Jamey
We purchased our most recent Ryobi 2000 PSI 1.2 GPM Electric pressure washer in April 2022 for a full battery of tests. The model is RY142022.
Ryobi is Home Depot’s entry-level brand and most people will end up buying it at Home Depot. Ryobi is a solid product with a good warranty.
We had an older unit from several years ago that had an onboard hose reel and a different style cart. We actually came away from this test liking our older unit better and we think there are better choices today. Read on to find out why.
The Ryobi 2000 PSI 1.2 GPM Pressure Washer typically retails for around $200. It is the midpoint for Ryobi’s corded electric pressure washers. They offer a few light-duty pressure washers and then one or two induction motor higher PSI / GPM pressure washers. Many potential buyers will end up buying this pressure washer precisely because it’s in the middle (get a little more power than the cheaper models but save $100 over the bigger higher-powered units). As already stated, with this one you get 2000 PSI and 1.2 GPM for 2400 units of cleaning power. That is enough power for basic cleaning patio furniture, washing your car and smaller patios.
The unit ships with 3 nozzles (turbo nozzle, 25 and soap dispenser). It also has a 25’ hose and 35’ power cord. It has a built-in single reservoir soap dispenser. The gun and wand are reasonable quality for a unit at this price point.
We were attracted to the newer compact format. It functions similar to a roller suitcase. It has a telescoping handle that retracts into the roll cage. It is extremely maneuverable and does fold down into a small form factor for storage. But this comes at the cost of user-friendly ways to store cords, hoses, and the gun/wand.
Reasons to Buy
- Hits the $200 electric pressure washer price point. Not too much but enough to expect good quality.
- 2000 PSI and 1.2 GPM is powerful enough to handle smaller jobs around the house and car washing. This is not enough power for larger projects.
- Well-known brand with a 3-year warranty generally sold at Home Depot which offers painless returns
Ryobi RY142022 Specifications
Below is a list of the specifications for the Ryobi 2000 PSI 1.2 GPM Electric Pressure Washer and the results we got in our backyard test. Scroll down to see more on our testing methodology:
| Manufacturer Specs | Our test | |
| AMP/HP | 13 | 13.22 |
| PSI | 2000 | 1600 |
| GPM | 1.2 | 0.86 |
| Cleaning Power (psi x gpm) | 2400 | 1376 |
| Weight (lbs) | 2400 | 25.1 |
| Noise (db) | 2400 | 102 |
Usability
| Use | Residential |
| Power | Corded Electric |
| Water Temp | Cold |
| Form Factor | Cart with retractable handle |
| Built-in Cord Management | No, includes a velcro connector to attach hose and cord to the top of unit |
| Cord Length | 35 |
| Hose Reel | No |
| Hose | 25′ 1/4″ non marking |
| Spray Gun | Hard plastic with trigger safety |
| Wand | 16″ Metal |
| Nozzle(s) | 25 degree, Soap, Turbo Nozzle |
| Built-in Nozzle Storage | 2 for 25 and Soap. No spot to store Turbo Nozzle |
| Built-in Gun/Wand Storage | Yes, requires that you disassemble gun and wand |
| Detergent Dispenser/Tank | Yes, one removable tank |
| Wheels | Hard plastic |
Purchase Experience
We purchased the RY142022VNM at Home Depot in April 2022 for $199. Home Depot carries Ryobi and Dewalt in store. The Ryobi 2000 PSI 1.2 GPM is one of their top sellers. People tend to benchmark off of the higher priced Ryobi pressure washers and then pick this middle of the road unit. Our purchase experience was very easy. Home Depot has all of the pressure washers merchandised together.
The box is easy to handle and will fit into all but the smallest trunks.
Assembly
Assembling the pressure washer took about 10 minutes. The steps are well illustrated and required a screwdriver to attach the handle. You’ll need to:
- Attach the wheels with a bolt/axle and cotter pin. Compared to other units it was easy to get the cotter pin locked in place.
- Attach the handle with a few screws and a phillips screwdriver
- Assemble the gun and wand
- Attach the hose to unit and gun
- Start cleaning!
This is the RY142022 in its most compact form. The back has a place to store the disassembled gun and wand. There are two storage spots for the nozzles. I was able to place the turbo nozzle in the bin that also holds the wand.
Overall, one of the nice features of this pressure washer was that it stores away in a nice form factor. It has a squat format allowing it be stored on larger shelves to save ground space in your garage or shed. While there is an upside to the small format, you lose cord management, assembled gun/wand storage and hose management that bigger formats include. See more about our observations in the Storage Design section below.
Accessories
The RY142022 comes with a modest set of accessories. You get 3 nozzles (25 degree, Soap and Turbo) while many others include 5 or more nozzles.
Ryobi has a wide range of other accessories that will work with the RY142022. If you have a smaller patio, we’d recommend that you get a surface cleaner because it makes cleaning patios much easier and you’ll avoid streaking from uneven cleaning.
Ryobi also sells:
- A rolling under car cleaner
- Wand extenders
- Foam cannons
None of the accessories are proprietary to this pressure washer so you can always mix and match with other brands as long as they are designed for a lighter duty pressure washer like this one.
Replacement Parts
Most of the parts on the RY142022 can be replaced with either Ryobi or other brands for hoses, wands, spray guns, nozzels and other wearable parts. You can also checkout Ryobi’s online part store for parts that are unique to this pressure washer.
Warranty
Ryobi offers a 3-year warranty if you use your pressure washer for normal residential purposes (90 days if you use it for commercial purposes). The warranty does not transfer if you sell it to someone else or buy one of these used. Additionally, it doesn’t cover any of these “wearable” items – Hoses, connector fittings, spray nozzles, trigger handle, spray wand, wheels, detergent bucket and detergent tank. So it pretty much covers the motor and pump.
See the full warranty here.
Testing Results
Cleaning Power
GPM
Ryobi offers a 3-year warranty if you use your pressure washer for normal residential purposes (90 days if you use it for commercial purposes). The warranty does not transfer if you sell it to someone else or buy one of these used. Additionally, it doesn’t cover any of these “wearable” items – Hoses, connector fittings, spray nozzles, trigger handle, spray wand, wheels, detergent bucket and detergent tank. So it pretty much covers the motor and pump.
See the full warranty here.
| Manufacturer Specs | Our test |
|---|---|
| 1.2 GPM | 0.86 GPM |
PSI
Ryobi’s stated PSI for the RY142022 is 2000 PSI. These measurements are taken in a lab and are generally upstream from where we connect our pressure guage. We use our testing for comparison purposes with other similar models.
In our test, we connect a pressure gauge between the hose and the unit. Then we use a 25-degree nozzle and begin pressure washing. In our backyard test, we were showing approximately 1600 PSI.
| Manufacturer Specs | Our test |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1600 |
Motor
Most electric pressure washers market the size of their motors in amps. We run a load test using an energy meter and then convert the amps into a rough HP approximate. The Ryobi pulled 1455 watts or 13.22 amps. This converts to 1.95 HP.
When running, the motor and pump registers 102 db.
Usability
Once the Ryobi 2000 PSI 1.2 GPM pressure washer is setup it is easy to use. Simply attach your garden hose and push the red power button. We immediately loaned it to a neighbor who wanted to clean her grill and small patio area. The Ryobi 2000 PSI 1.2 GPM is perfect for this type of work. We used both the turbo nozzle and the 25 degree nozzle to clean the grill and remove bird droppings from the area around the grill.
The unit is quiet and automatically turns on and off depending when you release the gun handle. The gun itself is made of hard plastic and isn’t as nice as the rubberized gun that comes with AR Blue Clean units, however, it gets the job done.
The center of gravity is low and the unit is very stable. The telescoping handle and cart design makes it very maneuverable. The wheels are made of hard plastic so it is bumpy to roll over uneven surfaces.
Storability
I really didn’t like the storage setup for this pressure washer. You figure that most consumers will use this a few times a month (at the most) so most of your pressure washers life will be stored away in a garage or shed. You are going to want something that looks neat and doesn’t get in your way. I know that the hose and cord on this one will always be messy no matter how much effort you put into storage.
Durability
The Ryobi has a metal roll cage and all fittings seem well made. As noted, none of the plastics have the rubberized soft touch that AR Blue Clean uses. The wheels are easy to attach but end up being a little more wobbly than some of the other units we tested. We’ve owned similar Ryobi’s in the past so we expect this one to be durable over the long run.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Available for immediate purchase at Home Depot
- Good warranty
- Compact footprint
- Easy to maneuver
Cons
- Hose, Cord, Wand/Gun storage is messy
- Less cleaning power / dollar
- 2-prong (not grounded) plug
Value
Final Thoughts
If you are in a pinch and need a pressure washer ASAP, then go to Home Depot but consider bumping up your budget and getting the normally priced $299 Ryobi 2300 PSI 1.2 GPM unit that has much better storage features. If you have a bit more time and can wait for an Amazon delivery, I’d suggest that you consider either the cheaper Sun Joe SPX 3000 with more cleaning power.
Score
| Cleaning Power |  |
| Storability | |
| Usability | |
| Durability | |
| Bundle Value | |
| Overall | |
Score
FAQs
Is 1.2 gpm good for a pressure washer? ›
Not too much but enough to expect good quality. 2000 PSI and 1.2 GPM is powerful enough to handle smaller jobs around the house and car washing. This is not enough power for larger projects.
Is a 2000 psi electric pressure washer good? ›Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI
They're great for cleaning concrete, brick, and wood. They work especially well for cleaning patios, sidings, roofs, decks, and fences. The medium-duty power washer is best for getting rid of stubborn stains and dirt that a low-duty pressure washer can't clean.
What PSI pressure washer do I need to clean concrete? To clean concrete effectively, use a power washer with a pressure rating of at least 3000 psi and a flow rate of at least 4 gallons per minute (gpm).
What can you pressure wash with 2000 psi? ›Light-duty pressure washers are rated at 2,000 PSI or less and are suitable for cleaning automobiles, motorcycles, boats, bicycles and all-purpose cleaning.
What is better gpm or PSI? ›When choosing a pressure washer, PSI and GPM are both equally important. The PSI refers to the amount of pressure produced and GPM refers to the amount of water flow. Each SIMPSON pressure washer is designed to have the correct combination of PSI and GPM to have the most effective cleaning experience for your needs.
Does higher GPM mean more pressure? ›GPM stands for gallons per minute. It refers to the flow rate or the volume of water that moves through the pressure washer's nozzle every minute. Think of GPM as rinsing power. The higher a pressure washer's GPM, the quicker you can wash a surface clean.
What is a good PSI and GPM for a pressure washer? ›The Bottom Line
If you're still wondering what the best combination is, we recommend starting with something in the 3000 – 3500 PSI/2.0 – 2.5 GPM range. These pressure washers are good for most homeowners, as they tend to work very efficiently and are still affordable.
In general, I recommend a pressure washer with 1.4 to 1.6 GPM and pressure from 1200 to 1900 psi. Start with a lower pressure, and only increase it when needed. Use a green or white nozzle.
How many gpm does a pressure washer use? ›"Most standard pressure washers will use between 2 to 4 GPM." That comes a total of 120 to 240 Gallons Per Hour. To bring that into perspective, a standard bathtub holds about 80 gallons of water.
How many gallons per minute does a pressure washer need? ›Most of the time though, average pressure washers use around eight gallons of water per minute (GPM). A pressure washer with around five GPM is already efficient. To do this, the pressure would be increase, say from 10 pounds per square inch to 50 PSI.