Alright, let's talk about stepping up the pressure washing game. My old electric washer just wasn't cutting it anymore, especially on the big concrete pad out back and the north side of the house where green stuff seems to grow overnight. I kept seeing folks talk about GPM – gallons per minute – being just as important as PSI. So, I decided I needed more flow, landed on trying out a 5 GPM pressure washer.

Getting Started

First off, this thing was bigger than my old unit. Definitely heavier. Had to actually use some muscle getting it out of the truck and rolling it around. Wasn't complicated, though. Hooked up my garden hose to the inlet, made sure the little filter screen was clean. Then wrestled the high-pressure hose onto the outlet. That hose is stiff, thicker than I was used to. Checked the oil, filled it up with gas. Simple enough, like starting a lawnmower, really.

Then came the nozzles. It came with a few standard ones. I knew enough to stay away from the red zero-degree one for most things. Started with the green one, I think it was 25 degrees, seemed like a safe bet for concrete.

Firing It Up and Doing the Work

Pulled the cord, and yeah, it barked louder than my old one. You could feel the engine working. Grabbed the wand, squeezed the trigger, and wow. The kickback wasn't crazy uncontrollable, but you definitely knew you were holding something powerful. The sheer amount of water coming out was noticeable right away. It wasn't just a sharp jet; it was a heavy spray.

Started on the dirtiest part of the driveway. It just melted the grime away. Way faster than before. I didn't have to hold the nozzle super close or go over the same spot ten times. Just a steady sweep, and you could see clean concrete emerging. It was actually kind of satisfying.

• Managing the hose took some getting used to. It's heavier and less flexible. Had to stop a few times just to reposition it so I wasn't fighting it.
• It uses water, and fast. My well pump was definitely keeping up, but you could tell it was moving a serious volume of water. Something to keep in mind if you're on city water with usage limits or have a weaker well.
• Switched to the white nozzle (40 degrees, I think?) for the house siding. Still plenty of power to blast off the green stuff and dirt, but felt a bit safer, less likely to damage the vinyl.

The whole process was just... quicker. Did the entire driveway, the back patio, and the worst of the siding in an afternoon. Usually, that would have taken me a whole weekend, maybe more, with the old washer.

Some Thoughts After Using It

Okay, so the 5 GPM machine is no joke. It’s a serious tool. For big flat areas like driveways or prepping large surfaces, it's fantastic. Saved me a ton of time.

Is it overkill? Maybe for washing the car or cleaning outdoor furniture. You really have to be careful with the pressure and nozzle choice. It could definitely etch wood or strip paint if you're not paying attention. You feel the power constantly, so you stay focused.

Cleanup was straightforward. Disconnected the hoses, ran the pump dry for a second, turned off the gas, stored it away. Felt tired, arms felt like I'd done some work holding that wand, but the results were worth it. Seeing those clean surfaces felt really good.

So yeah, that was my adventure with the 5 GPM washer. Big power, big results, just gotta handle it with respect. Definitely the right tool for the bigger jobs I had.