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Using a pressure washer is a messy business. Aside from the usual mud and grime, there’s an inconvenient unit to lug around the garden with dangerous, dangling wires. Unless, that is, you choose a cordless pressure washer like the Worx WG644 Hydroshot.
This beefier version of the original Hydroshot claims to have seven times more pressure than a standard garden hose, and purports to clean everything from cars to patios in minutes. Best of all, there are no wires to worry about! Just pick it up and spray, as they say. I was intrigued to see how the 2-speed settings and 4-in-1 multi-spray nozzle worked out in the wild, as well as those 20V batteries (will they run out of juice halfway through a job?!).
Read on for my Worx WG644 Hydroshot review, featuring information on everything from PSI to battery conservation. Let’s start by discussing how a cordless pressure washer works.
Contents
How does a cordless pressure washer work?
Pressure washing uses a motor to pressurise water, forcing it through a nozzle to create a mighty stream. This process works like a traditional garden hose and nozzle, but with much higher pressure.
Cordless pressure washers, like the Worx WG644 Hydroshot, use a battery-powered motor to pressurise the water instead of relying on gas or electricity. As you might have guessed, this makes them more portable since they don’t need a plug or gas tank, so you’ll have an easier time finding storage space.
In terms of power, cordless pressure washers don’t have as much oomph as gas or electric varieties. The WG644 Hydroshot, for example, has a maximum pressure of 450 PSI when set to ‘high’, while gas pressure washers can reach up to 4000 PSI. But the latter is used on an industrial scale and wouldn’t be suitable for basic cleaning around the home.
Cordless pressure washers are also more environmentally friendly since they don’t emit harmful fumes or require electricity. They can also draw water from any source, like a lake or pool, making them a more sustainable option than traditional pressure washers requiring constant flow.
Worx WG644 Hydroshot features
- 7X more pressure than a garden hose and nozzle.
- 2 speed settings: 450 PSI and 290PSI
- Worx ‘Power Share’ — compatible with all Worx 20v and 40v tools, outdoor power and lifestyle products
- 4-in-1 multi-spray nozzle, from 0° for the most direct spray, to 15°, 25°, and 40° for a wider cleaning radius.
- On-board battery charge indicator
- Dual-port charger
- Draws fresh water from any source
- 20-metre suction hose
- 5KG
Pressure, power, and speed
The Worx WG644 Hydroshot boasts 7x more pressure than a standard garden hose and nozzle, so I was keen to see how it performed on my dirty patio. As an uncorded model, I wasn’t expecting as much force as other models in the midmarket, but the 450 PSI rating surprised me.
I set the spray nozzle to 150 degrees and pulled the trigger to its second stage, which turned on the unit. It’s got two speeds available—a light spray or full-throttle water pump—so I didn’t mess around and plumped straight for the high-pressure setting. These buttons are neatly positioned on top of the motor head. With one click, it soon roared to life and blasted away the stubborn mould that lingered on my flagstones over winter. No nonsense. It shifted the stains in a few simple strokes, which was a shock given I’ve tested washers with greater PSI in similar conditions.
So, if you need to pressure wash slightly more fragile objects, I recommend dropping down to the 290 PSI setting. It still worked brilliantly, albeit more slowly, and I found the battery power lasted longer. I used this setting on my fence panels, car, and plants, as it applies more of a mist than a full-throttle spray, meaning you won’t risk stripping paint or damaging objects. Even with all those PSIs, it only pulls 0.90 GPM (Gallons Per Minute), which is great for conserving water.
Spray patterns
What’s great about the WG644 Hydroshot is that it features four spray patterns, from 0 through 400. Personally, I found the 150 spray pattern was best for stubborn jobs, like cleaning concrete or bricks, and the 40-degree option was the least invasive when misting plants as it has a wider radius.
Despite all that power, the Hydroshot falls into the lower ‘power pressure washer category’—though it certainly didn’t leave me wanting more.
Batteries
The Worx WG644 Hydroshot comprises two 20V Li-Ion batteries, combining to make a more powerful 40V unit. In turn, you get longer run time and the ability to use that higher pressure setting which made light work of my patio. Regarding battery life, it depends on how you use the Worx WG644 Hydroshot. I tested it in several scenarios, and the batteries lasted 15 minutes on high power with a 40-degree spray pattern when used continuously. However, it’s a stop-and-start process for lighter jobs, which I found lengthened the battery time to around half an hour.
The onboard battery charge indicator is a brilliant design feature. It acts like a “fuel gauge” and lets you know how much juice is left in the battery, eliminating guesswork. I found charging the batteries simple enough—just plug the charger into a 120-Volt wall outlet and slide the batteries into the dual port charger. The retention clips on the back of the batteries ensure they don’t fall out of the unit. The slide rails on each side of the handle accept the Power Share 20-Volt Li-Ion batteries, and the locking tabs engage with an audible “click” to secure them in place.
Power Share
The “Power Share” feature is a huge plus, making the slim run time more bearable. It’s compatible with all Worx 20v and 40v tools, allowing you to interchange batteries between products and saving the cost of buying more.
Despite not having the same run time as corded models, I found the 40V batteries sufficient for cleaning patios, cars, walkways, etc. If you’re really worried about running out of juice, I recommend investing in a second set of batteries for continuous work time. Once you’ve got them by your side, you’ll have a highly portable power cleaner that’s just as powerful as corded competitor models, but easier to manoeuvre. After all, it only weighs 5.1 lbs!
Hose connection
One of the best things about the Worx WG644 Hydroshot is that it allows users to draw fresh water from any source, even without a standard garden hose. The unit comes with a humongous 20-foot suction hose that drops into lakes, buckets, pools, or anywhere else you want to draw water from, so you gain greater freedom.
To connect the hose to the WG644 Hydroshot, I removed the male fitting from the bottom of the unit and screwed in a standard garden hose fitting. You can also use the supplied quick-connect coupler, which is a bit faster. Once the female quick connect coupling is installed on the end of the hose, you can slide it onto the pressure washer’s underside.
For users who don’t have access to a standard garden hose, you can use the float on the other end of the suction hose. The float keeps the intake above the bottom of the water source, preventing mud or gunk from clogging. The cage and smaller screen filter out big debris and other detritus.
It’s important to note that the 20-foot suction hose lifts a column of water 5 feet, so it’s unsuitable for working from height. Instead, it provides the flexibility to work within a 20-foot radius of the water source while keeping the unit no higher than the user’s shoulders—which should suit most gardeners.
Before turning on the water, I recommend setting the spray nozzle pattern to the desired angle and releasing any air that may have accumulated in the system by pulling the safety lock button. This ensures that water comes out of the lance continuously without air bubbles before starting the engine.
Verdict
Overall, the Worx WG644 Hydroshot was a versatile, convenient pressure washer that didn’t fall short despite a lower PSI rating than gas-powered models. Its lightweight design and four spray pattern angles make it easy to operate, and the inclusion of a 20-foot suction hose is incredible if you don’t have a reliable water source. The two-stage trigger is also a neat feature that makes it easy to clean delicate objects without the fear of causing damage. So, if you’re looking for a portable and cordless option that doesn’t require the power of an electric pressure washer, the Worx WG644 Hydroshot makes perfect sense.
