A question for the Karcher window vac owners

[RogerThat]

I've been looking at the ever-widening range of Karcher window vacs lately and there's one thing putting me off taking the plunge.

Can anyone tell me if they can be used upside down?

For example, if I were to use this on the windscreen in my van I think I'd probably get about 3/4 the way down the screen before the bottom of the vac then hits the top of the dashboard and prevents me going any further.

With this in mind, can I turn it upside down and go up, from the bottom of the screen? Or will the collected water just leak out?

Thanks in advance

 

[billym]

You can use it upside down with no problems

 

[Larrynwin]

I use mine in all directions but when operating horizontally it sprays water through the motor, so I wrap the motor end in kitchen roll before starting.

 

[bigtwin]

I do a sweep across the bottom of the screen with the Karcher at ninty degrees before doing the vertical sweeps.

If I do the vertical sweeps first, the water in the reservoir will splutter out when I do the horizontal sweep.

They are fantastically effective at removing water from the screen.

Ian

 

[two]

Can anyone tell me if they can be used upside down?

Mine won't work upside down. I don't think any would. They were designed to clean windows rather than (motorhome) windscreens. They will work at 90°, though.
If the reservoir is not vertical, it will drip as it fills.

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[Steve and Denise]

Our sprays water out of the motor vents so not the best.
If they made an adapter so the blade was on a flexible pipe that would work well.

 

[Minxy]

Ours splutters if we turn it too much, or try to use it horizontally after it's got a fair bit of water in but we've found the best way to stop the splutter getting everywhere is to get some cheap cotton trainer socks and put one on it as a 'nappy', they fit perfectly and don't take long to dry.

 

[Minxy]

Our sprays water out of the motor vents so not the best.
If they made an adapter so the blade was on a flexible pipe that would work well.

Funnily enough, that's what I thought too and did have a shuftie a while back to see if I could 'adapt' ours but alas not possible.

 

[daveandsan]

Just fit a silver screen.

 

[terryway]

mine early one burnt out after using it upside down after water got into the electrics.Now I make sure I don't go past horizontal. still great for Cleaning windscreen and shower room.

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[Richard n Ann]

You can use a cloth in all directions, it never needs charging, is lighter, takes up less room and is much cheaper

 

[Robin McHood]

I've been looking at the ever-widening range of Karcher window vacs lately and there's one thing putting me off taking the plunge.

Can anyone tell me if they can be used upside down?

For example, if I were to use this on the windscreen in my van I think I'd probably get about 3/4 the way down the screen before the bottom of the vac then hits the top of the dashboard and prevents me going any further.

With this in mind, can I turn it upside down and go up, from the bottom of the screen? Or will the collected water just leak out?

Thanks in advance

Get a Leifheit, they dont leak, can be used at any angle, only slight drawback is they are bigger than the Krapchers

 

[two]

If they made an adapter so the blade was on a flexible pipe that would work well.

Karcher do make a 'wet & dry'. Just need somewhere to store it.

 

[Clarky]

Karcher do make a 'wet & dry'. Just need somewhere to store it.

This should do the job:-

 

[LesW]

Just fit a silver screen.

.. but the cat wouldn't be able to look out of the window then.

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[Allanm]

You can use a cloth in all directions, it never needs charging, is lighter, takes up less room and is much cheaper

Doesn’t leave a dry windscreen easily though!
We use a Karcher and have done for years. If you use it upside down to clear the bottom of the windscreen, empty it after each sweep then no water will get in the motor
It’s also useful to dry the shower walls and screen.

 

[peterc10]

I always use the Karcher horizontally on the inside becauseof the curveoon my A class windscreen. It does leave a few drips on the dashboard but I just wipe up with a bit of kitchen towel.

 

[EuroTrotters]

just use it backwards

 

[Lenny HB]

Ours is fine upside down only ever leaked upside down when the water tank was full.

 

[Sundowners]

We keep ours in a cloth bag with a drawstring around the top. We use it in the bag and it stops any drips going onto the dashboard or anywhere else.

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[Gaston aires]

Horizontal sweep of lower windscreen first, then vertical. Works for us.
Phil

 

[nicholsong]

Ours is fine upside down only ever leaked upside down when the water tank was full.

That is what I find also

 

[RogerThat]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the replies!

Well, nearly all, Clarky, I might need to buy a trailer to go with this one

This should do the job:-

Also, thanks too for the suggestion re drying the washroom with it, I hadn't thought of that!

So I think I'm pretty much sold - thank again everyone

Horizontal sweep across the bottom first, then the rest of the window upright

I saw an anniversary edition advertised on TV (which is how this all came about) but I'm always a little wary of something new. I'm a firm believer of "if it ain't broke" product designs!

I'm now off to look around online for some deals

 

[davejen]

The anniversary one has the switch on the outside, ours is the previous model and you can catch it very easily and it switches off, bit of a nuisance . Shouldn't happen with the new one so an improvement that works.....
Cheers, Dave

 

[DavidG58]

The newer ones don’t leak anywhere near as much when horizontal even if part full, in fact barely a drip

We have one of each due to me losing the charging lead on the first

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[Teuchter]

Upside down OK if tank is empty - but on our A class best to best to swipe 2 tranches horizontally at bottom of the screen then use vertical as normal!!
Great bit of kit!!

 

[Robin McHood]

Ours is fine upside down only ever leaked upside down when the water tank was full.

My Krapcher leaks at any angle over vertical, POS IMHO, the Leifheit never leaks regardless of angle or how full tank is. I have a Krapcher for sale if anyone would like to enjoy the full 'suck it off the screen and spray it over the dash' experience??

 

[Robin McHood]

Love all the ' well it only leaks if its this angle or if the tank is this full' comments. I take it you all apply the same logic to buying a vacuum cleaner? It doesn't dump the dust back on the carpet if you use it at a 45 degree angle... ???!!! No? Thought not.

 

[Minxy]

Love all the ' well it only leaks if its this angle or if the tank is this full' comments. I take it you all apply the same logic to buying a vacuum cleaner? It doesn't dump the dust back on the carpet if you use it at a 45 degree angle... ???!!! No? Thought not.

... but dust isn't liquid is it ...

 

[Themselves]

I never knew these things existed before I read this thread. The bi-fold doors at the rear of the shack are horrible to clean. They look spotless but when the sun is low in the sky every smear is seen. I invested in a Bosch glassvac. Used today for the first time. Works a treat.

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