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Don’t Get Caught With Your Pumps Down! – A Guide to Pressure Washing Success

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Table of Contents

At Seattle Pump & Equipment, we’ve been helping contractors and homeowners keep their machines running smoothly since 1952, serving the greater Seattle area and Pacific Northwest from our Woodinville service and sales facility.

With decades of combined hands-on technician experience, our team is trusted to keep downtime to a minimum.

Problems, big or small, can be a big hassle, especially if they cause downtime in the middle of a job. Here are some proactive things you can do to ensure your equipment is always ready for your next job.

  1. Follow a Pre and Post Job Checklist – Problems often creep up on us. Getting into the habit of performing some simple visual checks during setup, teardown and startup will help you identify problems earlier – and possibly prevent them – so they don’t become big problems later.
  2. Understand Your Equipment – Getting to know your machine when it’s new, knowing how it should operate, is half the battle. We all know what it feels like when our car has a flat tire, but do we listen to the signals our pressure washer is telling us?
  3. Keep your equipment clean – Clean equipment will show issues more easily. The presence of water or oil on the baseplate means something is leaking, and on belt-driven machines, belt dust exiting the belt guard can be a sign of loose or slipping belts.
  4. Prevent common problems – Pressure washers are generally easy to use, thus easy to ignore. Many people don’t know the simple steps they can take to ensure they are not causing damage to their equipment.

Pre-Job Checklist

1. Check Your Oil

Sounds simple right? But this is not just about oil level, but also about oil condition. Unlike your vehicle, not all machines tell you when it’s time to perform regular maintenance.

  1. Gas Engine oil – There are a variety of engine types and brands out there, and all of them have a dipstick to check for the proper oil level. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual for specific instructions. However, don’t just check the oil level, check the condition also.
  2. Dark Oil – Oil that is excessively dark is likely overdue for a change. Dark oil color is caused by carbon buildup from the engine’s combustion contaminating the oil over time.
  3. Thin oil – Thin oil can be caused by age, excessive engine heat, or the presence of gasoline contamination. Gas in the oil is common since pressure washers are often moved, tilted etc. and gas can exit the carburetor and leak into the cylinder or crankcase, lowering the lubricity of the oil. Do not run your machine if you think there might be gas in the oil! Change the oil immediately, or have the unit inspected & serviced if you’re unsure.
  4. High-Pressure Pump oil – Most high-pressure pumps have a dipstick, a sight glass, or both. The proper oil level for your pump is at, or just below the center of the sight glass when on a level surface. Unlike your engine, pump oil does not get dark as it gets older and needs changing less often. However, be sure to regularly look at the color of your pump’s oil – it can provide insight into the oil’s condition; if it loses its normal transparency, or appears to be grey or milky white, then water is likely mixing in with the oil. This seriously degrades the oil’s lubricity and is a big warning sign that it’s time to have your pump’s high-pressure seals replaced.

2. Check Your Nozzles

Make a quick visual check of your nozzles to ensure they are not clogged with debris. Also, look at the condition of your nozzle, if it’s worn on the outside it’s probably worn on the inside. A worn-out nozzle can cause pressure loss and an inefficient, less concentrated spray pattern.

3. Check Your Water Strainer

Your pressure washer will typically have a water strainer somewhere in the inlet plumbing. This can be a canister that unscrews and contains a screen, or simply a filter-style garden hose washer. Either way, if the screen contains debris or buildup your pump may not get enough water. This can cause cavitation, which is very damaging to your pump’s internal parts.

4. Check Hoses and Fittings

During daily setup you will be connecting several hoses, fittings and quick couplers. Each of these are susceptible to wear when in use, and physical damage while connecting, disconnecting, and storing them. This is a common tripping point that can slow or stall you pressure-washing work, so avoid dragging the hose-ends and couplers along the ground or though dirt or bark while you are setting up and while winding hoses up when the job is done. While connecting, using and disconnecting, ensure that the connection- fittings are clean, function smoothly, and do not leak. This includes the supply hose connection, the high-pressure hose/gun couplers, and don’t forget to check the condition of high-pressure hoses and the nozzle. Severely worn hoses (showing the wire braid) can burst – a primary safety concern – and worn-out nozzles reduce your cleaning efficiency.

*Pro Tip – Carry spare gasket-rings for your supply-hoses, spare O-rings for the quick-couplers, or even spare couplers, and as well as the tools and thread-sealant needed to change them. Spare nozzles may come in handy as well to keep the job moving forward.

5. Before Startup

You have checked your oils, cleaned your strainer and connected all your hoses and tools. Next, do a quick visual check or even wipe down the unit just prior to starting. This can help you see if anything is leaking, or if something is out of the ordinary. You are now ready for cleaning success!

*Pro Tip – Start your pressure washer with the nozzle tip removed, trigger squeezed and water flowing. Run this way for about 1-minute, then release the trigger and attach the nozzle. This helps by warming up the engine and will help whet the pump’s seals before putting everything under load.

Understand Your Equipment

If you have owned your pressure washer since new, you may have a good idea of how it feels when you are using it. If purchased used, it might not be so clear. However, looking for normal indicators of problems is something you should familiarize yourself with.

  1. Unusual Noises – when your pressure washer is new, get familiar with how it sounds. Observe how it sounds with the trigger squeezed vs. with the trigger released. Listen to how the engine reacts and what it sounds like under load, vs. no-load. Listen for chirps or squeaks when releasing the trigger, and for knocking or unusual noise from the engine and pump. Ignoring these signs can be costly.
  2. Vibration – vibration can be caused by many things on a pressure washer, none of them good. Low water supply, pump wear, or internal engine issues can all result in vibrations, some barely noticeable, some more severe. Get to know what is normal so you can recognize when something is wrong. Some possible indicators might be excessive hose shaking, possibly even leaving marks or loose rubber behind, or the machine “walking” around when running.
  3. Hot Water Units – If you own a hot-water pressure washer, note that the burner shuts off when you release the trigger. If your burner keeps running with the trigger closed, shut off the burner immediately and have it repaired. This issue is an extreme safety hazard and can cause severe damage.

Prevent Common Problems

There are many pressure washing machines out there, and all are a bit unique, however there are some similarities that you should know, and practices you should follow to protect your machine from common enemies:

Do Not Run Dry

All pressure washers have soft seals that are a critical component of the pump. Water is the lubrication, and running dry can cause damage quickly.

Supply Enough Water

A pressure washer ran without enough water will vibrate, lose pressure, and often groan loudly with cavitation-noise. This can cause excessive wear to internal parts.

*Pro Tip – if you are not sure that the water supply is sufficient, a quick “bucket test” will tell you. At the end of your supply hose, time how long it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket. From this, you can calculate if the GPM output of the spigot and supply-hose is sufficient for the GPM of your pressure washer.

If water-supply is insufficient, see the first of the “Bonus Tips” below.

Only Use Nozzles That Are Sized for Your Machine

The nozzle might seem simple, but nozzles are specifically sized for each machine. I’m not talking about the color of the nozzle; color only indicates the width of its spray-pattern. The “size” of the nozzle is the size of its orifice – the hole that the water comes out of. If the orifice size is incorrect, your machine will either lose PSI or lose GPM. The machine’s overall performance in GPM & PSI is what you paid for, so you’ll want to know the right “nozzle size number” for your pressure washer. This info is typically listed in the machine’s operations-manual and/or spec-sheet, and possibly on a label on the machine itself. If you are unsure of the correct nozzle, contact a reputable local pressure washer shop to have them size it for you – just give them your machine’s GPM (gallons per minute) and PSI (pressure) specs and they will do the rest. If they can’t give you a quick, specific answer you might want to try a different shop! Hardware stores might only carry 1 or 2 sizes to match only the machines they sell, or they might offer nozzle-packs that only list “pressure-ranges” on the label, saying nothing about GPM. That’s not good enough to maximize your pressure-washing performance.

*Pro Tip, once you are sure of the correct nozzle size for your machine, write it boldly on the unit with a marker, or attach a waterproof label in an obvious area. It’s that important!

Limit Time “Running in Bypass”

Bypass is what we call it when the machine is running but the trigger is closed. Too much of this can damage the pump due to the buildup of heat from re-circulation. Squeeze the trigger for at least a few seconds every 1-2 minutes to prevent heat buildup. If you need to, shut the unit down and re-start when you are ready to use it.

*Pro Tip – if you accidentally leave your unit running in bypass for several minutes DON’T SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER – you don’t want cold water entering your hot pump! To reduce potential damage just shut the machine down and let its pump cool down naturally. Don’t squeeze the trigger or restart until the machine’s pump has cooled down to “warm” – a pump that is too hot to hold is too hot to operate!

Hot Water Pressure Washers

Hot water pressure washers have a built-in heater to heat their water that requires a quick and simple cool down procedure before shutdown. To do this, simply turn off the burner and continue spraying water until the water coming out of the nozzle is cool but don’t touch the high-pressure spray – simply touch a metal part of the trigger’s wand or its hose-connection to make sure the water going through it is no longer hot.

Proper Transport and Storage

properly transporting, securing and storing your machine can eliminate a few common issues:

  1. Transport Securely in an Upright Position – laying your machine down (or letting it fall over) can result in oil leaking into the cylinder, locking up your machine and preventing it from starting. Worse yet, a tipped-over machine will very likely spill flammable fuel.
  2. Shut Off The Fuel – Shutting the fuel valve during transport can prevent gas leaks that can flood your engine, saturate its air filter, or simply make a mess.

    *Pro Tip – shutting off the fuel and running the engine out of gas can also prevent problems common with longer-term or seasonal storage.

Post Job Checklist

You are done cleaning and ready to shut down. Follow these tips to both care for your equipment and ensure it’s ready for the next job.

  1. Cool Down – Pressure washers are hard on engines. Unlike your lawnmower, a pressure washer typically uses all the engine’s available horsepower whenever it’s running at full pressure. Rather than just flipping the off switch, remove the nozzle, squeeze the trigger, lower to half throttle and run the unit no-load for about a minute. This will allow some cooling of the engine to happen before final shutdown. For a Hot- Water unit, use this time to cool the water down also by shutting the burner off and running this way until the water is cool.
  2. Don’t Drop Your Hoses – when disconnecting your machine, don’t just drop the ends of your hoses. Dropping them can damage the soft brass hose ends, accelerating wear and causing leaks. Also watch where you set them down; dirt and small rocks can get inside the hose ends and find their way into the pump, gun, or nozzles.
  3. Visual Checklist – you cleaned your machine before starting, now is the time to check for problems. Oil, water, dirt or belt dust that is present now must’ve happened while you were running. If you see something concerning, maybe it’s time to schedule a maintenance or repair.

Bonus Tips

Whether you are a seasoned pro or weekend warrior, consider these tips to ensure success!

  1. Use A Good Supply Hose – we recommend a 3/4” kink-resistant hose for feeding your pressure washer. Smaller 5/8” or 1/2” hoses or hoses longer than 100 feet can restrict the water supply, increasing the chances of not getting enough water to your machine.
  2. Use Clean, Fresh Gas in Your Machine – Today’s fuel contains ethanol, and while you can buy ethanol-free fuel it’s more expensive, less available, and not necessary if you take some reasonable precautions.
    1. Seal your gas cans during storage.
    2. If you keep gas for longer than 3-months or in vented containers, use a fuel stabilizer designed for ethanol gas.
    3. Replace your gas cans if they get rusty or dirty inside, you don’t want that junk getting in your engine.
  3. Accessorize – Time is money, and fortunately there are many accessories and cleaning solutions designed to help almost any application. Seek out a local pressure washer shop like Seattle Pump and Equipment who is happy to help with education and supplies. Some of my favorites:
    1. Extra Hose – If you clean large areas, have extra hose. Nothing is more annoying than not being able to reach an area and needing to shut down and move equipment to finish the job. As an added benefit, if a hose does burst during the job, just take it out and keep going. If you only have one high-pressure hose, you are shut down for sure.

      *Pro Tip –don’t add extra garden hose to get your machine closer to the work-area; that can reduce water supply to your machine. Instead, connect additional high-pressure hose to extend your reach – your machine will not be affected by additional high-pressure hose.

    2. Surface Cleaner – If you clean large, flat surfaces like decks, patios, driveways or walkways this accessory is a big time saver! You wouldn’t mow your lawn with a weed-whacker, and that’s why so many pros use a Surface Cleaner attachment to speed up cleaning large areas. Not only that, it provides even coverage and consistent cleaning with much less physical effort on your part.
    3. Turbo Nozzle – nothing beats a “Turbo Nozzle” for removing difficult buildup like gum, paint, and scale, or simply for faster, more aggressive general cleaning. NOT for use on delicate surfaces like decks/fences/siding or your car – this is for cleaning concrete, brick, and other hard surfaces.

      *Pro Tip – like painting the edges before you paint the wall, use a Turbo Nozzle to clean all the perimeters of a large area before using a Surface Cleaner attachment for the broader areas.

    4. Pressure Gauge – Installing a gauge is the easy way to ensure your machine is running right. Handy “quick-coupled” gauges are just as easy to quick-connect as your high-pressure hose and trigger/wand are.
    5. Hour Meter – Pressure washer and engine maintenance intervals are all measured in hours of operation, but without an hour-meter you’ll have to guess. Most engines require an oil change about every 50 hours of use, and most pumps after the first 50 hours and then around every 200-300 hours of use thereafter (check your machine’s manuals for its specific service intervals). Adding an hour-meter is like adding an “odometer” to help you do timely maintenance to your machine.

Protect Your Investment

Seattle Pump and Equipment offers expert service, pump saver fluids, and replacement parts to help you maintain your pressure washer with confidence. Contact our team to learn more about proper storage, routine maintenance, and seasonal service packages tailored to keep your machine running at its best.