Pressure Washers - One Company but Four Brands

There are a lot of great pressure washers on the market today. But it seems that in pressure washers, just like in a lot of businesses, you can find multiple brands that are all manufactured by the same parent company. Though they appear to be competitors, and are in many ways, at the top level the company is the same. I discovered this when I had kids in diapers. It seemed like Pampers and Huggies were big time rivals and then I learned that they had the same parent company! It is just the nature of business today. Well, I came across a company that makes some great pressure washers, and discovered that they also distribute washers under other brand names as well. Let’s take a look at this company and the brands that they manufacture.

The American company name is Dirt Killer, and their strategic German partner is Kränzle, and besides manufacturing under these two names, they also make Economax and DuraBelt pressure washers. Each brand was designed and engineered to fulfill a different purpose: performance, durability, effectiveness or value.

From what I can tell, the original company that made pressures washers was Kränzle, and they teamed up with Dirt Killer in the US market. They have been around since 1974, founded by Josef Kränzle. Like most German made products, the focus was superior quality. Josef has consistently adhered to this idea, which has led them to be a leader in the pressure washer market. A Kränzle is engineered for maximum effectiveness  and this is accomplished by combining a high tech design with reliability and a great cleaning efficiency. They use an advance pump, feature auto on and off, digital temperature controls, and hose reels to produce a top of the line product. They are great for handling a large variety of cleaning problems.

The Dirt Killer line is known to be engineered for performance. They have stainless steel frames and use advance Kränzle pumps for maximum power. These units are extremely durable, to the point that they can run dry for an extended period without being damaged. This is a really nice feature. It is important that your water source can provide enough water to supply your pressure washer, if not the pump can go dry and a normal pump would be damaged, but not a Dirt Killer.

The DuraBelt line is engineered for durability.  They are very rugged with highly durable belt drives. They use Honda engines, industrial grade General pumps and  stainless steel frames. These are meant for a lot of use, being designed especially with the professional in mind.

The EconoMax brand was engineered for value for a commercial user. They have brass manifold pumps and Honda engines. They give you good performance at an affordable price.

For a quick look at what their different pumps in the various pressure washers can and cannot do, consider the following. The Dirt Killer and Kränzle USA pumps can:

• Start and run dry


• Run in extended bypass


• Self prime


• Use salt water


• Have cold weather protection.

DuraBelt and EconoMax pumps do not have these functions, but consider first what you need a pressure washer for before making a decision. You may not need these features.

Pressure washers have a lot of uses around a home or business. Consider what you need a pressure washer to do for you, and then buy the one that suits your needs best.