How to Troubleshoot Pressure Cleaners

Try not to use a puny, household extension cord if you can.

Pressure cleaners can be used to quickly clean large areas without scrubbing. They use a water supply, often from a garden hose, which they convert into a cleaning, high-pressure stream. Low pressure is one problem that hinders the cleaning functionality of a pressure cleaner. Problems with pressure are usually related to the hoses, nozzles and engine. Follow some troubleshooting steps to correct any problems with pressure cleaners.

Things You'll Need

• Plumbers wrench
• Teflon tape
• Thin wire
• Replacement hose
• Heavy duty extension cord

Instructions

1. Turn the pressure cleaner off and remove all the hoses and hose connections. Remove the nozzle from the wand and the wand from the hose. Use a plumber's wrench.

2. Inspect the fittings. You'll see o-rings. They are the little rubber rings that act as a seal between fittings. Replace them. They can get brittle and break or become deformed and cause leaks. Leaks reduce pressure.

3. Take a look at the hoses and straighten any kinks. Look for leaking water. Any leaks will cause a drop in pressure and a reduction in cleaning power which will cause more work for you. Replace any bad hoses rather than repairing them with duct tape as the duct tape will ultimately fail.

4. Poke a thin piece of wire into the spray nozzle and give it a good clean out.

5. Fill the gas tank if the pressure cleaner is gas-driven. Verify the cleaner is plugged into the household power supply if it's electrically operated. Try not to use a puny, household extension cord if you can. Extension cords reduce the power delivered and reduce the motor's efficiency causing less pressure. Use a heavy duty one.

References

• Sears: Craftsman High Pressure Washer Cleaning System Operator's Manual
• Kärcher Shark Commercial Pressure Washer User Guide