you have to get special high pressure hose if your going to hook it up for your pressure washer you have to get a whole bunch of special fittings from the karcher pressure washer company. with the pressure washer, you get more water coming out in a mist as opposed to just a garden hose making mist you get a lot more at high pressure, it is easier for the water to freeze to, just a little difference, i have used both. how many cfm is your compressor