Okay so here's the thing. My deck looked like a swamp monster threw up on it after last winter, okay? Mold, mildew, the works. I needed serious firepower. Kept seeing Simpson pressure washers popping up online, people swore by 'em. But were they actually good? Felt like I needed to find out myself. So yeah, I decided to grab one and just get my hands dirty.

The Hunt & First Impressions

Went down to that big orange hardware store. Those Simpson machines look kinda mean, you know? Heavy duty vibe. Metal frames, not cheap plastic. Big engines sitting on top. I settled on the 3000 PSI gas model – figured if I was doing this, might as well go big. Hauled the beast home, felt heavier than my neighbor's grudge. Getting it out of the box was a workout. Read the manual (shocking, I know!), slapped oil and gas in like it said. Gave the starter rope a pull. Coughed a bit at first, like it was clearing its throat. Few more yanks and BAM! That engine roared to life. Loud? Hell yeah. But it sounded powerful, kinda satisfying.

Connecting & The First Blast

Okay, setup wasn't magic. Screwed the high-pressure hose onto the washer – tight fit, needed the wrench they included. Hooked up the garden hose to the water inlet. Important: Turned the garden hose on FIRST before firing up the pump! That's rule number one apparently. Grabbed the spray wand. Felt solid, metal trigger. Started with the widest nozzle tip, the 40-degree one, just to be safe. Pointed it at a patch of old cement.

Squeezed the trigger.

HOLY SMOKES.

That water jet hit like a freight train. Instant clean spot. Seriously powerful. Sprayed a few muddy tire tracks on the driveway – vanished in seconds. Felt ridiculous how easy it was. Moved on to my nasty deck boards. Covered in grime, some green mold patches. That fan spray just ate it. Could see fresh wood underneath almost immediately. Big pro right there: Raw cleaning power is insane.

Finding the Limits & The Annoying Stuff

Felt confident. Tackled this stubborn patch of oily gunk near my garage door. Used the narrower 15-degree tip for more punch.

• Pros:
• Shredded the oil stain no problem. Absolutely no mercy.
• Built like a tank. Felt like it could handle years of abuse.
• Cleaned massive areas super fast once you got the hang of it.
• Cons? Oh Yeah, Some Headaches:
• That engine noise. Man, it's LOUD. My ears were ringing. Gotta wear serious ear protection. Forget chatting.
• It's heavy. Moving it around the yard isn't fun. Not a lightweight push-around toy.
• The hose is stiff! Wrestling that high-pressure hose while trying not to blast holes in my siding? Workout #2. Kinked a few times.
• Starting it cold sometimes took a few extra pulls, feeling like my arm might fall off. Bit finicky.

Tried cleaning some patio furniture, lighter stuff. Had to dial it WAY back. Even the 40-degree tip was too strong. Almost blew a cushion halfway across the yard! No finesse here. You need attachments for anything delicate, which costs more.

The Verdict After Getting Soaked

Finished the deck, driveway, walkways. Place looked brand damn new. Seriously impressive cleanup. But yeah, I was soaked head-to-toe – that spray kickback is sneaky! Exhausted. Covered in mud spatter.

So, are Simpson pressure washers good?

Heck yes, and kinda no.

If you need to absolutely destroy serious dirt, grime, mold, or stains on big, tough surfaces like concrete, brick, deck wood? Pure monster mode. The power is undeniable. Feels super sturdy, built to last.

But if you want something quiet, easy to move, good for gentle jobs like cars or windowsills, or don't like wrestling equipment? Look elsewhere. It's loud, heavy, kinda basic, and a bit of a brute-force tool. Think commercial job site vibes in your backyard.

For me? For resurrecting that disaster zone deck? Worth the sweat and the ringing ears. It got the job done brutally well. Just know what beast you're buying!