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- Frequently Asked Questions About Pressure Washers -

1. How Important is PSI and GPM?
2. What size pressure washer do I need?
3. Why won't my engine start?
4. Why don't I have any pressure?
5. How far should I stand from what I'm cleaning?
6. What cleaning chemicals can be used in a pressure washer?
7. I cannot get any soap injection. What should I do?
8. Can I siphon water from a lake or holding tank to operate the pressure washer?
9. Can I hook my cold water pressure washer to a hot water supply?
10. The pressure washer runs well, but then bogs down when I squeeze the trigger. Why?

1. How Important is PSI and GPM?
   • The overall value of a pressure washer is decided by two factors, pressure and amount of flow. Most people only consider pressure and disregard the equally important flow of the unit.
   • Pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). This determines how much power the unit has to clean surfaces and break the bonds of dirt and debris.
   • Water volume, also known as the flow of the unit, is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). Flow measures the amount of water being thrown at the surface being cleaned. The GPM ultimately determines the time it takes to clean a surface. A washer with a higher flow rate will take less time to clean than a lower flow unit.

2. What size pressure washer do I need?
   • For residential use, an electric or small gas powered pressure washer should be sufficient. For general cleaning around the house, 1500 to 2500 PSI is usually good.
   • For a commercial cleaner, a minimum of 3000 PSI is usually needed to be fully productive. A machine that pushes at least 4 GPM will handle a wide variety of cleaning problems. A machine with these minimum requirements should produce enough pressure to clean, and enough flow to rinse. Also, if there is a chance that you will ever use a surface cleaner, they require a machine that will push at least 4 GPM, and the higher the flow rate, the better your cleaning capabilities. If you ever run into a situation that you need super pressure, you can always get a turbo nozzle for that application. However, most of the time you will want the GPM in order to clean effectively.
   • Make sure that when looking at pressure washers, you compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. If there is a wide price difference on two units that are both rated at the same PSI and GPM, there is probably a good reason why. The first place to look is the heart and brains of the unit, the pump and the unloader. The better the quality, the more expensive they are - but, the longer that they will last. Different pumps have different ratings, so consider your options carefully.

3. Why won't my engine start?
   • Pumps without a pressure release valve need to have the trigger pulled while starting the engine. This releases the pressure from the pump and makes for much easier starting.
   • Make sure the throttle, gas, and choke are all on, and that the unit has fuel in the tank.
   • If the unit has been sitting for a long period, the gasoline may be stale, or there may be water in the gas. Try replacing with fresh fuel.
   • Check for a fouled or dirty spark plug.
   • Inspect the air filter to see if it is soaked with oil. If so, replace the filter along with the spark plug.
   • Check the oil level. If the engine has a low-oil alert, just add more oil and the engine should start.
   • If all the above checks out and the engine will not start, call a local service center.

4. Why don't I have any pressure?
   • Check to make sure that you are not using your soap injection tip, or that you don't have the nozzle set to low pressure.
   • Make sure the engine controls are set properly, i.e. the gas is on, the throttle is set to full speed. The engine must always be running at full speed for the pump to operate properly. Never use your throttle to adjust the pressure of the water.
   • Check to see if there are any kinks, leakage, or blockage in the hoses, fittings, or nozzle.
   • Double check the nozzle to see if there is excessive wear in the tip. If the hole in the tip is too large (which happens after time and use), the pressure may drop. In this case, the tip simply needs to be replaced.
   • Your regulator may be set too low. Try resetting the unloader by turning the knob (clockwise usually increases the pressure).
   • After a certain amount of use and time the water seals may begin to leak. This is a normal occurrence as the seals are considered a wear item. A seal leak can be confirmed by looking between the pump and the manifold to see if water is dripping down. If so, it is time to replace the seals.

5. How far should I stand from what I'm cleaning?
   • When spraying chemical solution, hold the detergent nozzle approximately 2 feet from the surface being cleaned to "mistwet" the surface.
   • When rinsing with a high pressure spray, keep the nozzle at an angle to the surface, usually about 6 inches away. If some dirt remains, wet the surface again with the chemical solution, and allow to soak a little longer before rinsing.
   • Always use the correct nozzle for the job. Be especially careful of sufaces when using the Red Zero Degree tip - this one can cut through concrete!

6. What cleaning chemicals can be used in a pressure washer?
   • Any number of chemicals can be used in pressure washers, as long as they are indicated for use in pressure cleaning machines.
   • Always be sure to run water through the chemical injector after each use. Simply rinsing the surface that you intended to clean will not rinse out your chemical injector. You must run plain water through the injector at low pressure to rinse.

7. I cannot get any soap injection. What should I do?
   • Make sure that you are using the correct nozzle or that the nozzle is correctly adjusted for low pressure. This could be a push/pull type nozzle or a black quick-couple nozzle.
   • Make sure that the low-pressure tip is not clogged.
   • Make sure that the hose is completely submerged into the solution (if not, the injector may be picking up air).
   • Check the soap solution to make sure it is not too thick. It should roughly be the consistency of water.
   • If you have a metering valve, make sure it is turned on.
   • Always rinse the chemical injector after each use (not at the end of the day). If you do not do this, the parts inside the injector may deteriorate, and you may need to purchase a repair kit or a new injector.

8. Can I siphon water from a lake or holding tank to operate the pressure washer?
   • Not necessarily. Most pressure washers are not designed to do this. Also, you would not want to draw from a lake anyways because of the sediment and other materials in the water that may clog your unit.
   • If you attempt to siphon water from a holding tank with a machine not designed to do this, you will severely damage the pump.
   • If you need a pressure washer that will pull from a tank, specify this before purchasing. You will need a heavier pump complete with special fittings to do the job correctly.

9. Can I hook my cold water pressure washer to a hot water supply?
   • NEVER hook any pressure washer to a hot water supply. This will immediately void your warranty and ultimately cause damage to your pump.
   • There are pumps with specialized internal parts that are rated for using hot water supply, but they are very expensive, and typically are not a stocking item for most supply companies.
   • If you need hot water to clean, consider purchasing a heater attachment for your cold water machine, or purchasing a hot water pressure washer unit.

10. The pressure washer runs well, but then bogs down when I squeeze the trigger. Why?
    • This usually occurs when the engine speed is too slow. Make sure the engine controls are set properly, i.e. the gas is on, the throttle is set to full speed. The engine must always be running at full speed for the pump to operate properly.
    • Never use your throttle to adjust the pressure of the water. Use the unloader on the pump for adjustment of your pressure.
    • The throttle must be at full speed because pressure washer engines are air cooled, and damage to the engine will result if the throttle is used to control pressure.

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