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Whether you carry it in your hand, wear it on your back, or ride on it, small gasoline-powered tools are not leaving the marketplace anytime soon.
Battery-powered equipment has gained popularity among general consumers and trade professionals. There is legislation in some states that has threatened to cause some upheaval in the construction, landscaping, and other trade markets that depend on gas-powered units. Despite that, the small engine equipment market remains strong. These manufacturers continue to fuel numerous pieces of equipment for maximum productivity and ROI.
JENNY PRODUCTS
The gas-powered pressure washer market has seen a consistent trend over the years of a wide gulf in the quality of products available. Units of varied prices are advertised as having comparable specifications across the board, often leading to some customer confusion.
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| The Steam Jenny BDG-3045 cold pressure washer features a 13-horsepower Honda GX engine and delivers 3,000 psi at 4.5 gpm. |
“It remains critically important to look at the components used to build a given pressure washer,” said Dan Leiss, president of Jenny Products Inc.
He acknowledges that the market is flooded with cheap designs that carry similarly cheap price tags for some general consumers who are only pressure washing occasionally, purchasing such a machine could work out perfectly fine. In contrast, the higherpriced pressure washers will use high-quality components designed for years of heavy-duty service.
“The initial purchase price may be much higher, but the long-lasting performance provided will ultimately lead to a lower total cost of ownership for those who rely on their machines every single day,” Leiss said.
One key component to look for in a pressure washer is an industrial-grade pump made of highquality materials under tight tolerances. Some pressure washers have pumps rated to last less than 200 hours, whereas most industrial-level pressure washers are rated for at least 2,000 hours of pump life.
Leiss said engine size is another significant factor for pressure washers. He noted that even with a good pump, performance will suffer if it’s run by the wrong engine. For example, a unit that is rated to deliver 3,000 psi at 4 gpm will not reach that potential if the engine is undersized. Make sure there is ample power available to sufficiently drive the pump.
“We also continue to simplify maintenance in Steam Jenny machines,” Leiss said. “The easier we can make it for users to access components and change the pump oil/filters, the more likely owners will be able to follow suggested service intervals and keep the product performing properly for the long haul.”
HONDA POWER SPORTS & PRODUCTS
Honda Power Sports & Products, a business unit of American Honda Motor Co. Inc., markets a complete range of outdoor power equipment, including generators, walk-behind lawnmowers, pumps, snow blowers, tillers, string trimmers, outboard marine engines and small, general-purpose engines for residential, commercial and rental applications. The company is the world’s largest manufacturer of engines for a diverse array of products.
The Honda GX gas-powered commercial engines celebrated 40 years in 2023, remaining a popular choice for OEMs to utilize for their products. Today’s environment is shifting supply and demand toward zero-emission products.
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| The Honda eGX engine was launched in 2021 as a comparable option for OEMs and professionals to enter the battery-powered equipment market with a reduced investment. |
In 2021, Honda launched the Honda eGX, a high-power, three-phase brushless DC power unit that accommodates the needs of the construction machinery market. Operating with zero emissions, reduced noise, and no fuel, oil, or AC power, the engine enables equipment to be more compatible with indoor work environments and outdoor work sites near residential areas where low noise is an important factor.
Powered by lithium-ion batteries, the Honda eGX motor is designed to closely match the performance output of the conventional gasoline-powered Honda GX100 and GXR120 industrial engines.
Outside the eGX engine, Honda has introduced multiple battery-powered lawn and garden products in the past couple of years. The company provides users an opportunity to use the best source of power for each application by offering both internal combustion engines and battery-powered motors.
Overall, Honda Power Sports & Products’ focus is to drive the development of new products, new technologies, and a diversified power portfolio, transforming from a leading power equipment brand to a leading brand of lifestyle products that are environmentally responsible, reliable, convenient, and quiet with the same level of Honda OPE performance that the company has always offered.
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Generac’s Guardian 26kW generator provides 26 kilowatts of peak power, while taking up less space and offering thousands of dollars of savings on purchase and installation. |
GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS
Demand for backup power for homes and businesses is expected to only continue to grow through 2025 and beyond as power outages continue to increase due to extreme weather and aging grid infrastructure.
Chris Meece, senior director of channel management for the Consumer Power Group at Generac Power Systems, said this rise in demand will only increase the need for skilled contractors to install backup generators for homes and businesses.
“In an increasingly electrified world, the pulse of modern life runs on currents, from the phones in our pockets to the cars on our roads to the renewable grids powering our cities,” he said. “The shift to an electric future isn’t just about convenience; it’s about efficiency, sustainability, and the global chase to reduce our carbon footprint.”
As innovation accelerates, electricity has become the universally accepted fuel for homes, businesses, and more.
“It’s also shaping up as a strong opportunity for electrical contractors in more ways than one,” Meece said.
Based on data from Generac Power Systems, the United States had 1.4 billion hours of power outages in the first 11 months of 2024, the highest since 2010, when Generac started tracking the data. Additionally, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information has reported extreme weather as the cause for more than $1 billion in damage on over 20 separate occasions in 2024. These events included 15 severe storms, two hurricanes, a tropical cyclone, one wildfire, and two winter storms.
“Besides the cost of property damage, severe weather Can also damage critical power infrastructure, leaving many households and businesses without essential access to electricity,” Meece said, noting that home and business owners alike are increasingly considering backup power essential.
“We see home standby generators forming a key part of a larger home energy management system,” Meece said. “In response to higher power prices and lower power quality, homeowners will continue to integrate home standby generators with other devices in the home such as smart thermostats, solar and battery storage systems, and EV chargers, empowering the homeowner to take control of their home’s power generation and consumption.”
Installation of such equipment falls under the skilled trades, an area currently in a severe labor shortage. While many high school graduates are encouraged to pursue four-year degrees, the skilled trades offer equally rewarding and lucrative career opportunities, particularly in high-demand areas like generator installation.
Over the past few years, Generac has been a leader in efforts to attract new talent to the trades, specifically in the electrical area. Meece said in 2023, Generac partnered initially with the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) to upskill electricians in the IEC’s Rocky Mountain, Texas Gulf Coast, and Florida West Coast chapters, offering certified installer training to more than 3,000 field and apprentice contractors.
Building on that success, a total of eight IEC chapters will join in 2025 in programs where Generac will create the technical lesson content, spearhead the training of all program instructors, and provide all products and equipment necessary for the corresponding lessons.
“Generac’s effort to support the electrical trade comes when the skilled trade labor shortage is reaching critical levels, with demand for qualified electricians outpacing supply as the need for backup power systems and renewable energy installations continues to grow,” he said. “By investing in training and development, Generac will address an urgent workforce gap and empower a new generation of skilled tradespeople to secure well-paying, stable careers while supporting the evolving energy needs of communities across the country.”
He noted that by becoming a Generac-certified electrical contractor, graduates can significantly increase their skills and their client base as they navigate the market.
LEARN MORE
www.generac.com
www.jennyproductsinc.com
www.powerequipment.honda.com
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2025 issue of Contractor Supply magazine. Copyright, 2025 Direct Business Media.
CONTRACTOR SUPPLY MAGAZINE
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Our cover story, Building Better Relationships Safely, through its client and vendor relationships, Verona Safety Supply in Madison, Wisconsin, has been keeping a variety of industries safe since 1997.
Also in this issue are Industry Updates on Concrete Tools; Diamond Blades and Hole Saws; and Gas Engine Equipment.
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