We know you always want a product to stay with you forever without having any problems. But even the best can be broken sometimes.

Have you felt so frustrated when your pressure washer suddenly became faulty while in use and you did not know how to fix it?

Some problems are so complicated that you must have your machine repaired at the service center. Meanwhile, there are some easy problems that you can solve at home.

Why not try to fix by yourself first?

Look at our pressure washer repair instructions below. There will be the most common problems you will meet while using a washer and detailed know-how.

What Are The Most Common Problems With a Pressure Washer?

We have listed all the common problems you may deal with while using your pressure washer. And do not worry, troubleshoot these matters is not challenging at all.

Just find out the causes of your problem and you will know how to fix it.

Problems Related to Water Pressure

Problems Related to Water PressureLow Pressure

The insufficient inlet water supply can make you experience low pressure. To fix this, you need to unkink or unblock your garden hose to ensure full water pressure coming from the tap and improve the water flow. You can also try to use a garden hose with a large diameter.

Another reason is that the inlet water filter is blocked. In this case, remove the garden hose connection as well as debris.

Or the low pressure is simply due to the incorrect nozzle size. So, make sure that you use the correct size and everything will be ok.

No Pressure

What about no pressure at all in your washer? Check if the pump inlet and unloader valves or manifold is damaged or not. If yes, you should disassemble the valves and replace them with new ones.

But you can try cleaning the valves first – maybe the inlet valves are just clogged and need cleaning.

Pulsating Pressure

Similar to the cause of no pressure, the pump inlet valves or manifold are damaged.

If the water inlet filter, spray wand, or nozzle is obstructed, you can experience a variation in water pressure as well. In this case, you need to use freshwater to flush your water inlet, vinegar to clear your wand, or a needle to clear your nozzle.

You should also check whether your pump is faulty or sucking up too much air. If you are having a faulty pump, replace it. If it is sucking air, turn off the machine and squeeze the trigger gun to dispel the air.

Spiking Pressure

Spiking pressure is commonly caused by a poorly adjusted unloader valve. All you need to do is adjust the unloader valve as instructed in the manual to get the proper pressure.

The pressure Washer does not Clean the Surface

Maybe you are using a wrong nozzle. Why not switch to another high-pressure spraying nozzle? You will get the biggest pressure.

The pressure drops after some minutes of using

If you are facing this problem, your nozzle may be blocked. You should use a sharp needle to unblock the nozzles.

Problems Related To Water Leakage

Problems Related To Water LeakageLeakage from the Pump

There are several reasons for water leaking from the pump. First, the pressure seals in the pumps are cracked, broken, or worn. Replace them or return them for new ones if they are still under warranty.

The second reason may be loose bolts on the pump assembly. So, tighten them to make sure the pump casing is properly sealed.

And lastly, the thermal release valve may be activated. This component functions by allowing hot water to release from the washer if the water becomes too hot.

When your pressure washer runs idle, it will heat the water inside the pump, and the thermal release valve opens to eliminate that hot water. In this case, simply switch off the washer and wait about 5 minutes before using again. It will deactivate when it is cool enough.

Leakage from the Garden Hose

In this case, you just need to tighten the garden hose to stop it from leaking anymore. Also, check if the garden hose connection is broken or improper. If yes, connect it properly.

Leakage from Spray Wand or Connections

The possible reason is the broken O-rings inside the hose connections. Solve the problem by replacing the O-rings or the spray wand.

Problems Related To Gas-Powered Pressure Washer

Problems Related To Gas-Powered Pressure WasherThe Engine Stops While in Use

The low oil level, clogged fuel filter, or dirty air filter can cause the engine to stop running while in use. To fix this problem, simply fill more oil, clean the fuel filter, or replace the old air filter and install a new one.

Besides, the choked carburetor or congested spark arrestor can make your pressure washer start then stall. So, clean the carburetor and spark arrestor. Has the cleaning failed? Of course, you have to replace it.

The Engine does not Start

If the engine of the washer does not ignite, maybe there is no gas. This case is so easy – fill the engine with gas.

But the choke can be in a wrong position. So, move it to the correct position as instructed in the manual.

It can also mean the spark plug is broken. If the spark plug is worn out or has piled up heavy carbon at its electrode, replace it so that you can start your engine.

But first, use a spark plug tester to check if is faulty or not. When it does not produce a spark, it is time to replace it.

Another way you can try is to check the flywheel key. It is a small metal piece placed on the crankshaft to turn the flywheel. Remove it from the engine and check whether it is damaged or not. If yes, you should replace it right away.

The Engine does not Produce Enough Power

The reason for deficient power is simple: you do not let the engine run at the appropriate RPMs. What will you do? Disassemble the pump and adjust the RPMs to the right specifications.

The Oil Leaks from the Engine

If the seals are worn out, thus causing the oil to drip from the engine, replace those seals.

The Water Mixes with Oil

If the oil looks milky, that means the pistons are either broken or worn out and allow water to flow through. You need to have your engine repaired (check if it is still under warranty or not) or you have to purchase a new pressure washer.

Problems Related To Electric Pressure Washer

Problems Related To Electric Pressure WasherThe Motor Stops While in Use

If you are in this situation, maybe the voltage is low or fluctuating. Check the voltage and ensure it within the allowable range before your pressure washer is harmed.

The Washer does not Start

The connections have already been inserted accurately, but the motor does not ignite. Why? That means the motor may be defective and you must replace it.

You can check the main fuse and plug as well to make sure the electric outlet is not faulty.

Other Popular Problems

Other popular problemsExcessive Noise

If your machine is producing too much noise, there may be not enough oil in the pump or engine. So, check and add oil to the machine, or return it if it is under warranty.

Another cause is that water intake is obstructed. So, you need to clear it away or replace it.

Oil Leakage

Many users deals with this problem. Oil leakage is caused by either loose bolts and fittings or broken parts like seals or pistons. The solution is to check your bolts or fittings and tighten them.

What if your seals are damaged? Disassemble them to check, clean and replace them if you can. Otherwise, claim your warranty by returning them.

Faulty Detergent/ Chemical Injector

Isn’t your detergent or chemical injector functioning well? Perhaps, either the soap inlet valve or the soap inlet filter is obstructed. If the cause comes from the soap inlet valve (the pump side of the tube), remove the hose and use a sharp needle to remove all debris and unstick the ball valve.

And if your clogged soap inlet filter (the hose end placed in the soap bottle) is the cause, just remove it and use fresh water to flush and unclog it.

Besides, another simple reason for the defective injector is that the detergent mixture is too thick to pass through the injector pump. Fix this problem by simply adding more water to dilute the mixture.

Pressure Fluctuations After Use

If you are struggling to deal with this problem, you should check some components like unloader valve seals or springs to see if they are broken or worn out. Then, remove and replace them.

Is your unloader valve appropriately established? Remove and install it appropriately (place the valve at the bottom of the pump housing).

To be sure, remove dirt from the unloader and clean it.

What to Do with Tricky Issues?

How to fix the tricky issuesHowever, there will be some tricky problems coming to your pressure washer and you do not know how to repair it apart from tearing it down!

Take it easy and follow these steps. 95% of the problems can be solved in just 10 minutes or less.

1. Check the Water Supply

Firstly, open the water supply valve. Make sure it is not blocked and obstructed. If clogged, you must unblock it; otherwise, the pump will not get enough water flow.

2. Check the Hose for Kinks

It must be exhausting when you set up your pressure washer appropriately and spend much time check everything from the inlet, nozzle to water, but it is still not working. Then you realize the matter lies in the inlet hose!

The inlet hose with kinks will not bring water to the pressure washer. So, the advice is always checking the inlet hose. Fix the kinks, start the machine again and everything will be fine.

3. Let the Air Out from the System

Do you know that the pump built up with a lot of air can stop your pressure washer from functioning well?

So, remember to connect the garden hose with the washer first. Then, turn on the water tap and pull the trigger gun before igniting the engine. By doing this, you are eliminating all pressure from the system and ensure the pump will function well.

4. Make Sure the Nozzle is Correct and not Clogged

You have already known that the nozzles accumulate debris day by day. The consequence is that the water flow decreases and pressure increases in the system.

In this case, eliminate any debris by using a needle to unclog the passage of the nozzle.

If you have done everything in vain, the pressure washer still emits a burning smell, then the internal components may have been heavily damaged by a sudden surge of electricity. It is time you needed professional help.

To Sum Up,

No one can assure that your pressure washer will have no problems in the future. But luckily, most problems are easy to solve, even though you are not an expert.

This ultimate pressure washer repair instruction will help you diagnose the causes of your problem and find out the best way to fix it.

If you know more tips to fix other pressure washer problems, do not hesitate to share with us. We will be glad if you share with us.

Thank you for reading.