We conducted multiple Facebook polls asking soft wash professionals which pump they preferred: Comet P40 or AR45 to determine the best soft wash pump in 2025.
Here are the results…
73% of soft wash professionals think the Comet P40 is better than the AR45 Soft Wash Pump. There you have it, the Comet P40 is clearly the most popular gas powered soft wash pump on the market – at least compared to the AR45.
What about the Comet P40 makes it so popular amongst soft wash professionals?
Background
I worked as an equipment technician for two years in South Florida, specializing in pressure and soft wash pumps and motors. Over time, you get a feel for which products last the longest and require the least maintenance based on how often you see them break down and come in for repair. When I started working on these pumps in 2021, the AR45 seemed to dominate the market. However, over time, the Comet P40 started gaining popularity for a couple reasons I will discuss later.
Whether you’re new to soft washing or a veteran with 20 seasons under your belt, you’re likely familiar with two of the most popular gas soft wash pumps on the market: the Comet P40 and the AR45 by Annovi Reverberi. Both Comet and Annovi Reverberi are respected companies with a long history in pressure systems. That said, if you have a pump that works well for your business, stick with it. As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Both of these gas-powered pumps are similar in terms of specs and price, but I wanted to break down the key similarities and differences between the Comet P40 and the Annovi Reverberi AR45 in three main areas:
- Specifications
- Reliability
- Maintenance
Specifications
When choosing the best soft wash pump in 2025, it’s important to consider specifications, reliability, and ease of maintenance. Both the Comet P40 and AR45 are designed to handle harsh chemicals, making them top choices for soft wash professionals.
Sodium hypochlorite is highly corrosive, which is why these two pumps stand out in the soft wash market. They feature:
- Polypropylene manifolds
- Viton seals
- Stainless steel bolts
- Chemical resistant diaphragms
These pumps typically come paired with a Honda GX200 (or a similarly spec’d engine).
Here are some numbers–
| Comet P40 | AR45 | |
| Max PSI | 300 | 290 |
| Max GPM | 11.5 | 11.4 |
| Recommended Working PSI | ~150 | ~150 |
| Output Size | 3/4″ | 1/2″ |
| Input Size | 1″ | 1 1/4″ |
| Bypass Size | 1/2″ | 3/4″ |
The Comet P40 and AR45 were designed with several industries in mind including soft washing, agricultural spraying, and pesticides.
Looking for a complete soft wash system? Check out our fully built soft wash sprayers designed for maximum efficiency and reliability!
A notable feature of the AR45 is its built-in port for a pressure gauge, which makes it easier to dial in your pressure. The older P40 models lack this feature, but the new P40 design now includes additional ports for a pressure gauge.
Note: We include a pressure gauge with every AR45 we sell but not all equipment suppliers do this.
Reliability
One key difference between the Comet P40 and AR45 is the manifold design. If you’ve worked with soft wash equipment before, you know that fewer parts mean fewer leaks.
- AR45: Features two opposing manifolds on either side of the pump, consisting of 12 total pieces.
- Comet P40: Uses a single, fully integrated manifold with just four pieces. ✅
Because of this, P40 pumps tend to experience fewer leaks, leading to fewer repair shop visits.
Maintenance
As you’ve probably guessed by now, the P40 is much easier to maintain than the AR45 due to its simpler design and accessibility.
The P40’s manifold is outward-facing, making it easier to access when you need to make repairs. On the other hand, the AR45’s inward-facing manifold (toward the engine) sometimes requires you to remove the pump to make repairs. This can be time-consuming.
In my experience, fixing a leak on an AR45 manifold can sometimes lead to another leak forming on a connecting piece, adding frustration to the repair process.
Diaphragm Accessibility
- Comet P40: All three diaphragms are easily accessible.
- AR45: Two diaphragms are accessible, but the third diaphragm is inconveniently located on the underside of the pump.
With the underside diaphragm on the AR45, you can’t see what you’re working on unless you use a mirror or remove the pump from the skid, making repairs more challenging.
Gearbox & Pump Oil
Both pumps use a gearbox to connect the pump to the motor, reducing engine RPMs for optimal performance. However, keep in mind that:
- The pump and gearbox require separate oil changes.
- DO NOT mix up pump oil with gear oil!
Conclusion
Overall, my recommendation is going to be the P40 because of its easy repairability and fewer leak points, but both options have their merits. If there is another pump that you think is better than the AR45 and P40, please let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page! We love to find out what is working best for you guys out in the field:)
If you are interested in purchasing one of these units you can find the product pages below.
