The ECHO PW-3600 is a gas-powered pressure washer offering a maximum water pressure of 3600 PSI and flow of 2.5 GPM. (Read full specs)
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Description
Zoom on the ECHO PW-3600
The ECHO PW-3600, a heavy duty, commercial pressure washer, gives its user an all-around versatile cleaning experience, topped off by the following features:
- spot cleaning of hard, unpainted surfaces or high reach areas
- thorough cleaning of hard, paint-free surfaces
- cleaning of painted or delicate surfaces
- use of detergent and cleaning solutions
The following sections will present you in detail its power characteristics and design, its main features and all the additional features it has to offer.
Power
Using an impressive 212 cc engine, its triplex pump delivers a pressure of up to 3600 PSI (roughly 60 times more than a standard garden hose) and a flow of up to 2.5 GPM (values as per PW101-2010). Together, the values result in a cleaning power of 9000 Cleaning Units.
The engine of this gas-powered pressure washer relies on an old-school pull-start mechanism to get started.
The fuel is stored in a tank, which can hold up to 0.95 gallon of gasoline.
Design & Handling
The wheelbarrow design of the ECHO PW-3600 grants mobility and stability to the unit. The robust and sturdy steel frame offers longevity to the assembly. The reversible handle offers further versatility, as its different positions make the unit less bulky when stored.
With a weight of 72 lbs, the unit can be easily maneuvered by most users. One of the largest contributors to its weight are its 212 cc engine, the triplex pump and its steel frame. But, as the PW-3600 does have a set of two never-flat wheels, it can be easily maneuvered and manipulated.
Main Features
The ECHO PW-3600 comes with a spray gun, a wand, a pressure hose, 5 nozzles and a detergent injection feature, which are detailed below.
- Soap injection: While the device doesn't feature a soap tank, detergent supply is ensured by a siphon hose. The ECHO PW-3600 includes an automatic soap dilution mechanism, which will dilute the detergent using a 20:1 ratio. If a soap nozzle is attached, the device will proceed to add the detergent to the water automatically.
- Pressure hose: The 35 ft high-pressure hose, which is included with the device, can be stored neatly on the unit itself when idle, using a set of easy-to-use straps.
- Spray gun and wand: A side hook allows for an easy storage of the included classic ergonomic spray gun and its wand. A rotating auxiliary side handle further improves both left-handed and right-handed users' comfort.
- Nozzles: The following table illustrates the 5 included nozzles, along with the surfaces which they are the most suitable for.
0° | 15° | 25° | 40° | Soap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete, brick, masonry | Use with caution | Suitable | Suitable | Suitable | Suitable |
| Siding, gutters, house | Not recommended | Use with caution | Use with caution | Suitable | Suitable |
| Fencing, deck, patio | Not recommended | Use with caution | Use with caution | Suitable | Suitable |
| Lawn equipment, boat, RV | Not recommended | Use with caution | Use with caution | Use with caution | Suitable |
Note: The shape of the nozzles above is for illustration purposes only and may differ.
Red cross: Not recommended. Green check: Suitable. Orange check: Use with caution.
Other Features
The ECHO PW-3600
- Onboard storage: The ECHO PW-3600 allows you to be always fully prepared, as it features a handy storage area, where nozzles and accessories can be stored.
- Safety: Safety of operation is enhanced by a thermal relief valve (which helps to prevent internal pump damage) and a trigger lock mechanism (which prevents accidental operation).
- Accessories: Besides the usual owner's manual (opens in a new tab) and documentation to get you promptly started, the ECHO PW-3600 comes with oil, soap hose, wand, funnel, spray gun, pressure hose and tool kit.
- Emissions: The ECHO PW-3600 is CARB-compliant. Therefore, its sale and purchase are permitted in all of the 50 states, including California.
The ECHO PW-3600's performance versus other pressure washers
The following charts are provided to give you an idea of how the key specs of the ECHO PW-3600 compare to similarly priced pressure washers.
- The ECHO PW-3600, a device which can produce up to 3600 PSI, is on the lower end of the pressure spectrum, among the gas-powered pressure washers in the $800-900 price range. As for the device with the most powerful water stream, in this price range, one of the top products is the DeWalt DXPW4440 with 4400 PSI.
- In the aforementioned price range, this washer, with 2.5 GPM (gallons per minute), is placed on the lower end of the GPM scale. If being able to rinse away debris as efficiently as possible is your priority, one of the products with the highest GPM in this price range is the Predator 4400, with 4.2 GPM.
- The PW-3600's Cleaning Units, 9000 CU (PSI x GPM), fall into the lower end when compared to gas-powered devices of similar price. If you consider the highest overall cleaning power as a really important factor, the Predator 4400 and its 18480 Cleaning Units has one of the highest cleaning efficiency of all the similarly priced units.
Price comparison
As you can see from this interactive chart, when compared to other gas-powered washers between 9000 and 9500 Cleaning Units, the ECHO PW-3600 is on the expensive side of the price range.
While certainly not the cheapest of its cleaning power range, purchasing it could most likely also mean enjoying the reliability of a high-end product.
The bottom line
- Triplex pump
- Designed to be stable
- Good range of nozzles included
- Automatic detergent dilution
- Onboard storage
- Several security features
- CARB-compliant
- On the expensive side
- No electric start
- No soap tank
- Low PSI for the price
- Low GPM for the price
- Low CU for the price
Features and Specifications
| Fuel | Gas-Powered |
|---|---|
| Handling | Wheelbarrow |
| Water | Cold (104°F max.) |
| PSI | 3600 |
| GPM | 2.5 |
| Cleaning Units | 9000 |
| Engine | 212 cc OHV 4-stroke |
| Pump | Triplex |
| Frame | Steel |
|---|---|
| Soap injection | Via siphon hose |
| Soap dilution | 20:1 |
| Nozzles | 0°, 15°, 25°, 40°, Soap |
| Quick connect nozzles | Yes |
| Onboard storage | Yes |
| Hose | 35 ft |
| Hose storage | Straps |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | N/A |
|---|---|
| Weight | 72 lbs |
| Pressure control | Valve |
| Wheels | 2 wheels, never flat |
| Included accessories | Oil, funnel, tool kit, wand, spray gun, high pressure hose, soap hose, 5 nozzles |
| Security | Trigger lock and thermal relief valve |
| Emissions | CARB |
| Warranty | 3 years |
Unlike many websites, we did our best to research each of the specs above. That being said, we are not immune to making the occasional mistake or omission. Should you notice any missing or incorrect values, don't hesitate to suggest improvements so we can address the issue.
About ECHO
As the largest subsidiary of the Yamabiko Corporation of Japan, ECHO Incorporated has its headquarters located in Lake Zurich, IL, USA. Originally it was established in 1972 as the Kioritz Corporation of America, but the name was changed to its current form six years later. ECHO boasts a wide range of outdoor power products, including pressure washers, blowers, chainsaws, and trimmers. Most of these are manufactured in the US using parts from both domestic and foreign suppliers. The company uses a pro-environmental approach in its business, incorporating technology, conservation, and sustainability.
Warranty Information
The ECHO PW-3600 is covered under a warranty for up to 3 years. This warranty may be limited and may not cover all parts of the unit.
For more information about the warranty of ECHO pressure washers, please consult ECHO's warranty policies (opens in a new tab). Alternatively, you can also contact their Customer Support: 1-800-432-ECHO (3246).
