even wanna know what it was. Regular cold water pressure washing just wasn't cutting it anymore. It just smeared the oily stuff around mostly.

So, I figured, right, I need something with some heat. That led me down the rabbit hole looking for hot water power washers for sale. First thing I did, naturally, was jump online. Typed that exact phrase into the search bar.

My Search Begins

Wow. Okay, lots of options popped up. Big ones, small ones, electric, gas... it was kind of overwhelming right off the bat. I saw names I knew, some I'd never heard of. Prices were all over the place too. Some looked kinda reasonable, then you see these massive industrial units that cost more than my first car.

I spent a good couple of hours just clicking around. Read some descriptions. Looked at specs, you know, PSI, GPM, and the big one – how hot does the water actually get? That seemed super important. Some just boosted the temperature a bit, others were like legit steam cleaners.

• Checked out the big box hardware store sites. They had a few, mostly electric, maybe not heavy-duty enough for my mess.
• Looked at specialty equipment suppliers. Better selection, definitely more powerful units, but yeah, the prices jumped up quick.
• Even peeked at used marketplaces. Found a few listings for hot water power washers for sale there. Seemed risky though, you know? Buying used complex machinery like that... felt like asking for trouble unless you really know what you're looking at.

Getting Stuck in the Details

Here’s where I started getting bogged down. Trying to figure out the real difference between a $1500 unit and a $4000 unit. They both spray hot water, right? But then you look closer. The heating element type (diesel burner seemed common for the really hot ones), pump quality, engine brand on the gas models... it all adds up.

I even started watching videos of different models in action. Some looked amazing, just melting grease away. Others... well, they looked like slightly warmer pressure washers, maybe not worth the extra cash and complexity.

I made a little list on a notepad: PSI needed, target temperature, budget (this was the tricky part). I tried calling a local rental place just to see what they used. The guy wasn't super helpful, just said "yeah, we got hot water units" but didn't give me much detail on the brands or specs.

Where I'm At Now

So, after all that searching and comparing, where did I land? Honestly? Still deciding. The cost is a big factor. Dropping several thousand bucks on a machine I might use heavily a few times a year feels steep. Renting is an option, but I kinda like the idea of owning one for whenever the need strikes.

I found a couple of models that seem like a decent balance between price and power, focusing on ones with reliable pump brands. Still haven't pulled the trigger though. Part of me thinks maybe I should just try a super strong degreaser with my cold washer again. But man, that hot water just seems like it would make life so much easier.

The search for hot water power washers for sale continues, I guess. Maybe I'll check those used listings again, see if anything decent pops up locally. Or maybe I'll just bite the bullet next month. We'll see.