We guided you earlier with the pressure washer buying guide and suggested the electric power washers on the market. Now, this article will help you tackle some common Pressure Washer problems during day-to-day use and some pressure washer repair techniques.
Sometimes, even the best pressure washers can break down. This can be extremely frustrating, especially if your pressure washer breaks down while in use. Sometimes, the problems are minor and can be fixed at home in just a few minutes, but other times, the problems are too complicated to fix at home.
In this case, you must take your pressure washer to service centers specializing in pressure washer repair. We have compiled a list of common problems that affect most pressure washers.
Our professionals have also included ways to troubleshoot your pressure washer to determine the cause of the problem so you can fix it.
20 Common Pressure Washer Repairs
Pressure Related Problems
1. Low pressure: If you are experiencing low pressure, there’s insufficient water inlet or not using the correct size nozzles. To fix this, use the correct size nozzles. A kinked or blocked hose might cause low pressure. Un-kink and unblock the garden hose for maximum water flow.
2. No pressure: If there’s no pressure in your washer, check whether the pump inlet and un-loader valves are faulty. If the inlet and un-loader valves are clogged, try to clean them, but if that does not work, simply replace them with new valves.
3. Pulsating pressure: If you are experiencing a variation in water pressure, it is likely that your pump is faulty or has sucked up too much air. If it has sucked up too much air, dispel the air by squeezing the trigger when the machine is turned off.
4. Spiking pressure: This is caused by a poorly calibrated un-loader valve. Adjust the un-loader valve as the washer’s manual instructed to get normal pressure.
5. Pressure drops: This problem is caused by a blocked nozzle. Unblock the nozzles using a sharp needle.
6. Pressure washer not cleaning surfaces: This probably means using the wrong nozzle. Try using a high-pressure nozzle to get maximum pressure.
Water Leakage Problems
7. Pump leakage: If your pump leaks, it means one of two things. Either the pressure seals in your pump are broken or damaged, or the thermal valve is activated. If the seals are broken, simply replace them, and if the thermal valve has been activated, simply switch off the washer and wait for it to cool down before you use it again.
8. Garden hose leaking: Tighten the garden hose to prevent it from leaking.
9. Spray wand or connections leaking: The O-rings inside the hose connections may be broken. If this is the case, replace the O-rings or spray wand.
Gas Powered Pressure Washer Problems
10. The engine will not ignite: If your washer’s engine does not ignite, it means it has no gas. Simply add the gas to ignite. It could also mean the spark plugs are faulty; in that case, you should replace them.
11. Engine stalls while in use: A dirty oil filter or low oil level may cause a running engine to stall. Install a new air filter and increase the oil to correct this problem.
12. The engine is producing insufficient power: If your engine is not running at the correct RPMs, it could produce insufficient power. If so, detach the pump and calibrate the RPMs to match the engine specifications.
13. Oil leakage: Replace the worn-out seals, causing the oil to spill.
14. Water is mixed with oil: This means the pistons are either worn out or broken. When water mixes with oil in the engine, it causes the engine to knock, so it’s advisable to replace the engine (under warranty) or buy a new pressure washer.
Electric Pressure Washer Problems
15. Washer won’t ignite: If the connections are inserted properly, but the motor will not start, it means the motor might be faulty, so you need to replace it.
16. Motor stalls while in use: This happens whenever you’re experiencing low/fluctuating voltage. Correct the problem before the voltage damages your pressure washer.
Other common problems
17. Faulty detergent injector: If the detergent injector is not working properly, it is possible the soap inlet filter or the soap inlet valve is clogged. If the soap inlet filter is clogged, remove it and flush it with water to unclog it. If the soap inlet valve is clogged, use a sharp needle to un-stick the ball valve. Also, check whether the detergent solution is too dense to pass through the detergent injector pump.
18. Pressure fluctuations: If the pressure fluctuates, check the unloader valve. It is possible that the unloader valve is broken or not properly installed. Replace or install it properly and remove dirt, if any.
19. Excess noise: It can be due to no oil present in the engine or pump. Check for that and add some oil to the machine. Sometimes, it makes noise because the water intake is blocked. Check for that and clear it or replace it accordingly.
20. Oil Leakage: This one is quite common. This is due to loose bolts or damaged seals. Look for loose bolts/fittings and tighten them properly. If you see any seal broken, claim your warranty; do not try to open it.
How to Fix 6 General Pressure Washer Problems
You bought a new pressure washer, but it stopped working after a few weeks. Don’t panic. It’s not a big deal. Here are some common problems that occur while using a pressure washer and some really quick tips and tricks to handle those problems.
1. Pressure Washer Won’t Start
Here are some of the reasons why your gas-powered pressure washer won’t start:
- Worn-out spark plugs: If the spark plug is damaged or has accumulated heavy carbon buildup at its electrode, it is time to replace it. You can also use a spark plug tester to establish if the spark plug is defective. If it doesn’t produce a spark, you should replace it.
- Clogged carburetor: If fuel is left in a washer for a long time, some of its components evaporate, leaving a denser substance behind, which clogs the carburetor and keeps the engine from igniting. Use a carburetor cleaner to eliminate the clogged fuel substances.
- Defective ignition coil: An ignition coil is defective if it keeps sending voltage to the plugs while the engine is still running. Use a tester to determine if the ignition coil is defective and then replace it if it’s indeed defective.
- Sheered flywheel key: A flywheel key is a small piece of metal mounted on the crankshaft and used to turn the flywheel. Remove the flywheel from the engine and inspect it to see if the flywheel key is broken. If it’s broken, then it’s time to replace it.
2. Pressure Washer Runs Rough
Here are some of the common reasons why your pressure washer runs rough;
- Clogged carburetor: You need to clean the carburetor with a carburetor cleaner. If this does not work, try rebuilding the carburetor or replacing it with a new carburetor.
- Clogged fuel filter: You must drain the leftover fuel in the tank and replace the filter to ensure smoother operation.
- Clogged gas cap: When the gas cap is clogged, it does not allow air into the gas tank, and that causes a massive buildup of pressure. When this pressure exceeds the pressure in the engine area, the engine will run poorly. Unclog the gas cap or replace it to get a smoothly running engine.
- Clogged air filter: Replace a clogged air filter to allow enough air into the engine.
3. Pressure Washer Starts Then Stalls
Here are some of the reasons why your carburetor stalls when in use;
- Clogged carburetor: Try cleaning the carburetor. If this does not work, try rebuilding it or replacing the carburetor.
- Clogged fuel filter: Try cleaning the fuel filter to supply the engine with enough fuel. If this does not work, try replacing it.
- Clogged air filter: If your air filter is clogged, it might cause the engine to stall. But since you cannot clean it, the only solution is to replace it with a new filter.
- Clogged spark arrestor: A clogged spark arrestor can cause an engine to stall, so remove it and clean it with a brush. You can also replace it if cleaning fails.
4. Pressure Washer Leaking Water
Three potential problems could cause your pressure washer to start leaking water. They are:
- Leaky pump assembly: If you have an old pressure washer, it may be time to replace the pump assembly, but if your washer is relatively new, replace the pump seals to prevent water from leaking.
- Leaky pump: A pump leaks due to wear in the seals, letting water seep out. If your washer is old, you can sort this problem by replacing the pump seal or buying a new one altogether.
- Thermal release valve: This valve operates by allowing hot water to exit the washer if the water becomes excessively hot. So when you let your pressure washer run idle, it generates heat, which in turn heats the water inside the pump. When this happens, the thermal release valve opens to dispel the excessively hot water.
5. Pressure Washer Soap Injector Not Working
A chemical injection kit contains a mechanism that injects chemicals/detergent into the water to produce a soapy solution. When it is not working, you need to replace it with a new soap injector.
6. Pressure Washer Has No Pressure
If your pressure washer has lost all its pressure, there could be two potential problems. They are:
- Faulty pump assembly: If your pump assembly is faulty, the washer will struggle to produce any pressure. Therefore, you need to rebuild the pressure assembly to ensure no pressure is lost due to the damaged or worn-out seals. These seals help maintain the high-pressure levels within the pump, and if they are damaged or worn out, they let some of the pressure escape.
- Faulty pump: If your pump is faulty, it will struggle to produce enough pressure. If the pump has a fixable problem, you don’t need to replace it, but it may be time to replace it if it is unfixable.
Instructions on How To Correct The Tricky Issues
Here are four sure ways to fix the tricky issues you’re having with your pressure washer at home. These steps should take you 10 minutes or less to complete.
- Check water supply: Open the water supply valve to ensure it is not clogged or blocked. If clogged, unblock it to ensure there’s enough water flow in the pump.
- Check hose for kinks: It can be frustrating to set up your pressure washer correctly only to realize much later on, that the problem lies within the inlet hose. If the inlet hose has kinks, it will not deliver water to the pressure, and you’ll end up feeling frustrated. Therefore, always check for kinks in the hose to ensure this does not happen to you.
- Release air from a system: When a lot of air has been built up in the pump, it may prevent your pressure washer from operating at optimal levels. To ensure that air does not build up in the pressure washer, always turn the garden hose on and connect it to the washer. This helps eliminate all the air that had built up in the washer’s pump.
- Ensure the correct nozzle and nozzle are not clogged: Nozzles collect debris over time, which might lead to decreased water flow and increased pressure within the system. When this occurs, use a needle to clear the passageway of the nozzles to remove any debris for maximum water flow within the system.
Final Words: Common Pressure Washer Issues
As you can see, it is easy to troubleshoot and diagnose the issues in your pressure washer. Luckily, most problems are easy to fix, even for people who do not have handy tools. Whenever you experience a minor problem with your pressure washer, revert to this pressure washer repair guide to diagnose the problem before taking it to a service center or repair store.
Related: How to maintain a Pressure Cleaner?
