Karcher K 2.21 User Manual

K 2.21

English 2
Español 17
Français 32

5.962-073.0 01/2007

HIGH PRESSURE WASHER OPERATOR MANUAL

Model Overview 3
Important Safety Instructions 4
Operating Instructions 6
Using the Accessories 7
Working with Detergents 8
Taking a Break ..five minutes or more9
Shutting Down & Clean-Up 9
Winterizing and Long-Term Storage10
Care and Maintenance Instructions 10
Cleaning Tips 11
Optional Cleaning Accessories 13
Troubleshooting 15

Safety Alert Symbols

 DANGER

indicates “an imminently hazardous si­tuation which, if not avoided, will result
in death or serious injury.”

 WARNING

indicates “a potentially hazardous situa­tion which, if not avoided, could result in
death or injury.”

 CAUTION

indicates “a potentially hazardous situa­tion which, if not avoided, may result in
minor or moderate injury or in property
damage incidents.”

Specifications

Operating pressure 1500 PSI
Water volume 1.3 GPM
Amp draw 13 AMPS
Voltage 120 V
Part No. 1.601-13_.0
Serial no.

Owner/User Responsibility

The owner and/or user must have an
understanding of the manufacturer’s
operating instructions and warnings be­fore using this pressure washer.
Warning information should be empha­sized and understood.
If the operator is not fluent in English,
the manufacturer’s instructions and
warnings shall be read to and discussed
with the operator in the operator’s native
language by the purchaser/owner, mak­ing sure that the operator comprehends
its contents.
Owner and/or user must study and
maintain for future reference the manu­facturers’ instructions.

Kärcher Customer Support USA

Call: 1-800-537-4129 for help or visit
our website:

www.karcher-usa.com/home

Please take a moment to register your
pressure washer online at

www.karcher-usa.com/warranty

Kärcher Customer Service CDN

Call: 1-800-537-4129 for help or visit our
website: www.karcher-canada.com

Kärcher Customer Support Mexico

Call: 01-800-024-13-13 for help or visit
our website: www.karcher.com.mx

For household use only!

2 English

MODEL OVERVIEW

1 High pressure outlet
2 Detergent suction tube with filter
3 ON/OFF switch
4 Handle
5 Trigger gun storage
6 Spray Wand Storage
7 Water inlet with garden hose

connector

8 Power cord with Ground Fault Circuit

Interrupter (GFCI)
9 Trigger gun
10 Trigger gun safety lock
11 High pressure hose
12 Dirtblaster® (Rotating spray wand)
13 Vario Power Spray wand

English 3

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING – When using this product
basic precautions should always be fol­lowed, including the following:

 Read all the instructions before us-

ing the product.

 To reduce the risk of injury, close su-

pervision is necessary when a prod­uct is used near children.

 Know how to stop the product and

bleed pressures quickly. Be thor­oughly familiar with the controls.

 Stay alert – watch what you are doing.
 Do not operate the product when fa-

tigued or under the influence of alco­hol or drugs.

 Keep operating area clear of all per-

sons.

 Do not overreach or stand on unsta-

ble support. Keep good footing and
balance at all times.

 Follow the maintenance instructions

specified in the manual.

 This Product Is Provided With A

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
Built Into The Power Cord Plug. If
Replacement Of The Plug Or Cord
Is Needed, Use Only Identical Re­placement Parts.

WARNING – Risk of Injection or Injury –
Do Not Direct Discharge Stream At Per­sons.

 High pressure jets can be dangerous

if misused. The jet must not be di­rected at persons, animals, electrical
devices, or the unit itself.

 Wear safety goggles.

WARNING – Risk Of Explosion – Do
not spray flammable liquids.

 Do not use acids and solvents in this

product. These products can cause
physical injuries to the operator and
irreversible damage to the machine.

4 English

CAUTION – Gun Kicks Back – Hold

with both hands.

 The Trigger Gun Safety Lock pre-

vents the trigger from accidentally
being engaged. This safety feature
DOES NOT lock trigger in the ON
position.

WARNING – Risk of Electrocution –

 Inspect cord before using – Do not

use if cord is damaged.

 Keep all connections dry and off the

ground.

 Do not touch plug with wet hands.
 Do not use extension cord with this

product.

 Connect to individual branch circuit

only.

 WARNING

 DO NOT SPRAY ELECTRICAL AP-

PARATUS AND WIRING.

 DO NOT USE WITH FLAMMABLE

LIQUIDS AND TOXIC CHEMICALS.

 HIGH PRESSURE. KEEP CLEAR

OF NOZZLE.

 INJECTION HAZARD: EQUIP-

MENT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS IN­JURY IF THE SPRAY
PENETRATES THE SKIN. DO NOT
POINT THE GUN AT ANYONE OR
ANY PART OF THE BODY. IN
CASE OF PENETRATION SEEK
MEDICAL AID IMMEDIATELY.

 THIS SYSTEM IS CAPABLE OF

PRODUCING 1500 PSI TO AVOID
RUPTURE AND INJURY, DO NOT
OPERATE THIS PUMP WITH COM­PONENTS RATED LESS THAN
1500 PSI WORKING PRESSURE
(INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO SPRAY GUNS, HOSE AND
HOSE CONNECTIONS).

 BEFORE SERVICING, CLEANING

OR REMOVING ANY PARTS,
SHUT OFF POWER AND RELIEVE
PRESSURE.

 IF CONNECTION IS MADE TO A

POTABLE WATER SYSTEM, THE
SYSTEM SHALL BE PROTECTED
AGAINST BACKFLOW.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

SERVICING OF A DOUBLE-

INSULATED PRODUCT

In a double-insulated product, two sys­tems of insulation are provided instead
of grounding. No grounding means is
provided on a double-insulated product,
nor should a means for grounding be
added to the product. Servicing a dou­ble-insulated product requires extreme
care and knowledge of the system, and
should be done only by qualified service
personnel. Replacement parts for a
double-insulated product must be iden­tical to the parts they replace. A double­insulated product is marked with the
words “DOUBLE INSULATION” or
“DOUBLE INSULATED”. The symbol
“ ” may also be marked on the product.

GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT

INTERRUPTER PROTECTION

This product is provided with a ground­fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) built into
the plug of the power-supply cord. This
device provides additional protection
from the risk of electric shock.
Should replacement of the plug or cord
become necessary, use only identical
replacement parts that include GFCI
protection.
Contact Kärcher Customer Support.

WATER SUPPLY

(Cold Water Only)

 CAUTION

When connecting the water inlet to the
water supply mains, local regulations of
your water company must be observed.
In some areas the unit must not be con­nected directly to the public drinking wa­ter supply. This is to ensure that there is
no feedback of chemicals into the water
supply. Direct connection via a receiver
tank or backflow preventer, for example,
is permitted.
Dirt in the feed water will damage the
unit. To avoid this risk, we recommend
fitting a water filter.

 Garden hose must be at least 5/8

inch in diameter.

 Flow rate of water supply must not

fall below 2 GPM (gallons per

minute).

 Flow rate can be determined by run-

ning the water for one minute into an

empty 5-gallon container.

 The water supply temperature must

not exceed 104°F/40°C.

 Never use the pressure washer to

draw in water contaminated with sol-

vents, e.g. paint thinners, gasoline,

oil, etc.

 Always prevent debris from being

drawn into the unit by using a clean

water source.

English 5

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1:

Î

Connect the high pressure hose to
the unit’s high pressure outlet.

Î STEP 2:

Insert the spray wand of your choice
into the trigger gun. Press in against
the spring tension and twist into
locked position.

Î STEP 3:

Connect garden hose to unit’s water
inlet.

Î STEP 5:

Plug the Ground Fault Circuit Inter­rupter (GFCI) into a working outlet.

– Press “RESET” button.
– Press “TEST” button.

Red indicator on “RESET” button
should appear.

– Press “RESET” button again for use.

 WARNING

Do not use if above test fails.

Note: The actual appearance of the GFCI may
be different from this illustration.

Î STEP 6:

Unlock the trigger gun safety lock.
Trigger the gun to eliminate trapped
air, wait for a steady flow of water to
emerge from the spray nozzle.

Î STEP 4:

Connect garden hose to the cold
water source and turn water on
completely.

6 English

Î STEP 7:

Turn on the high pressure washer (I).

The motor starts only if the trigger
of the gun is pulled and shuts off
when the trigger is released.

USING THE ACCESSORIES

 WARNING

To avoid serious injury never point
spray nozzle at yourself, other per­sons or animals.

Vario Power Spray Wand

 The Vario Power Spray Wand allows

you to adjust the cleaning pressure.
To clean at maximum pressure, the

wand must be positioned to the high
pressure setting (Max).

For reduced pressure turn the wand
collar in the „Min“ direction.

To apply detergent, the wand
must be positioned to the low
pressure setting (Mix).

Dirtblaster®

 This nozzle features a 0º pencil jet

which rotates 360º for maximum dirt

cutting action, effectively increasing

cleaning performance up to 50%.

This nozzle combines the cleaning

performance of a 0º pencil jet with

the surface coverage of a wide angle

nozzle.

Not recommended for soft materi-

als, siding, painted surfaces,

decks or autos.

 Always test an inconspicuous area

before cleaning with the Dirtblaster.

English 7

WORKING WITH DETERGENTS

Detergents can only be applied at
low pressure setting (Mix).

Î STEP 1:

Install the Vario Power Spray Wand.
Set the spray wand to the low pres­sure setting (Mix).

STEP 2:

Fill a container with Kärcher deter­gent. Place the filter end of detergent
suction tube into the container.

STEP 3:

Turn on the pressure washer (I). Pull
trigger to operate unit: Liquid deter­gent is drawn into the unit and mixed
with water. Apply detergent to work
area. Do not allow detergent to dry
on surface.

STEP 4:

Cleaning up: Always draw fresh wa-

ter through the detergent tank or si­phon tube when done to flush any
remaining detergents from the injec­tion system.

For best results see Cleaning Tips
for specific information on how to
clean different surfaces.

CAUTION

This unit has been designed for use with
cleaning detergents recommended by
the manufacturer. The use of other
cleaning detergents may affect the op­eration of the machine and void the war­ranty.

Always Use Kärcher Detergent for
Best Results

Kärcher biodegradable detergents are
specially formulated to protect the envi­ronment and your pressure washer. The
special formula won’t clog the suction
tube filter and will protect the internal
parts of the pressure washer for a long­er life. For Kärcher Detergents, check
your retailer or visit our website:
www.karcher-usa.com/home

The following Kärcher detergents are
available:

One Gallon ready to use

 All Purpose & Vehicle Cleaner
 Deck & Patio Cleaner
 Heavy Duty Degreaser
 Exterior House Cleaner

 CAUTION

Never use:
– Bleach, Chlorine products and other

corrosive chemicals

– Liquids containing solvents (i.e.,

paint thinners, gasoline, oils)
– Tri-sodium phosphate products
– Ammonia products
– Acid-based products
These chemicals will harm the unit and

will damage the surface being cleaned.

Use of these items will void the war­ranty.

8 English

TAKING A BREAK ..five minutes or more

Î STEP 1:

Release trigger and engage gun
safety lock.

Î STEP 2:

Turn pressure washer to OFF (O)
position.

SHUTTING DOWN & CLEAN-UP

Î STEP 1:

Turn the switch to OFF (0) position
and unplug cord from outlet.

Î STEP 5:

Disconnect the high pressure hose
from the high pressure outlet.

Î STEP 2:

Turn off the water source.

Î STEP 3:

Press trigger to release water pres­sure.

Î STEP 4:

Disconnect the garden hose from
the water inlet on the unit.

Î STEP 6:

Release trigger and engage gun
safety lock.

English 9

WINTERIZING AND LONG-TERM STORAGE

1: Disconnect all water connections.

Î
Î 2: Turn on the machine for a few se-

conds, until the water which had
remained in the pump exits, turn off
immediately.

Î 3: Do not allow high pressure hose

to become kinked.

Î 4: Store the machine and accesso-

ries in a room which does not reach
freezing temperatures. DO NOT

 CAUTION

Failure to follow the above directions
will result in damage to the pump as­sembly and accessories and will void
the warranty.
Kärcher also recommends the regular
practice of using a pump protector like
“Kärcher Pump Guard” to prevent cold
weather damage during storage in the
winter months.

store near furnace or other sources
of heat as it may dry out the pump
seals.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

Cleaning the water inlet filter Maintenance

Î STEP 1:

Pull out washer from the water inlet.

Î STEP 2:

Pull out water inlet filter with flat­nose pliers.

The unit is maintenance-free.

Î STEP 3:

Rinse out water inlet filter in warm
water.

Î STEP 4:

Reinsert water inlet filter and washer
into the water inlet.

10 English

CLEANING TIPS

Deck Cleaning

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse

deck and surrounding area with fresh
water. If using Kärcher Deck Wash, ap­ply to surface at low pressure. For best
results, limit your work area to smaller
sections of approximately 25 square
feet. Allow Deck Wash to remain on sur­face 1-3 minutes. Do not allow deter­gent to dry on surface. Rinse at high
pressure in a long sweeping motion
keeping the spray nozzle approximately
3-6 inches from the cleaning surface.
Always clean from top to bottom and
from left to right. When moving on to a
new section of the cleaning surface, be
sure to overlap the previous section to
eliminate stop marks and ensure a more
even cleaning result.

House Siding

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse

cleaning surface with fresh water. If
using Kärcher Pressure Wash, apply to
surface at low pressure (for best results,
limit your work area to sections of ap­proximately 6 feet and always apply de­tergent from bottom to top). Allow
Pressure Wash to remain on surface 1­3 minutes. Do not allow detergent to dry
on surface, if surface appears to be
drying, simply wet down surface with
fresh water. If needed, use special wash
brush attachment (not included) to re­move stubborn dirt. Rinse at high pres­sure from top to bottom in an even
sweeping motion keeping the spray
nozzle approximately 6 inches from the
cleaning surface.

Cement Patios, Brick and Stone

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse

cleaning surface with fresh water. If us­ing Kärcher Pressure Wash or Degreas­er, apply to surface at low pressure. For
best results, limit your work area to
smaller sections of approximately 25
square feet. Allow Pressure Wash or
Degreaser to remain on surface 1-3
minutes. Do not allow detergent to dry
on surface. Rinse at high pressure in a
sweeping motion keeping the spray
nozzle approximately 3-6 inches from
the cleaning surface. Always clean from
top to bottom and from left to right. For
removing extremely stubborn stains,
use the Dirtblaster Nozzle.

Cars, Boats & Motorcycles

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse

vehicle with fresh water. If using
Kärcher Touchless Vehicle Wash, apply
to surface at low pressure. For best re­sults, clean one side of vehicle at a time
and always apply detergent from bottom
to top, do not allow detergent to dry on
surface. If needed, use special wash
brush attachment (not included) to re­move stubborn dirt. Rinse at high pres­sure in a sweeping motion keeping the
spray nozzle approximately 6-8 inches
from the cleaning surface (distance
should increase when rinsing pin-stri­ping or other sensitive surfaces). Al­ways clean from top to bottom and from
left to right. For best results, wipe sur­face dry with a chamois or soft dry cloth.

English 11

Barbecue Grills, Outdoor Power

Equipment & Gardening Tools

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse

cleaning surface with fresh water. If
using Kärcher Pressure Wash or De­greaser, apply detergent at low pressu­re. Allow Pressure Wash to remain on
surface 1-3 minutes. Do not allow deter­gent to dry on surface. Rinse at high
pressure keeping the spray nozzle ap­proximately 3-6 inches from the cle­aning surface. For removing extremely
stubborn dirt, it may be necessary to
move the spray nozzle even closer to
the surface for greater dirt cutting ac­tion.

Patio & Lawn Furniture

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse

furniture and surrounding area with
fresh water. If using Pressure Wash, ap­ply to surface at low pressure. Allow
Pressure Wash to remain on surface 1­3 minutes. Do not allow detergent to dry
on surface. If needed use special Wash
Brush Attachment (not included) to re­move stubborn dirt. Rinse at high pres­sure in a sweeping motion keeping the
spray nozzle approximately 3-6 inches
from the cleaning surface. For best re­sults, clean from top to bottom and from
left to right.

Recommendations

 Before cleaning any surface an in-

conspicuous area should be cleaned

to test spray pattern and distance for

maximum cleaning results.

 If painted surfaces are peeling or

chipping, use extreme caution as

pressure washer may remove the

loose paint from the surface.

 When using on surfaces which might

come in contact with food, flush sur-

faces with plenty of drinking water.

 For additional cleaning tips, visit our

website at www.karcher-usa.com/

home

12 English

Optional Cleaning Accessories

Optional accessories are available to
further enhance your cleaning capabili­ties. These accessories are accurate as
of the printing date of this manual.
Please check our website
www.karcher-usa.com/home for pricing
and up-to-date information.

Pump Guard

Specially formulated to protect your
pressure washer from freezing, corro­sion and premature wear. The Pump
Guard also adds lubrication to valves
and seals to prevent sticking. Highly
recommended for all Karcher pressure
washers!

Part No. 9.558-998.0

Water Pumping Kit

Attach this accessory to your pressure
washer to quickly pump large quantities
of water out of a standing source, such
as a barrel or bucket. Fits most Karcher
pressure washers up to 2300 PSI.

Part No. 2.637-214.0

25 Ft. Extension / Replacement

High-Pressure Hose

Replacement hose fits Kärcher pres­sure washer with screw-on type gun
connections from 2400psi to 2500psi,
Extension Hose for all Kärcher high
pressure washers between the original
equipment hose and machine up to
2500 psi.

Part No. 2.640-850.0

66" Extension Wand (Four piece)

Need to clean second story windows or
other high areas? Increase the reach of
your pressure washer by up to 66" with
this extension kit. Includes 4 aluminum
sections for variable length. 66" fully as­sembled. Fits most Karcher pressure
washers up to 2300 PSI. (bayonet)

Part No. 2.640-746.0

Rotating Wash Brush (bayonet)

For more effortless cleaning of all
smooth surfaces (painted, glass and
plastic) try Karcher's Rotating Wash
Brush. Use it on your automobile, house
siding or windows. The water pressure
from your pressure washer causes the
inner brushes to gently spin, making
your cleaning job much easier. The an­gle of brush head is adjustable to help
you reach difficult areas. Excellent for
the application of detergent. A must­have accessory designed for Karcher
pressure washers up to 2300 PSI. (bay­onet)

Part No. 2.640-743.0

Soft Clean Washing Brush

Made with soft bristles that will not harm
painted surfaces. Easily attaches direct­ly to the trigger gun. Ideal for stubborn
dirt on cars, boats, patio furniture and
other surfaces. Great for applying deter­gent. Fits most Karcher pressure wash­ers up to 2300 PSI. (bayonet)

Part No. 2.640-740.0

English 13

25 ft. Pipe Cleaning Kit (bayonet)

T 100 Wide Area Surface Cleaner

Need to clean blocked pipes, drains or
downspouts? Karcher's pipe cleaning
kit is the answer! The pipe cleaner pro­pels itself forward while simultaneously
flushing out debris. For example, insert
the cleaning nozzle in the base of a
downspout, pull the trigger on the pres­sure washer gun and watch as the
nozzle shoots out leaves and other de­bris while climbing upward. Connects
directly to the trigger gun of most Kar­cher pressure washers up to 2300 PSI.
(bayonet)

Part No. 2.640-747.0

Wet Sandblasting Kit (bayonet)

Why spend hours stripping old paint and
rust by hand using harsh chemicals?
Let Karcher's Wet Sandblasting Kit do
the work! Attach the kit to your pressure
washer, add abrasive material and at­tack the rust and paint with our eco­friendly alternative. Fits most Karcher
pressure washers up to 2300 PSI. (bay­onet)

Part No. 2.638-792.0

For cleaning surfaces such as patios,
terraces and driveways without splash­back, there is no better solution than
Karcher's T 100. It saves time by clean­ing a one foot wide area gently as it hov­ers, providing consistent, streak-free
cleaning. When you finish cleaning the
patio and driveway, remove the wand
and use the handle to clean garage
doors and other vertical surfaces. In­cludes two nozzles which spin at high
speed for optimum results. Our top sell­ing accessory for Karcher pressure
washers up to 2300 PSI. (bayonet)

Part No. 2.640-959.0

Detergent Foamer Attachment

Ideal for applications which require a
thick foam. Simply fill the resevoir cup
with liquid pressure washer detergent to
generate a foam spray. Connects di­rectly to the trigger gun. Fits most
Karcher pressure washers up to 2300
PSI. (bayonet)

Part No. 6.964-507.0

14 English

Troubleshooting

CAUTION



Disconnect the machine from the power
source before making any repair.

Symptom Cause Solution

Motor will not start On/Off switch is in the “OFF”

(O) position.
Tripped GFCI plug. Press “RESET” button on

Power cord is not plugged in. Plug in power cord.
Electrical outlet does not

supply adequate power.

Unit does not reach
high pressure.

Output pressure
varies high and low.

Diameter of garden hose is
too small.
Water supply is restricted. Check garden hose for kinks,

Not enough inlet water
supply.

Water inlet filter is clogged. Remove filter and rinse out in

Spray wand is on low
pressure position.

Not enough inlet water
supply.

Pump is sucking air. Check that hoses and fittings

Water inlet filter is clogged. Remove filter and rinse out in

Discharge nozzle is
obstructed.

Calcified gun, hose or spray
wand.

Turn switch to the “ON” (I)
position

GFCI plug.

Try a different outlet.

Replace with a 5/8 inch or
larger garden hose.

leaks and blockage.
Open water source full force.

warm water.
Turn spray wand to high
pressure position.
Turn water on full force.
Check garden hose for kinks,
leaks or blockage.

are air tight. Turn off machine
and purge pump by squeez­ing trigger gun until a steady
flow of water emerges
through the nozzle.

warm water.
Blow out or remove debris

with a fine needle.
Run distilled vinegar through

detergent suction tube.

English 15