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Bosch Fontus 18V review

Battery powered pressure cleaner. Priced at $498.

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CHOICE Expert Rating

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CHOICE Expert Rating

This is the product's overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.

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The product's best features and benefits

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Drawbacks or issues you need to know about
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Type View more details.

Electric pressure cleaners draw their power from a standard home power plug, while battery-powered pressure cleaners are cordless. In our experience testing these models, the battery life only lasts long enough for small cleaning jobs.

Battery powered
Recommended View more details.

We recommend pressure cleaners with a CHOICE Expert Rating of least 80%.

CHOICE Expert Rating View more details.

This overall score is made up of cleaning performance (60%) and ease of use (40%).

Cleaning performance score View more details.

Each cleaner is tested on a concrete path (for our 2021 test) or a sandstone path (for tests prior to 2021). This is a tough test, allowing our expert tester to rate how well the pressure cleaners clean the path. He uses each cleaning nozzle supplied and times how long it takes to clean with each. The fastest time is used as the basis of the cleaning performance score. 

Ease of use score View more details.

We rate ease of manoeuvring, taking into account hose length, unit weight and ease of wheeling or carrying if the unit doesn't have wheels. We also assess ease of cleaning, checking the length of the handle/lance, vibrations and trigger comfort.

Ease of cleaning score View more details.

Our expert rates ease of cleaning based on trigger comfort, length of the lance and vibration.

Ease of manoeuvring score View more details.

Our expert rates how easy the pressure cleaner is to move around.

Noise (dB) View more details.

We measure the noise of the cleaner at the user's position, approximately one metre from the unit. The noise produced by each nozzle is measured and we publish the highest noise level here.

Year tested View more details.

Due to a change in test conditions, models are comparable according to year tested. We may retest models from previous tests to bring results in line with current conditions.

Price View more details.

The price we paid or the recommended retail price at the time of testing.

$498
Items supplied
Cleaner, gun, high pressure hose, brush attachment for gun, instructions. Battery and charger sold separately.
Weight (kg) View more details.

The measured weight, including the hose, gun, lance and attachments that are stored/attached to the unit.

7.7
Reach from power point (m) View more details.

The distance from power point to nozzle tip at full stretch.

N/A
Length of hose (m) View more details.

The length of the hose from the pressure cleaner's body to the nozzle.

4.15
Power (rated, W)
18V Battery
Water delivery (L/min) View more details.

How much water the pressure cleaner delivers per minute (in litres).

1.8
Claimed water consumption (L/hour) View more details.

The manufacturers' claimed water consumption. We state the 'working' figures (not the 'maximum' figures) as noted in the manufacturer's manual. These figures can also be referred to as 'rated' or 'nominal'.

108
Claimed operating pressure (bar) View more details.

The manufacturer's claimed water pressure at the nozzle, in bar. We don't measure this. We state the 'working' figures (not the 'maximum' figures) as noted in the manufacturer's manual. These figures can also be referred to as 'rated' or 'nominal'. 

20
Claimed operating pressure (psi) View more details.

The manufacturer's claimed water pressure at the nozzle, in psi (if we don't have this figure, we convert the claimed operating pressure in bar to psi). We state the 'working' figures (not the 'maximum' figures) as noted in the manufacturer's manual. These figures can also be referred to as 'rated' or 'nominal'.

290.076
Warranty (years) View more details.

Some manufacturers extend the warranty period if you register the product. This is shown in the table with a "+" symbol.

2 + 1
Country of origin
China
Website
bosch-diy.com/au
Nozzles View more details.

These are the nozzles supplied with the unit. They control the spray of water and each one is ideal for cleaning different surfaces.


All on single gun: pencil jet, 15° fan, 50° fan, shower jet, brush attachment
Trigger-off lock
Yes
Detergent bottle View more details.

Whether the pressure cleaner comes with a detergent bottle. This is used to hold the cleaning detergent which the pressure washer mixes with water before dispersing. When we test performance, we only test using water in order to provide directly comparable results, but a detergent may help for some types of stubborn stains.

No
On-board tool storage View more details.

Whether the pressure washer can store the various tools/accessories it comes with.

Yes
Wheels
Yes
Rotary brush View more details.

This is a useful attachment for paths and patios and is sometimes an optional extra.

No
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