Where to Find Your Pressure Washer’s Model Number
Let’s face it: you probably don’t have your pressure washer’s user manual anymore. Whether you got your machine from a yard sale and fixed it up yourself or purchased it new, the paper booklet that came with it is either long gone or stuffed in the back of a drawer somewhere.
In short, you can't consult it to find your pressure washer’s model number.
We’re not judging. We’ve been there, which is why we’ve put together this guide for locating the (correct) model number on your pressure washer.
Why Does Knowing the Model Number Matter?
Not knowing your model number becomes a problem when it’s time to buy new accessories or replacement parts for your equipment. How are you supposed to know what to purchase when there are so many options and you don’t know which will work in your unit?
Your model number essentially acts as a key to help you find all sorts of important information for your pressure washer. If you know your washer’s model, you may be able to find a digital copy of your user manual online (or at least a helpful parts diagram), and you’ll be able to verify fitment for replacement parts before you purchase them.
Where Not To Look for your model number
When you think you’ve found the decal with your pressure washer model number, check again.
If you find a large sticker on your pressure washer with the letters “GX,” “GC,” or “GCV,” that’s NOT your pressure washer model. Take another look, and you’ll see that this large sticker is located on your engine; in fact, it refers to your engine model.
You may also find what appears to be a model number on your washer’s pump. However, this number is specific to your pressure washer pump, not your overall unit.
Where To Look for your model number
So where should you look to find your actual pressure washer model number? It varies. Depending on the style and brand of pressure washer you have, you could find it in a couple different places.
- If your pressure washer has a support plate below the handle between the bars of the frame, you might find it printed on the plate’s decal.
- If your washer doesn’t have a support plate, you may find the model number decal under the base plate (the metal plate that your engine is secured to).
However, the most common location for your pressure washer model decal is on the top of the base plate, usually close to one of the wheels.
What Does A pressure washer Model Number Look Like?
It can be tricky to know what you’re looking for. Thankfully, most equipment brands use consistent formulas for their model numbers. Here are a few examples.
Troy-Bilt
- Look for a model number that’s five to eight characters long. It will be numerical only, except there might be a dash after the fourth or sixth character.
- Examples: 1903-0, 020349, 020547-00
Excell
- There’s a lot of variation between Excell model numbers, but nearly all of them contain at least two letters and four numbers. The most common format for Excell model numbers is two to four letters followed by four numbers.
- Examples: EXH2425, D2300B, VR2300
Generac
- A model number for a Generac will likely be four to five characters long, all numbers. If your model is five characters long, there might be a dash between the fourth and fifth character.
- Examples: 0597, 0775-1, 60202
Karcher
- Your model number will start with one to two letters, followed by four numbers and usually one to two more letters.
- Examples: G2500 OH, HD2500 HK, K1500 G
A word of warning: if you have a Karcher machine, you’ll likely wind up spending quite a bit on replacement parts. Many Karcher designs aren’t compatible with aftermarket parts, so if something goes wrong, you’ll have to get OEM replacements, which are typically more expensive. (What’s the difference between OEM and aftermarket?)
Craftsman
- Your model number will probably be eight to nine numbers long and start with “580”.
- Examples: 58074278, 580752102, 580768325
What to do after finding your pressure washer's model number
Once you have your pressure washer model number, finding the replacement parts and accessories you need is simple. All you’ll need to do is look up a parts diagram for your model, find the OEM part number of the item you need, and search for that part number on our website.
You can also let our expert customer service team do the footwork for you. Just give us a call, send us a message, or chat with us. All we need is your model number and the part you’re looking for, and we’ll handle the rest.
You can also use the Verify Fitment widget on our product listings if you see a part you like and want to know if it will work for your model number.
Want more tips and tricks for Staying Rugged? Subscribe to our newsletter and get blogs, discount codes, and insider sales delivered right to your inbox. And if you want some pressure washer content to read while you wait for your new parts to arrive, check out these 11 tips for pressure washing.
[EDITED 4/2023]