Kärcher · the dial against the bundle
Pressure control or the T 5 head — which K 4 should I buy?
This is the clearest either-or in the Kärcher range, and it turns on what you clean rather than on how much you spend.
| Compared on | K 4 Power Control | K 4 FJ Home |
|---|---|---|
| Flow rate | Not stated in the listing | 420 l/h |
| Area performance | Not stated | 30 m (98 ft)²/h |
| Pressure control | Adjustable at the lance | Vario Power lance only |
| Surface cleaner included | No | Yes — T 5 |
| Detergent | Not stated | Suction hose plus foam nozzle |
| Listed on amazon.com | Yes | No |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these machines answer different questions.
Prefer the Power Control if you clean several different surfaces in one session — the dial under your thumb is what stops render and decking being cleaned at terrace pressure.
No amazon.com listing was found for this one. We hold references for other markets but none for the United States, so it may not be buyable here — which is the first thing to weigh against anything below.
Buy the FJ Home for a terrace, and because it publishes 420 l/h: it is the machine you can compare with anything else on the site.
Because you use it. A control at the machine means walking back, so people clean everything at the pressure that suited the worst job — and that is where most domestic damage happens.
The FJ Home, unless you already own a surface cleaner. A T 5 head bought separately costs a meaningful fraction of the machine.
Pressure dial on the lance · app support · 6 markets
The pressure setting moved to the lance, where your hand already is — and an app you can ignore.
Best for: A household cleaning several different surfaces in one session — a car, then render, then a drive
≈ $490
130 bar · 420 l/h · 30 m (98 ft)²/h · 5.7 kg (12.6 lb)
The first Kärcher that publishes its flow rate — and the number that tells you what the machine will actually do.
Best for: A terrace, a drive and a car, cleaned two or three times a year, where the K 3 would need too many passes
