Sun Joe SPX3000 XTREAM Pressure Washer Review

Today, I’m taking a break from my normal Pro focus and considering the Sun Joe SPX3000 XTREAM pressure washer. With outdoor spring cleaning in full swing, I wanted to take a closer look at what this popular model offers homeowners and help you decide if it’s the electric pressure washer for you.

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Sun Joe SPX3000 XTREAM Performance

Sun Joe’s marketing has evolved since they first came on my radar. The most significant development is that they’re now pursuing PWMA certification for their pressure washers. This is important because it means the ratings are based on standardized testing procedures, giving us a much higher degree of confidence in them.

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At the heart of the Sun Joe SPX3000 XTREAM is a 14.9-amp electric motor and an axial cam pump.

The motor is about as strong as you’re going to get in terms of amperage. A standard wall outlet provides 15 amps, and it’s a delicate dance to get near that without tripping your breaker at startup.

The pump design is exactly what we expect for a model designed for homeowners. Pro models step up to a triplex pump, but those aren’t necessary for the far lower number of hours residential models see.

With that motor and pump driving performance, you’re looking at 2200 PSI and 1.1 GPM on the high end. Many pressure washers with similar motor power hit 2000 or 2100 PSI, so that increase means you can you’ve got a little extra muscle to get stubborn gunk moving.

It is possible to go even higher, though. Electric pressure washers with brushless motors can push all the way to 3000 PSI. That upgraded technology comes with a higher price tag, though.

Using the Sun Joe SPX3000 XTREAM

Sun Joe includes a foam cannon, so my first task was to give my truck a wash. I’ve had varied experiences with foam cannons. Some, like the Chemical Guys Big Mouth, create a “snow foam” that creates a thick layer of foam that sticks to your vehicle.

The model Sun Joe includes doesn’t produce that level of suds, but it did a nice job of foaming up the soap and distributing it well. I was also pleased that it didn’t blow through the soap mix super-fast. Even though that was a relatively simple start, it left me with a good first impression as it sped up my car washing chores.

From there, I moved to my house siding and driveway. For the house, I normally use a 25° nozzle connected to my 3400 PSI gas pressure washer, but with the SPX3000 XTREAM’s pressure being noticeably lower, I switched to the 15°.

It did the job very well for its power class, but I had to work more slowly than I’d like. This model would benefit greatly from a Turbo nozzle to get the higher power of a 0° nozzle combined with the spread of a 25°. They’re not terribly expensive, and I recommend you grab one to make tasks like these faster.

For the concrete, I opted for a 13-inch surface cleaner over my 15-inch model. It did fine, but dropping down to a 12-inch or 10-inch would be a better fit. Without any prep, it provided enough force through the twin nozzles to clean the light layer of buildup off that I had.

One area of my sidewalk gets more constant dripping from the roof, and had more buildup to remove. Here, I had to slow down quite a bit and give the surface cleaner more time.

This is where using the right tools comes into play. When you’re working to remove higher levels of gunk, do yourself a favor and pretreat it. Grab a concrete-specific detergent, mix it in the foam cannon to distribute, and then use your surface cleaner. You’ll get the faster cleaning you’re hoping for without having to step up to a more expensive electric or higher maintenance gas pressure washer.

Sun Joe SPX3000 XTREAM Design

Some Assembly Required

There are a few things you should know about the design. First of all, you do need to assemble a few components when you unbox it. It’s relatively straightforward, but having an electric screwdriver on hand made it even easier for me. From the time I cut the tape on the top of the box to setting the last screw, it only took maybe 15 minutes.

Profile

Sun Joe designed the SPX3000 XTREAM with a taller profile than most, and it’s a benefit. It makes the base smaller than other pressure washers, so it needs a bit less floor space wherever you decide to store it. With so many items fighting for space in your garage, it’s nice that it doesn’t take up as much.

Hose

From a performance perspective, Sun Joe’s hose is well-suited for its task. However, at 20 feet long, it’s 5 feet shorter than most pressure washers in this class include. You still have 35 feet of GFCI-protected cord, but so do most others.

The length isn’t too big of a deal for most cleaning tasks I worked on, but it was more of an inconvenience as I worked around my truck.

Storing Accessories

The wand, hose, and nozzle storage don’t stray far from the norm. The wand is the most notable in that there’s a lower rest for it to settle into, and it friction locks into the upper holster. Most pressure washers only have an open holster near the top that the wand can easily bounce out of while you’re rolling it. Sun Joe’s extra point of contact and snug fit help hold it in place more securely.

Nozzles

The nozzles look different from standard ones, with their colored indicators wrapping down much further. Functionally, I didn’t notice a difference, but it allows Sun Joe to print the angle measurements so you don’t have to memorize them or reference a sticker on the pressure washer.

Wheels and Transport

Sun Joe’s wheels are an in-between size. They’re not the small ones that have a hard time rolling on anything but concrete. But they’re not large enough to easily handle bare ground. My lawn is St. Augustine grass, which grows thick and likes to be cut taller than most species. Is some places, I was more dragging than rolling the pressure washer around.

That could be really annoying, but because this model weighs in at just 26 pounds without the accessories, I was able to pick it up and carry it easily enough. It’s not as light as Ryobi’s 2100 PSI model, though. That one is so compact that it’s a breeze to carry around.

Price

The model I tested was the most basic configuration, and it is currently $239.99. That’s 25% off its previous price. Here’s what came in the package:

• Pressure washer
• 34-inch wand
• 20-foot high-pressure hose
• Foam cannon
• 0°, 15·, 25°, and 40° nozzles
• Hose adapter
• Nozzle cleaning pick

There’s also a more comprehensive kit that includes a 10-inch surface cleaner for $281.99. I highly recommend getting a surface cleaner, so I’d either grab this kit or pick up something like Ryobi’s 12-inch model at Home Depot (currently ~$30).

There’s also another kit that adds Sun Joe’s Sky Lance, which gives you much greater reach and is helpful if you have a two-story house. That kit runs $381.99.

Regardless of which configuration you buy, Sun Joe backs the pressure washer with a 2-year warranty.

Should You Buy It?

The Sun Joe SPX3000 XTREAM pressure washer does a nice job for the power class it competes in. With its closest competitors dialing in at 2100 PSI and 1.2 GPM, having the extra 100 PSI isn’t going to make a huge difference in how quickly you clean. So, if you’re deciding between it and those competitors, choose it for its other characteristics, like the included foam cannon and smaller storage footprint.

This model sits in the sweet spot for homeowners, balancing performance, size, and price. If you’re looking for an all-rounder that you can use to clean your house, concrete, and vehicles, it’s a solid value pick.

But if getting the highest performance is more important to you than saving money, I recommend you step up to a brushless model, like the Greenworks 3000 PSI.

On the other hand, if it’s really just about cleaning your vehicle, our own Tom Gaige really likes Ryobi’s High Flow model that dials down the pressure and boosts the water flow for that task.