Karcher K5 Compact Pressure Washer Review after 2 years ownership!!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 พ.ค. 2023
- Welcome to GM details and to this long awaited review of the small but mighty Karcher K5 Compact Pressure Washer , following along from my other review of the K4 Full Control.
Regarding the use of the pressure washer , Karcher say …. The K 4-K 7 models can be used both while upright and while lying flat.
The review is based on my own use and thoughts after buying the pressure washer new over 2 years ago, it’s not sponsored or endorsed by Karcher.
If you are interested in buying a K5, these are a few links to hopefully get the best prices. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon …. amzn.to/3MW1BWl
Karcher Direct (extra year warranty) www.kaercher.com/uk/home-gard...
Toolstation ….. www.toolstation.com/karcher-k...
CONSIDER A RECONDITIONED PRESSURE WASHER ? www.karcheroutlet.co.uk
Video links
Karcher K4 review • Karcher K4 Full Contro...
Karcher hose upgrade • Karcher Improvements f...
AutoGlym Polar Blaster Review • Autoglym Polar Blaster...
Links to Accessories & tools
Auto Glym Polar Blaster lance amzn.to/3MzuMNE
Polar Blast Snow Foam amzn.to/3WDhKTJ
MTM SGS 35 pressure washer gun with Karcher adaptor
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2839322234...
Rubber Hose for Karcher K series (various lengths www.in2detailing.co.uk/produc...
DIRECT HOSES Rubber ‘Flex’ hose replacement for Karcher www.directhoses.net/products/...
40° nozzle quick connect www.in2detailing.co.uk/produc...
Alternative Pressure Washer Guns www.in2detailing.co.uk/pages/...
WHOLE KARCHER RANGE
K2 Compact amzn.to/3oEAPs5
K3 Compact amzn.to/3WDiJUa
K4 Compact amzn.to/3IGim5q
K5 Compact amzn.to/3MUyq66
K7 Compact amzn.to/3IH1D1X
#carcleaning - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Great comprehensive overview, isn’t it funny how lots of influencers get sent other machines to review and not many produce anything near this level of information. Karcher do some great value machines which don’t seem to get spoken about so much with all these new ones popping up.
Thanks Nick!, I could be wrong but when TH-camrs have one use of a machine and have enough info to do a full review of it is a promotion not a review , copying website descriptions and passing the info off as knowledge is just not my thing really, the Karcher range is vast really , from the home, ‘generalist’ to Pro , but wtf is ‘generalist’ 🤣
And remember Karcher was one of the first ones making pressure washers
Because I remember when people never said o just use a pressure washers they will just say use a Karcher 😊
Like a ‘hoover’ 🤣
Tips on hose and nozzle swap out was brilliant. Thanks from Oz.
Glad it helped 👌
Perfect timing, My K5 Compact arrived today and with this video I feel confident for the first usage. Thank you!
Have fun 👌
Brilliant review Graeme, loads of information and a real user experience over a prolonged period of time. Ive often though about what my next machine will be and this is exactly the kind of video i want to see when thinking about spending my hard earned!
Thanks Dave 😍 initially I thought I’d only had it a year , turns out it’s 2 😅 how time flies eh.
I really couldn’t produce a ‘review’ on anything I hadn’t had a decent amount of time using especially when reviews of a certain machine have had such bad press in the past with bursting seals or tripping fuses, that just wouldn’t sit right with me.
Interesting video given your description is spot on. I too have the K5 Compact also the the Autoglym Blaster, I also have a separate spray gun similar to yours. One point I would make about the plastic hose is I loop mine twice then hang up in my garage. Enjoyed your review
Thanks David 👌
Excellent review / demonstration - Very useful... Thanks:)
You are welcome!
Another outstanding review Graeme - i expect no less 👌🏼
We've known each other for a decent amount of time now and you know that im also a fan of the yellow machines!
I've been testing the top-end Ava for a while now but i still have to say that for build-quality, the Kärcher still has it. Before the Ava landed on my doorstep, ive used nothing but Kärchers for 11 years and if you look after them, they will definitely outlast their small cost!!
Next time im looking for a machine, this will definitely be high up on my comparison list after this review 👍🏼👌🏼
Thanks Mark!, 😘🤣 yeah during our decent amount of friendship it’s scary how alike we are 🤣
I’ve never so much as laid eyes on an AVA and as you said you got one to long term test when it was supposed to be both of us but AvA obv decided I wasn’t to be ‘bought’ with the carrot of a shiny P80 😤🤣
great review. Nothing beats experience. I'm buying a K5 just to get rid of those yellow and grey hose clips. The hose recommendation also great.
You’re very welcome Adrian 👍
Brilliant review thank you👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for watching!
Enjoyed the vid, thanks. I have the Karcher K4, brilliant machine, but I definitely need to change the gun hose.
Thanks James , yeah the standard lance once you get the shorter gun will just be straight in the bin
Well done long term video review, thanks.!'
Glad you liked it! 👍
Great review 👍
Thanks mate 👍
Great user review 👍
I’ve got the K4 and it’s fantastic, I think I changed the hose within a few weeks though 😂 it is dire that supplied hose.
I’d love it if I could replace the daft clip/connector feature connecting the hose to the K4 PW, to the connector thats on your K5 - that would be the dream 🤤
Thanks Craig mate!, honestly using with the standard hose and gun again they wouldn’t knock the skin off a rice pudding and so cumbersome with the 2m long lance , so much better with a flex hose and short gun with attachments
Great review Graeme.
I have an older style K5 compact and i'm glad to hear you are happy with your newer model. I like the mains cable storage that the new model has. When the day comes that mine eventually fails I will no doubt just by this new updated model, they can be very good value (assuming you buy when on sale / already have a decent trigger gun and hose). Plus being so small and light plus being able to be used horizontally (my drive has slopes in places so more stable) makes it ideal for me.
Oh dreaming of the day when Devon's hose pipe ban is lifted 😕
Best wishes.
Thanks Tim, much appreciated 😍
I can’t believe you STILL have a hosepipe ban on in Devon, it know it drives you insane trying to keep your car clean.
I had a friend share a pic of the older style K4 which has to be used lying down so it’s certainly very useful being able to use upright , I honestly can’t fault it at all, I’ll send some Scottish rain down your way soon 🌧️🌦️
@@GMDetails Yes unfortunately its likely to last well into next year - Cornwall has had a ban since last August😪
If you lived nearer i would be pleading to come over and use yours😆 still in theory this gives me more time to do all the house improvements the wife keeps going on about🥱
@@Tim955w I have a very long list of them too 🤦🏻♂️🤣
Currently using a K2 which i bought last year from their outlet. This machine is the one I would go for once the K2 comes to the end of its life though
K4 from the outlet is not much more than £100 , great bargain to look out for 👍
I have had my P55 for a few months now. The portability is excellent, very good pressure, nozzle adjustable, very compact. Hose does not kick and the icing on the cake 10 yr guarantee, which i think is unique to AVA.
‘Subject to servicing’ tho isn’t it mate?, the compact size is certainly an attraction , is it a water cooled machine do you know?
@@GMDetails No not sure. I know its a 3 piston solid metal pump. Servicing can be done by the customer at least once every 5 years. They even have videos showing how to service the machine, then you just register that the machine has been serviced.
Good video Graham.I've had a K5 Compact for 3 years with no trouble at all except that i bought a 10m steel braided hose which i absolutely detest !!, it coils more than a flexihose & is bloody difficult to roll up & store. I've just had my block paving everywhere took up & replaced with a resin bound driveway, patios etc so my need to be pressure washing the drives is redundant and i needed a patio cleaner. The Karcher is £70 & apparently pretty useless & doesn't get in to corners etc.I decided to buy a Ava P57 Easy X large bundle which includes a 12m hose stored onboard & absolutely everything including a foam cannon which is as good as the MTM, MJJC etc. It has the same Specs as the K5 & i am very happy with it, but a large amount of my cleaning weapons , foam cannons & trigger guns etc are now redundant too. The Ava warranty is 5 years & you buy a non profit service kit for which there detailed videos & then you get another 5 years. 👍🏻 ,
Thanks Alan, yeah I’ve seen one of those steel hoses and they look horrendous , mine is the flexi wash hose which is honestly without fault.
I’m glad you like your Ava machine , 12m hose sounds brilliant but as I just bought this K5 an Ava isn’t on the cards for me …….
Yet 😅
@@GMDetails It won’t be too long 😀😀
Great review of the unit mate. Totally agree the hose is poor but the k5 looks a decent unit for anyone looking for their 1st pressure washer.
Thanks Katan!, much appreciated mate 👌
Great video, regards water hose connectors, with my previuos pressure washers I have had connectors jumping off at times, very annoying, so I found connectors that locked on by a simple twist, they look the same as a normal push connector, but have images of locked and unlocked padlocks on side to aid how to use. I think I found them on Amazon, but cannot swear to that.
Thanks Chris!, that sounds a really good invention having them lock on, haven’t seen that type yet, I’m actually looking on Amazon for hose connectors as you posted your comment 😅
Thank you for this nice video.
My pleasure 👍
Another great video with good info. I recently sold my compact k5 and bought a compact k7. But I have to say that I’m still very much a fan of the compact k5 and if I had to buy one again I certainly wouldn’t hesitate. Now what about my new K7 Compact? Well for a start it actually arrived with a much better hose than the K5 Compact. I totally agree with you, it’s long overdue that karcher should catch themselves on and provide a better quality hose on all their K series models. Thankfully they’ve done that with the K7 compact and although it does kink a little bit, it’s absolutely nowhere near as bad the one that came with the compact k5. You’re solution in replacing the hose was spot on and after watching your first video on k5 I did the same thing myself. But although I still have that hose I tend to use the K7’s own hose because it is so easy to work with. I still have a fondness for K5 compact though and if needs be in the future I would definitely buy it again in a heartbeat. I would highly recommend the K5 to anyone looking to buy a decent power washer. Thank you again for a another awesome video. Your videos have been a great source of information for me over the past year. Keep em coming 👍👍👍👍
Thank you Rod 🤩
Great to hear the K7 comes with a better hose and now I’m interested in getting one now 😅
I’m very happy with the K5 now with my reinforced hose and MTM gun tho but never say never if there’s a deal going 😅
Rod, if you were cleaning block paving, do you think the k5 is enough? Is the K7 in real life a lot more powerful, or just a little bit ?
@@douglasalexander4348 sorry for the delay in getting back to you. But yes the K7 definitely has that bit more power. But in saying that, the K5 would still also do a great job do. I really liked the wee K5 and would buy it again if the need arose. I’d rather have the K5 compact rather than the regular K5, K4,K7 because the compact’s have the exact same fire power has the regular K’s plus they’re easier to store and transport, even in a small car. You’ll definitely not go wrong with either the K5 Compact or The K7 Compact. But please remember that the hose that comes with the K7 is a much better hose than the hose that comes with the K5. With the K5 you’ll need to buy yourself a better hose from elsewhere. One of the bonuses with the K7 Compact is its grey coloured ten meter hose. It kinks nowhere has bad as the Compact 5 hose. There in lies the deal breaker for me. The K5 compact would be just perfect if you added the K7 hose to it and I think they’re available to buy on Amazon. Ignore any negative reviews because they are great hoses and easy to handle. I prefer to store the hose separately from the power washer rather than rapping it around the machine. But whatever’s good for you. Hope this helps you?
@@rodbreslin383 Soo, a K7 compact would be the way to go I think. Thanks for the real world advice, very helpful.
PSA you can get a 14mm M22 to fit the outlet of this machine if you unscrew the outlet fitting and use a Dremel or a file to remove about 1cm of plastic around the outlet. Then you can screw a 14mm M22 plug into it and use a better hose.
Interesting upgrade Karcher would no doubt invalidate the warranty but certainly something worth doing after the warranty expired thanks for the tip 👍
Ffs, I chucked a K4 that was pulsing and leaking, couldn't afford another (or better) and got a K3, which is fine, but had I known about the O ring, I'd have fixed it, gutted. My dad heard me talking about the 6m hose being to small and picked up a 7.5m from B&Q, it's far better than the original, does kink but nowhere near as much. Thanks for another top bit of work Graeme, all the best.
Aw naw Lee!!, you wouldn’t believe how simple some of the fixes are and nothing to do with the machine itself , that’s why I don’t listen when people say how unreliable they are , I’ve now had 3 machines off Karcher and none of them have had any mechanical faults , obviously I’m not naive to expect every pressure washer to work perfectly but there are ones that can easily be fixed by a simple run through of water from the hose 🤦🏻♂️
I’m sure I bought a 7.5m hose once too and it’s a little better than the 6m one quality wise too, but the rubber is just so much better 👌
@@GMDetails I bought the 10m from In2Detailing this evening 🤣
Let me know how you get on mate 😅
@GM Details will do Graeme, I'll DM you once I've used the new equipment, should be delivered tomorrow or Tuesday.
Cracking video lad, about time you got a kranzle though no?
I like the inlet for the soap thing, with my grey 10 had that.
Thanks Ben!, nah Kranzles don’t interest me in the slightest with their servicing and costs , I’m happy enough with domestic machines but never say never 😉
Love the video mate. It's a lovely looking machine and one I'll upgrade to I think when and if my k4 compact dies which is getting on for a out 5 years old now.
I had a pulse issue with mine and then it sprung a leak. Mine was a seal to but strangely in the part where that chemical tube goes. Quick change of the seal and it was going again. I wonder how many people write off their machines and buy new for similar reasons.
One thing I did notice is on my k4 compact which has a different casing to yours being an older model is there's a label on it that warns that it should be used on its side not upright like your k5🤔. It suggests that the hose coming out the top wouldn't be good for the connection as it's rigged and pulled which I think is a valid point. I'm assuming that's not on yours? I couldn't make out that yellow sticker in the video
Thanks Andy , I do like the new compact range designs , very space saving and stylish , anything from k2 to k7 compact now 😅
The website says the newer models can be used upright or flat so that seems different and a positive upgrade from early models it seems 👍
Toolstation currently have it available at just under your £200 snap up suggestion - £198.98 (was £268.98)
It’s where I got mine from!, thanks for the deal find 🤩
Nice one bro,think ill go for this
👍🏻
Awesome 😊
@GMDetails picking it up Tomorrow 👍🏻
@@mrlionrocks make a video 🤣
Hi, great review! Do you know if all the accessories you mentioned are compatible with the K5 Classic as well?
I believe so, as long as you get the ones I’ve put in the links you won’t have any problems
Great informative video as usually graeme think it's about time you treated yourself to the DADDY THE GOAT of pressure washers get yourself a KRANZLE mate expensive yes but worth the money I've got the 1152 tst with all mtm extensions and stubby guns both the s28 and s35 worth every penny just need to change the oil once a year and i know it will last me many years had 1 yellow peril as i call them lasted months motor leak so literally threw it away lol went onto nilfisk 140 in my opinion a much better built machine than the yellow peril had that 5 years my nephew still running it as had my KRANZLE 4+ years brilliant piece of kit 👍👌🐐
Thanks for the advice mate but I’ll stick with it as I simply cannot see how it would improve me washing my own cars , different perhaps if I had a valeting business or unit based detailing but for me the K5 is perfectly good for my needs
Maybe one day tho 😅
I have the full size K5 and it is the second one I have owned as my first one gave up through over use I think. I did some research on the hose and looked into a company whose name slips my memory who do replacement hoses it may have been KDN but in the end I contacted the Karcher service center in Port Glasgow who supplied me with a 10 M replacement that barely kinks and I got it that day rather than waiting a week for delivery. I already had a stubby gun and an array of foam lances as the Karcher one was not big enough to go round my Land Rover. Interesting video and not your usual content but none the less a good watch. Would you buy this again or go down the route of the new kid on the block that a variety of TH-camr's seem to be pushing as the best for detailers.
Hi John, interesting to read that Karcher does make a decent hose , I would def stick with the K5 as middle of the range , has enough power for me and within my budget I’m not interested in any of the circuit breakers new on the market from China , not in the slightest
Hey, super review and really helpful. I bought the mtm sgs 35 and am buying the nozzles. However I can’t find the the connector for the nozzles - the colour ones are available but I can’t see the black ones. Any suggestions ?
Thank you , do you mean the black ones I’m using in the video?
Better to use these machines (compact) on its belly so water goes through the pump
I’ve got the kranzle k7 (3years) tst & karcher k7 compact (6years still working)
Both great machines kranzle is so quiet karcher noisier but more powerful
Great work as always thanks
I’m glad you picked up on that I was going to cover it but forgot to film it on the day 😅👌
Hey mate, so just double checking, is washing cars on the highest pressure using the vario lance safe/low enough psi? Cheers and nice vid 👍
That is correct, just keep a sensible distance from paintwork and badges etc 👍 thanks for the feedback mate 👌
hi mate great review, I bought one of these myself yesterday as a replacement for my old k4 full control that's packed in.
just quick questions about how you clean your car what way you do things?
what I used to do with my old k4 was spray it down at high pressure with just water with the aim to remove loose debris etc, then plug in the detergent into the washer and mix, not the foam spray like you use in this video (which incidentally I'm now thinking of getting), clean it down with a brush attachment, then spray it down at low pressure to remove and suds or dirt that's left.
what way would you clean your cars? would you just use the spray foam bottle or is there need for using the mixing setting on the lance with the bottle attached to the main unit?
Hi, thanks for watching mate, technique changes for me depending on the season but generally apply foam via the foam lance directly onto dirty car , let it dwell and then rinse off at high pressure
2nd stage would be contact wash with a microfibre wash pad not a brush as it’s less abrasive with a good pure shampoo which is well lubricated like Garage Therapy One Car Shampoo
I’d avoid using the mixing tube on the pressure washer for cars , it’s not much use for anything other than possibly a citrus prewash in winter , get a snowfoam lance like I use , have a look at a few of my videos , links on the lances used are usually in the description boxes 👌
Great video, thanks. Do you know if the MTM SGS 35 gun is compatible with a MJJC Pro V2.0 foam lance, all those different fittings is doing my head in?
Yes it is I have both
@@GMDetails Thank you, I appreciate the quick reply!
Hi there, Great review, I’ve just bought a k5 compact but can’t see any links or description for the upgraded hose you have. Any chance you could post a link 👍🏼
Added the Direct Hoses link to the description as well as here - www.directhoses.net/products/karcher-style-replacement-rubber-longlife-hose-quick-fit-connections?variant=33703734538
Id love a karcher. Any one really, but a portable Worx Powershot does clean my car adequately (cant do snow though, at all).
It does seem slightly disappointing that you need (?) to spend another £140ish to upgrade any of them (gun, hose, foam lance, adaptors) though. And i really would ban everything that isnt quick connect or t least make all companies use the same standard.
Thanks for the video.
Thanks , you don’t obviously HAVE to spend all that extra it’s just personal choice and I was showing what can be done to enhance the performance of the machine , that’s the first time I’ve heard anyone talk about the worx power shot , end of the day if something works for you there’s no point changing things 👍
@@GMDetails the worx Powershot is the weapon of choice for the apartment dweller. More a Walther ppk to the K series' MP5, but a weapon nonetheless!
I have the cordless Worx Hydroshot which does accept a (tiny!) Worx foam bottle as well as a cyclonic/turbo nozzle attachment.
@@rafflesnh yes, mine came with that bottle. Borderline useless. I bought an IK foamer which does work. I must stipulate I've got the lower powered Hydroshot, so maybe the higher powered one is more effective. It's also brilliant at cleaning bikes as you can screw in a 2l coke bottle and the power doesn't damage bearings or other sensitive parts.
My neighbour has a portable Karcher , I might have to borrow it for a wee review 😅
I got The K5 compact for £180(toolstation) Sep '20. I'm more than happy with it. I think I'll get the better hose, did you get 10 or 15 metres? Keep the videos coming, always informative. Davie in sunny Ayrshire
That’s where I got mine 😅 I got the 10m hose but the 15m would allow travel all round the car but really depends on how far you’re wanting to use it without moving the pressure washer , I think I’ll eventually go for the 15m next time tho
How many gallons per car??..... Just to remove dirt...
Takes less than it does with a garden hosepipe , just removing dirt 👍
Many thanks for your really informative video; just a question; i can see a KArcher K5 Universal out there? How do you rate this one against the K5 Compact ; do you know if they have the same hose etc
Just seen that myself!!, Karcher outlet has them for a crazy price of £130 refurbished but it only comes with that standard 6m crappy plastic hose that you’ll def want changing for the rubber
@@GMDetailsI agree. So do you think the compact k5 is still the way to go with a rubber hose.
@@archie121archie personally I would go with the k5 compact for stability , remember tho that it doesn’t come supplied with a rubber hose you have to get that as an upgrade from either amazon, In2detailing or Direct Hoses
You stated that the cause of the pulsing was an o-ring on the hose. You then changed your better qualiity rubber hose back to the standard plastic hose and it solved the issue. Now you have the crappy original hose again? Can you not replace the o-rings on the rubber hose?
Hi Simon, sorry maybe I didn’t make it clear that after I realised it was the o ring I changed that on the rubber hose and it’s been perfect ever since 😅👍
Could you let me know exactly which replacement hose pipe it is? Thanks
It’s this one from Direct Hoses www.directhoses.net/collections/hoses-for-karcher-k-series-rubber-flexiwash/products/karcher-style-replacement-rubber-hd-longlife-hose-quick-fit-anti-kink-connection
Does this have the same specs as the standard k5?
And would you recommend this as a suitable upgrade from the k2
Power wise yes it has exactly all the same performance and quality of parts as the full size K5 has, just in a smaller case!, it’s absolutely night and day from a K2 and you’ll be blown away by its performance if you go for one , I moved up from a K4 and was impressed so going K2 to K5 is going to knock your socks off 👌
Is there a link for the karcher adapter for the snow foam gun, there are so many to choose from on Amazon and I can’t find any on the Karcher web site. Thank you.
Snow foam lances come with whichever adaptor you need, do you currently have a snow foam canon (lance) and need to change it ?
@@GMDetails I haven’t bought anything yet as I’m finishing off my research, I pretty much want your set up of Karcher K5 Compact, the kink free hose pipe and the same snow foam gun. Thanks.
Ah cool , well good news you don’t need an adaptor 😅 this is the link to the trigger gun AND MTM foam canon I use (not all the time but it’s one of the best ) it’s not the cheapest but all stainless steel and just looks amazing 👌
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294533688467?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=t67_b3vjTvW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=TmmK2LanTQi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Does the MTM SGS35 gun fit with the Autoglym snow gun?
@@ashleyduggan3006 yes mate 👌
Hola esta jenial saludos dede Mexico me encanto el video 😊 haora . Una pregunta si es bueno cambiar la manguera orijinal x otra y también la pistola esto afecta ala k5yo tengo una que acavo de comprar pero lo que ko megusta que ase mucho ruido pero ajalado bien y volviendo a minpregunta anterio o hay que osur la manguera original saludos
Hola, yo cambié a una manguera de goma de la karcher original y me va mucho mejor
Hola gracias por contestar . Ok voy aseguir con la horiginal ybsolo canbiare la pistola MTM gracias amigo salus des de Mexico espero ver mas videos aserca de k 5 podria aser uno aserca de los cibeles del ruido siento que es muy ruidosa saludos chiaooo Abner
Es una gran idea, realmente no hay mucho más que cubrir en la K5 el ruido es el que es 😅
Gracias por mirar 👌
Only horizontal use☝🏼
Pardon?
I have like this one k4 but his pressure is slow any reason
Low pressure from tap maybe ?
@@GMDetails what is tao
Is this for professional use or private only ?
Home / DIY use , they have a pro range too 👍
You are wrong recommending the Karcher Aqua stop on the pressure washer, IF they recommended it can be used when you made this video they have changed their minds 🥴
Sorry to be ‘that guy’
Oh?, I checked that out and you’re right 😱
Well at least the info was correct at the time of recording, thanks for the heads up 👌