In this EGO HPW2100 review the first fact is the catch: the washer is sold as a tool only, so the battery and the charger are extra. I recommend it to anyone who already owns EGO 56-volt batteries and wants a compact washer with a foam cannon in the box, and I tell everyone who would have to buy a battery and charger just for it to skip it. My plant protection training taught me to read the manual and the label before I open anything, so every step on this page follows EGO’s manual.
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EGO HPW2100 Review: My Verdict on the Compact Tool-Only Washer
I recommend the EGO HPW2100 to owners of EGO 56-volt batteries who want a compact battery pressure washer that they carry by a built-in handle. It ships as a tool only, so the battery and the charger are a second purchase, and even before them the machine sits in the mid-range tier. EGO prints its pressure and flow figures as maximums, and I read them as the ceiling of the machine, which says nothing about any single job. My best pressure washer roundup sets gas, electric and battery models against each other, if you are still choosing a type.
- Who it is for: EGO battery owners who want a washer with a foam cannon, a siphon hose and four nozzles in the box.
- What it does best: it stays compact. According to EGO, the unit weighs 20.4 lb without a battery pack, and the built-in handle carries it.
- Main trade-off: the battery and the charger cost extra, and EGO’s manual prints no runtime.
What Is in the Box and What Is Not
EGO’s manual lists the contents of the HPW2100 box, and the list is generous for a compact machine. It also marks the edge of the purchase, because the battery pack and the charger are not on it.
- Washer and hoses: the pressure washer unit, one high-pressure hose with a quick-coupler collar at each end, and one siphon hose.
- Gun and wand: one short pressure gun and one stainless steel wand, plus a quick-coupler joint for the water outlet port.
- Accessories: one foam cannon, one filter and one nozzle cleaning needle.
- Nozzles: 15, 25 and 40 degree nozzles and a Turbo nozzle, one of each.
According to EGO, three items are sold separately: a nozzle kit that adds a rinse nozzle, a brass foam cannon and a pump protector for winterizing. The manual also says the product requires assembly, and I describe that work in the setup section below.
EGO’s manual says to use the washer only with the battery packs and chargers it lists. The packs run from the BA1400 to the BA6720T and the BA4480X, with an FC version of each, and the chargers include the CH2100, CH3200, CH5500, CH2800D, CH7000 and CH7000T. That list decides which EGO pressure washer battery you buy, so match the model number on a pack you already own against it first.
Specs as EGO Prints Them
Two rows decide this purchase, the power source row and the weight row. The rest are EGO’s maximum ratings and its parts list.
| Spec | EGO HPW2100 |
|---|---|
| Washer type | 56V lithium-ion battery (cordless) pressure washer, cold water |
| Pressure, EGO’s maximum rating | 2100 PSI |
| Water flow, EGO’s maximum rating | 1.2 GPM with the stainless steel wand connected, 1.3 GPM with only the short pressure gun connected |
| Power source | One 56V ARC Lithium battery pack; battery and charger not included |
| Hose and cord | High-pressure hose with a quick-coupler collar at each end, siphon hose included, no power cord; hose length not listed |
| Nozzles and detergent | 15, 25 and 40 degree and Turbo nozzles; foam cannon with a detergent knob; siphon hose for a bucket |
| Weight, without battery pack | 20.4 lb (hoses and accessories not specified) |
| Warranty | Not listed for this model |
The manual says TURBO use may shorten the runtime per charge, and it prints no runtime figure. The washer also turns itself off after 5 minutes of standby, according to the manual.
Safety Before You Touch Anything
A pressure washer is a pump that turns a garden hose into a narrow stream, and a battery washer adds a lithium-ion pack to that. This section holds the steps I follow before any hands-on task, and the rest of the page points back to the box below.
Safe-State Box
Emergency first, for a washer with a battery: if you notice an unusual odor, a change in color, too much heat, a change in shape, leaking or odd noises from a lithium-ion battery, stop using the washer and follow your battery manual’s emergency instructions. Stop and make safe before you connect or disconnect a hose, change a nozzle, wand or accessory, clear a clogged nozzle, clean a filter, add detergent, charge or change a battery, drain the washer, move it, store it or leave it. Release the trigger and engage the trigger lock on the spray gun. Battery washer: turn the washer off and wait until all moving parts have stopped. Every washer, after the steps above for your type: follow your manual’s water-supply shutdown and pressure-relief procedure. Point the gun away from people, pets and electrical equipment at a discharge location your manual and the detergent label permit. Disengage the trigger lock, squeeze the trigger to relieve the trapped pressure as the manual directs, then engage the lock again. Then remove the battery from a battery washer as your manual directs and keep it away from the washer while you work. Do not disconnect hoses or change nozzles before the pressure is relieved. If the manual’s procedure does not release the pressure, stop and get service; do not loosen a fitting to release it. Only then disconnect hoses or change nozzles. Where your manual gives a different order for these steps, follow your manual’s order. Follow every applicable step in your manual, in the order it specifies, and check that every hose, fitting and nozzle is attached and undamaged before water or power goes back on.
EGO’s manual gives two orders, and the box above governs both. At the end of use, EGO says to release the trigger and press the lock-off button to the lock position, turn the washer off, and close the faucet or take the siphon hose out of the bucket. You then unlock the lock-off button and squeeze the trigger to empty the hoses, disconnect the gun, hoses, wand, nozzles and foam cannon, power the washer on briefly until water stops flowing from the ports, power it off and remove the battery pack.
For changing attachments, servicing or cleaning, EGO says separately to remove the battery pack first. So for a nozzle change or any service, relieve the pressure as the box says, then remove the battery pack before you touch the nozzle, the wand or a fitting. If your manual’s text and this page ever differ, follow the manual.
Read the pressure washer’s manual before you connect water or power, and follow it. Its warnings, its operator rules and its steps for your exact model come before anything in this article. EGO’s own warning reads “Read all the instructions before using the product,” and it adds that close supervision is necessary when the product is used near children.
Never point the spray at yourself, another person, a pet or any part of the body. Keep your hands and feet away from the nozzle and the stream. Get medical care without delay for a spray wound, even if it looks minor at first. Tell the clinician that a pressure washer caused the injury.
EGO’s manual carries the same caution: “Risk of Injury – Do Not Direct Discharge Stream At Persons.” A case report of a washer injection injury describes infection, compartment syndrome and in some cases amputation (1), and another report describes a finger injury at close range that showed no fracture on X-ray and still needed emergency surgery (2).
Wear safety glasses or goggles and closed footwear when you operate the washer, and put them on before you start; where your manual requires goggles, side shields or a face shield, that requirement replaces the minimum here. Follow the manual’s additional protective-equipment requirements, including hearing protection where the manual requires it, and the detergent label’s requirements when you handle detergent. Keep your hands and feet away from the spray. Protective equipment does not make contact with the stream safe.
A case series of three patients with eye injuries after pressure washer use reports open globe injuries, surgery in all three and poor final vision (3).
Engage the trigger lock on the spray gun whenever you stop spraying, even for a moment, before you set the gun down, and before you walk away or change position. Disengage the lock only for controlled spraying or for the manual’s pressure-relief procedure, with the gun pointed in a safe direction.
EGO calls its lock the lock-off button and says it helps to prevent accidental activation of the trigger. Hold the gun with both hands, as EGO’s start step says, and keep good footing and balance at all times, as its warning says. Start the stream away from your feet and from anyone else, and never swing the gun toward people or pets as you turn.
Use only the battery and the charger the maker specifies for your exact pressure washer, and charge, store and handle them only as your manual describes. Before you change or charge the battery, follow the emergency exception and the applicable stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box. Lithium-ion batteries can overheat and catch fire (thermal runaway), so do not use a damaged battery or charger. If you notice an unusual odor, a change in color, too much heat, a change in shape, leaking or odd noises from a battery, stop using it and follow your battery manual’s emergency instructions.
OSHA’s fact sheet on lithium-ion batteries describes thermal runaway as a hazard that can end in fire, explosion and the release of chemical byproducts, and it lists following the manufacturer’s instructions for storage, use, charging and maintenance as a control (4). EGO adds that exposure to fire or temperatures above 265 F (130 C) may cause an explosion, and that you should always remove the battery pack when the washer is not in use.
Keep children, pets and other people away from the work area while the machine runs, and never let a child use the machine. Store the washer and its battery where children cannot reach them.
If someone is hit by the stream, get medical care without delay, even if the wound looks small. Should someone swallow a cleaning product or gets it in the eyes, follow the label’s first-aid section and call Poison Control (America’s Poison Centers) at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for a fire or immediate danger.
Setup and First Start
Before you connect or disconnect any hose, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box above. With the battery out, I screwed the quick-coupler joint onto the water outlet port first. Then I pulled back one collar of the high-pressure hose and clicked it on, and the collar clicked home without any fuss.
According to EGO, a garden hose should run for 30 seconds first, and you inspect the metal mesh in the inlet port and uncoil the hose before you connect it. A bucket works too, with the siphon hose and the filter fully immersed. EGO’s manual is blunt on the source: “NEVER use hot water or water from pools, lakes, etc.” It also says not to start the washer without the water supply connected and turned on, because that may damage the high-pressure seals and decrease pump life.
EGO’s manual says not to connect the washer to the potable water mains. Make sure every connection is tight before each use. EGO warns that a loose quick-coupler collar on either end of the high-pressure hose may cause a burst under high pressure and personal injury. Inspect the high-pressure hose, the spray gun and every fitting before each use, as the manual describes, and do not use a damaged part.
Replace a damaged high-pressure hose; never repair or patch it. Connect the hoses and turn on the water before you start the machine, and start it in the order the manual specifies. EGO’s start order runs like this:
- Connect the hoses, the gun and the nozzle, then the wand, the foam cannon and the filter, as your setup needs.
- Turn on the water supply.
- Insert the battery pack and press the power button.
- Hold the gun with both hands, press the unlock side of the lock-off button, then squeeze the trigger until a steady water flow is produced.
The battery step is where I slowed down. I lifted the hinged cover, lined up the grooves and pushed the pack in until it clicked, then looked at the latch before I touched the power button. EGO’s manual says to make sure the latch in the battery compartment snaps into place and the pack is secured to the unit before starting operation. I follow that line every time.
EGO says not to use the washer in bad weather, especially when there is a risk of lightning. Its operating temperature range runs from 41 to 104 F. The IPX5 water-jet rating applies only when the battery compartment is properly closed.
Handling, Nozzles and the Foam Cannon
The controls are few, and the safe use of each one is in EGO’s manual. I go through the three I handled most: the lock-off button, the nozzle collar and the foam cannon.
Lock-Off Button and Two-Hand Grip
With the gun aimed at a discharge location the manual permits, away from people and pets, I pressed the unlock side of the lock-off button with my thumb and kept both hands on the gun. The button has to be released before the trigger moves, which is the manual’s design, and it kept me from pulling the trigger by accident while I was repositioning my grip. EGO shows one, two or three green lights for the low, high and TURBO speeds.
Changing a Nozzle
Before you change a nozzle, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box above. Then I pulled back the wand’s quick-coupler collar, pushed the nozzle in until it clicked and gave it a tug, as the manual says to do to make sure it is securely attached. EGO lists the nozzles as 15, 25, 40 degree and Turbo, and the manual’s nozzle table gives the use of each one.
Use only the nozzles and accessories your manual permits, following its instructions for the job. Never direct any nozzle at skin, people or animals. A nozzle that gives a weak, uneven or pulsing stream may be blocked. Complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box, then clear the nozzle only with the tool and the method your manual describes; EGO includes a nozzle cleaning needle for that. Never look into the nozzle or point it at anyone to check it.
Foam Cannon and Detergent
Before you add detergent or connect or adjust a detergent accessory, complete the applicable stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box above. The foam cannon snaps onto the gun directly, and a knob on the cannon sets the amount of detergent, according to EGO. I like that the control is one knob on the cannon, with nothing to find under the washer’s cover. For home car washing, I compare nine models in my pressure washers for cars roundup.
Use only the detergents your manual allows, through the detergent system the manual describes, and read the detergent label before you open it. EGO’s warning says to use only detergents specifically made for use with pressure washers and to follow the detergent maker’s application, disposal and safety instructions. Wear the protective equipment the detergent label requires, and avoid contact of detergent with your eyes and skin.
Do not run a detergent that your manual does not name through the pump. EGO also says the detergent must not be hotter than 140 F (60 C).
Living With It, Carrying and Battery Care
Before you move the washer, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box above. The HPW2100 has no wheels, so the built-in handle is how it moves. EGO’s manual puts the unit at 20.4 lb without a battery pack, and the handle sits over the body where the translucent battery cover is. I carried it by that handle between the water supply and the work area, and it hung level enough that the hoses did not drag on the ground. The manual’s transport line also asks you to protect the washer from impact. My portable pressure washer picks cover nine cordless and corded models you can move around.
The battery is the part you live with. EGO’s manual says to recharge only with the charger specified by the manufacturer and not to charge the battery pack or the appliance outside the temperature range given in the instructions. Charging time and the temperature range are in the battery manual. Keep a removed battery away from the washer while you work.
Before you store the pressure washer, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box above. When I put it away, I rolled the hoses and strapped them with the hose holder straps on the body, set the nozzles in the nozzle storage and slid the gun and wand into their holder brackets. EGO says to store the washer in a dry, well-ventilated area, locked up or up high, out of the reach of children, and away from fertilizers, gasoline and other chemicals.
Before you drain the washer or winterize it, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box above. Then follow the winterizing section of EGO’s manual in its own order, including the pump protector, which is sold separately; I do not shorten that sequence here. The manual also warns against hard water and asks for periodic flushing and descaling, so do the maintenance your manual describes, in the order it describes it, and do not use a part or an accessory the maker does not name.
Who the EGO HPW2100 Suits and Who Should Skip It
The deciding question is the battery. The washer pays off for an owner of EGO 56-volt equipment. If you are still deciding between battery and corded power, my compact pressure washer roundup compares seven small models.
- Suits you if you own a compatible EGO battery and charger and want a compact washer with a foam cannon.
- Suits you if you want a machine that carries by a built-in handle, at 20.4 lb without a battery pack.
- Skip it if you must buy a battery and a charger only for this washer.
- Skip it if you need a printed runtime before you buy, since EGO’s manual prints none.
Where the EGO HPW2100 Falls Short
The weak points are about what the box leaves out and what the manual leaves unsaid, and none of them is a surprise once you know them.
- Tool only: the real cost is the washer plus an EGO battery and charger, so a new EGO owner buys three items.
- One pack: the washer accommodates a single battery pack, so there is no second pack in the machine to swap in.
- No printed runtime: EGO’s manual gives none, and TURBO use may shorten it per charge.
- Rinse nozzle sold separately: the box holds four nozzles, and the rinse nozzle comes with the separate nozzle kit.
- Hard water: EGO’s manual forbids hard water use and asks for flushing and descaling.
- Weight with a battery: EGO prints 20.4 lb without a battery pack and gives no with-battery weight.
How the EGO HPW2100 Compares
The nearest alternative is another EGO. The larger HPW3200 family is a two-battery machine, and its kit is sold on Amazon as the HPW3204-2. My EGO HPW3204 against HPW2100 comparison sets the two side by side.
EGO HPW3204-2 Kit
| Spec | EGO HPW2100 | EGO HPW3200 family |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure, EGO’s maximum rating | 2100 PSI | 3200 PSI |
| Battery packs the washer accepts | One | Two |
| Weight, without battery pack | 20.4 lb | 36.2 lb |
Pick the HPW3204-2 kit if you want a two-battery machine and plan to buy the batteries with it. Choose the HPW2100 if you want the one-battery compact tool and already own a pack. The two rows of weights share one basis, the unit without a battery pack, which keeps the comparison fair.
Common Problems and How to Prevent Them
Most problems come from water supply, connections and the battery, and each has a manual-based fix. For any of them, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box above before you put a hand near the washer.
- Weak, uneven or pulsing stream: the nozzle may be blocked. Complete the safe-state box steps, then clear it with the needle and the method EGO’s manual describes.
- Leak at a fitting or a bulging hose: stop and complete the safe-state box steps, then inspect. Replace a bulging or damaged high-pressure hose, never repair or patch it, and get qualified service for any other repair before you resume on the manual’s conditions.
- Washer started without water: EGO says this may damage the high-pressure seals and decrease pump life, so connect and turn on the water first.
- Battery with an odor, a color change, too much heat, a change in shape, leaking or odd noises: stop using the washer and follow your battery manual’s emergency instructions.
- Hard water scale: do the flushing and descaling the manual describes.
My Final Verdict on the EGO HPW2100
The HPW2100 is a compact, hand-carried battery washer with a foam cannon and four nozzles in the box. I recommend it to EGO battery owners. Whichever pack you use, complete the safe-state box steps before every hands-on task. That is where my EGO HPW2100 review lands: a clear yes for the owner who already has the batteries. I compare nine corded and battery models in my pressure washers for home use roundup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does EGO make a pressure washer?
EGO makes the HPW2100, a 56-volt lithium-ion battery pressure washer that its operator’s manual describes in full detail. The version reviewed here is sold as a tool only, so you still need to add a compatible EGO battery pack and a charger from the manual’s list before the washer will run.
Does the EGO HPW2100 come with a battery and charger?
The EGO HPW2100 comes without a battery and without a charger, because both the listing title and the manual’s packing list show a tool only. You need an EGO 56-volt battery pack and a charger from the manual’s list, and you buy both separately before the washer will run at all.
Which EGO batteries work with the HPW2100?
EGO’s manual lists the BA1400, BA2800, BA4200, BA1400T, BA2242T, BA2800T, BA3360T, BA4200T, BA4480T, BA5600T, BA6720T and BA4480X packs, each with an FC version. Use only a pack and a charger from that list, and check the model number printed on the pack against your manual before you buy it and put it in the washer.
Does the EGO HPW2100 have a foam cannon?
The EGO HPW2100 has a foam cannon in the box, and the manual’s packing list shows a siphon hose and four nozzles beside it. Before you fill the cannon, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box above, then use only a detergent made for pressure washers that the manual allows.
Is the EGO HPW2100 the same as the HPW2105?
The HPW2105 is a separate catalogue name, and EGO’s HPW2105 product page links the same operator’s manual as the HPW2100, so the two belong to one family of washers. Compare the packing list of the exact model before you buy, because the HPW2100 reviewed here ships without a battery or charger.
References
- Funato N, Sugizaki Y, Ri Y, Ichibayashi R. High-pressure injection damage caused by a high-pressure washer. Cureus. 2024;16(1):e52498. doi:10.7759/cureus.52498
- Choi JH, Choi SY, Hwang JH, Kim KS, Lee SY. Finger compartment syndrome due to a high-pressure washer injury: a case report. World J Clin Cases. 2023;11(13):3017-3021. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i13.3017
- Placide J, Yang MY, Gross AW, Crowell EL. Case series: traumatic ocular lacerations secondary to pressure washers. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2022;27:101612. doi:10.1016/j.ajoc.2022.101612
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Lithium-ion Battery Safety. Fact Sheet DTSEM FS-4480. US Department of Labor; January 2025.
Safety Note: Read your pressure washer’s manual before you connect water or power, and follow it. Never point the spray at yourself, another person, a pet or any part of the body. Keep hands and feet away from the nozzle and stream. Get medical care without delay for a spray wound, even if it looks minor at first. Tell the clinician that a pressure washer caused the injury. Wear safety glasses or goggles and closed footwear before operating the washer, plus any additional protection required by the manual and the detergent label. Follow the manual’s instructions for the trigger lock, grip, footing and recoil, and engage the trigger lock whenever you stop spraying. Use only the nozzles, accessories and detergents the manual permits, and never point any nozzle at skin, people or animals. Do not perform a task at height without instructions expressly permitting the equipment and method in the exact manual. Gas models: operate outdoors, never inside a building or a partly enclosed space. Keep the engine at least 20 feet from any window, door or vent, following CDC’s pressure washer guidance and any stricter manual requirement. Exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which cannot be seen or smelled and can kill. Opening doors or windows does not make indoor operation safe. Refuel only with the engine off and cool, following the manual. Corded models: use the manual’s specified electrical supply and GFCI protection, and test the GFCI before use according to its instructions. After an operating GFCI or breaker trip, do not reuse the washer until a qualified repair person has examined it. Where the washer has a grounding prong, connect it to a properly grounded receptacle and never remove the prong. Wear closed, rubber-soled footwear that provides some electrical insulation, plus any additional footwear required by the manual; footwear does not replace GFCI protection or the other electrical precautions. Never cut or splice cords. Use an extension cord only as the manual permits. Keep connections dry and away from runoff, standing water and the washing area, and keep spray away from electrical equipment. Battery models: use only the battery and charger the maker specifies for your exact model. Emergency first: if you notice an unusual odor, a change in color, too much heat, a change in shape, leaking or odd noises from a lithium-ion battery, stop using the washer and follow your battery manual’s emergency instructions. Otherwise, complete the applicable stop and make-safe procedure before hose, nozzle, wand or accessory work, clearing a blockage, cleaning, maintenance, refueling, checking oil, adding detergent, battery changes or charging, draining, moving, transporting, storing or leaving the washer. Follow your exact manual’s procedure and order. Release the trigger and engage its lock. Gas: switch the engine off and wait for it to stop; disconnect the spark plug wire before service as the manual directs, and let hot parts cool before refueling, storage or contact. Corded: switch off and unplug by the plug with dry hands. Battery: switch off, remove a removable battery as the manual directs and keep it away while working; for a built-in battery, follow the manual’s isolation procedure and do not open the battery compartment. Complete the manual’s water-supply shutdown and pressure-relief steps: point the gun in a safe direction at a permitted discharge location, disengage the trigger lock, squeeze the trigger as directed to relieve pressure, then reengage the lock. Do not disconnect hoses or change nozzles until pressure is relieved. If pressure cannot be relieved by the prescribed procedure, obtain service without loosening fittings. Refit and inspect parts before restoring water or power. Replace a damaged high-pressure hose; never repair or patch it. Before you wash, plan how to keep wash water, detergent and debris out of streets, storm drains, ditches and streams, and check with your city or county stormwater office about collection and disposal. Send wash water to landscaping only where local rules and the detergent label permit it and the soil can absorb it without runoff or contamination. Keep children and pets away, and never let a child use the machine. Drain and store the washer as its manual directs. For exposure to a cleaning product, follow the label’s first-aid instructions and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for a fire or immediate danger.