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- Common Pressure Washer Operator Errors -

All pressure washers require care and maintenance in order to have a long life. However, the most common cause of excessive maintenance cost is operator error. Remember, any damage to the machine caused by operator error is not covered under any type of warranty. The following list may help to reduce the cost of operator error:

1. Hooking the pressure washer to a shallow well:
   NEVER get your water supply from a shallow well. This will fill your pump with sand, and immediately void the warranty. Even deep wells will need some kind of filter before the pressure washer to filter any sediments from getting into the pump.
   
   
2. Running the pressure washer without water:
   Always make sure the water is turned on before you start your pressure washer. Running without water will usually damage the pump within minutes (the exception is the Kränzle pump).
   
   
3. Running the pressure washer in extended by-pass:
   By-pass is when the pressure washer is on, but you have not pulled the trigger of the gun so the water is re-circulating within the pump. When running in by-pass, the water temperature inside the pump head builds as time goes on, and will damage the pump. You should not run in by-pass for any longer than 1 to 2 minutes. Commercial units overcome this problem by installing a thermal relief valve that dumps water from the pump onto the ground after a few minutes. However, if the thermal relief valve fails, your pump could still be badly damaged.
   
   
4. Cavitation and/or inadequate water supply:
   Cavitation is the result of air getting into your pump, usually caused by an inadequate water supply. The first sign of cavitation is loss of pressure and a hammering noise. The air inside the pump rapidly expands and contracts, damaging the parts inside your pump. For example, if your pressure washer is rated for 5 gallons per minute (GPM) but the water supply is only 4 GPM, the pump will still try to pull the required 5 GPM. The suction due to the lack of water will pull in air and cause cavitation. A hole in the inlet water hose can also cause cavitation, as the pump will sometimes suck in extra air. Other causes of cavitation could be supply lines that are too small or a clogged inlet filter. The only solution to cavitation is to feed your pump the required amount of water and to make sure there are no leaks in or damage to the water inlet system.
   
   
5. Freezing and/or long term storage:
   If you live in a cold climate, and let your pressure washer freeze with water left in the pump from the last use, there is a possibility of damage to the pump. The typical remedy for this is putting anti-freeze in the pump. Putting anti-freeze in the pump is also a good idea when you are going to store your pressure washer for extended periods. The anti-freeze keeps the internal parts lubricated and protected from rust. Click here for instructions.
   
   
6. Lack of oil:
   Just as in gas engines, high-pressure pumps require oil to lubricate its working parts. The amount of force inside the pump is high, and these forces result in friction and heat. The oil is there to keep the pump running cool, and to keep the parts inside the pump turning freely. If oil leaks out, or if water gets into the pump oil, the pump parts will overheat and become damaged, sometimes beyond repair. Always check your oil level and maintain the correct amount and type of oil in the pump to keep the pump in good working order.

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