Renting
Should you rent or buy a pressure washer?
A pressure washer gets used a couple of weekends a year. Here is how to decide between renting one from a neighbor and buying your own.
Most pressure washers spend 360 days a year in a garage. The driveway, the deck and the siding get cleaned once in spring and maybe once before a party, and the rest of the time the machine takes up floor space and slowly loses its seals. That usage pattern is exactly what renting is for.
When renting wins
- You have one or two jobs a year. A weekend rental covers a driveway, patio and fence in a single go.
- You need more power than a consumer unit gives you. Gas-powered washers are heavy, loud and need fuel stabilizer between uses — borrowing one for the day skips all of that.
- You do not have somewhere dry to store it. Pumps that sit through a freezing winter with water inside often crack.
- You want to try before you buy. Renting a unit for a Saturday tells you whether you would actually use one enough to justify owning it.
When buying wins
- You use it monthly — washing vehicles, boats, equipment or a large property.
- You need it on short notice and at odd hours, when arranging a pickup is a hassle.
- You prefer a light electric unit that stores easily and rarely needs maintenance.
What a rental actually costs
On Rentsome, owners set their own daily rate, so prices vary by machine. When you request dates, the booking card shows the rental subtotal plus a 15% service fee (minimum $2), and sales tax is added at checkout. A refundable security deposit is held on your card — not charged — and released automatically 72 hours after you return the washer. See how security deposits work for the details.
Before you book
- 1Measure the job. Concrete and brick want higher pressure (often 2,500 PSI and up on gas units); wood decks, siding and cars want a gentler electric unit and a wide-angle nozzle.
- 2Ask the owner what is included. Nozzle tips, a surface cleaner attachment and a long hose make the job faster.
- 3Check the return condition expectations in the listing. Draining the pump and coiling the hose is the norm.
- 4Photograph the machine at pickup. Both sides benefit from a clear record of its condition.
Ready to look? Browse tool listings near you.
Frequently asked
Do I need to return a pressure washer with fuel in it?
Follow the listing. Most owners of gas units ask that you return it with the fuel level you received, and that you run the pump dry of water before returning it.
What if the washer stops working while I have it?
Message the owner right away through Rentsome. Mechanical faults that were not caused by misuse are not charged to you; documenting the issue with a photo or video protects both sides.
Is a deposit charged to my card?
No. The deposit is an authorization hold, sized to the item’s declared value and your trust tier, and it is released automatically 72 hours after a successful return.
Borrow it from a neighbor instead.
Deposit-protected bookings, priced by the day.
Keep reading
Power tool rental checklist: what to check before you pick up
A pre-pickup checklist for renting drills, saws, compressors and other power tools from a neighbor, including the safety acknowledgment Rentsome requires.
How security deposits work on peer-to-peer rentals
What a rental deposit is, how Rentsome sizes it (30% down to 10% of item value, capped at $2,000), why it is a hold rather than a charge, and when it is released.
Renting appliances for a short-term need: carpet cleaners, portable AC and more
When a rental beats buying an appliance you need for a week: carpet cleaners, portable air conditioners, dehumidifiers, air fryers and other one-off jobs.