Consciousness of Stream

Stay on top of routine maintenance to extend the life of your pressure washer

In countless shops and garages from Albuquerque to Albany, at least one nonworking pressure washer sits in the corner, collecting dust after weeks, months, even years of neglect. The machine stopped working perfectly one day and was simply brushed aside to make room for a newer, shinier model. Sound familiar?

But this doesn’t have to happen. When properly maintained, a pressure washer can easily be expected to last anywhere from 5 to 10 and even 20 years. Armed with the knowledge of basic maintenance techniques — and how and when to perform them — anyone can save their pressure washer from a short, unfulfilling life.

First things first

Before beginning a maintenance program, you must become familiar with the parts of the machine. Even experienced operators may not know what each part is and where it’s located on the machine. While all pressure washers do not have the same parts, they all have basic components including a pump, unloader, relief valve, hose, and gun assembly. For detailed descriptions and diagrams showing all parts of the machine, refer to the owner’s manual.

Also, considering it is a machine designed to clean, wouldn’t it make sense that the pressure washer itself should always be clean? It will be much easier to detect problems, such as hose damage and fluid leaks, on a clean machine. Now, follow tips to ensure your pressure washer stays in it for the long haul:

Before and after each use

Before each use, take a few minutes to inspect both the high-pressure hose and the supply hose for leaks, kinks, cuts and other abrasions or bulges. On electric units, the GFCI power cord should also be checked for visible damage.

Before starting the unit, check the pump oil and top off if necessary. If the machine is gas powered, check the engine oil and fuel level as well, adding as needed. Also, flush out the water system before installing the pressure tip at the end of the gun assembly to prevent dirt in the system from clogging the tip.

When you put away the washer at the end of the day, there may be one more cleaning task. If detergent was used, be sure to clean out the soap compound by running clear water through the injector.

Periodic maintenance

Daily preventative maintenance is the best way to extend the life of a pressure washer. But don’t neglect other periodic maintenance. The owner’s manual will provide specific maintenance timelines and details unique to each model. Depending on how often the machine is used, these checks may need to be done weekly, monthly or less frequently:

First, check the hose and fittings for water leaks. If you find a leak, change the hose or fitting. But remember, safety first. Shut the machine off before attempting to fix any leaks, as the line remains under high pressure and can injure the operator.

Next, turn your attention to the pump. There are two different kinds of pumps: belt drive or direct drive. Belt drive units require extra maintenance. With these, the user needs to check the belt occasionally for wear and correct tension.

If the unit is powered by an engine, the engine oil needs to be changed every 100 hours (or more frequently when operating in dirty conditions). For new washers, the oil should be changed after the first 20 hours. Also, regularly check the air filter and clean it if it becomes clogged or dirty. A dirty air filter can hurt performance and allow dirt to get inside the engine, which could damage and shorten the life of the engine.

Check the owner’s manual for more maintenance tips and recommendations.

To err is human

Operator error can be attributed to several problems with pressure washers, the most common and dangerous being the use of an insufficient power supply.

The National Electric Code dictates the power requirements on all machines. If a machine requires a 120-volt, 20-amp power draw, a 110-volt, 15-amp standard outlet may not be sufficient. If the user attempts to use a standard outlet anyway, the machine may not work at all. If it does work, this overload to the power source could eventually cause serious damage to the machine or even an electrical fire. Adjust the power supply as needed.

Another common mistake is choosing the wrong pressure washer tip size, hose type or trigger gun. Tips aren’t coded based on orifice size, but by the angle of the spray. This means the user must look for size information when choosing the tip to ensure it will fit the particular washer. Also, hoses are temperature rated specific to every type of washer. In other words, a hose rated for a cold pressure washer will not work for a hot pressure washer. Finally, all trigger guns are rated according to gpm flow, temperature and pressure. Be sure the gun has a compatible rating with the pressure washer.

Certain detergents are acceptable for use in pressure washers. Detergents are rated based on variances in temperature from machine to machine. Use a detergent with the proper temperature rating for your unit. Using the wrong kind of detergent in a hot washer will eventually plug the heating coil.

Finally, remember there is a reason companies manufacture both hot and cold pressure washers. Never use hot water in a machine designed only for cold, as this can damage the pump’s O-rings and gaskets.

A final word

Despite how easy maintenance is, most users don’t give it a single thought — that is until their machine stops working properly. Rather than waiting to deal with problems until they interrupt your work or require expensive repairs, stick to a basic maintenance schedule. Your pressure washer will thank you by providing years of consistent, powerful service. And think of the space you will save by not having to stack another machine in the dark corner of your shop.



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