My pressure washer surges; why?
When you have a lot of cleaning duties to perform around the home, a decent pressure washer is a great asset, but in order for it to be effective, you need to know how to run it and what to do in case there are any difficulties.
If you have ever wondered, “Why does my pressure washer surge?” you should know that there are various reasons why your washer does this, and the majority of them are simple to remedy. If you have ever wondered, “Why does my pressure washer surge?” you should know that.
If you are using your pressure washer and it starts to pulse or surge while you are doing so, there is almost likely a cause for this, and the information in this article will assist you in determining what those reasons are.
Other minor issues may include the following:
Simply the Fundamentals
When your pressure washer begins to surge, you will notice that there are intervals between periods of extremely high pressure and periods in which there is scarcely any pressure at all. This is normal.
This pulsing movement may be quite annoying for the user since, let’s face it, a consistent flow of pressure is the only thing that can remove filth, grime, and debris from the objects that you are attempting to clean. But this pulsating action does not provide a steady flow of pressure.
After all, this pressure is what permits the washer to perform the way that it is meant to, which means that if it doesn’t work the way that it should, your pressure washer may as well not exist.
The majority of the problems that lead to this pulsing being present are, fortunately, straightforward to resolve. You only need to be aware of what to search for, and everything else should be rather simple. The surge difficulties seen by pressure washers are most often the result of one of the following four problem areas.
The Nozzle Will Eventually Become Clogged
Because it is certain that some or all of the nozzles may get clogged over time, maintaining a regular cleaning schedule for them is essential.
Disconnecting the spray wand, using some kind of thin wire to push out any clogs that you see, and then flushing the nozzle out with water to make sure that all of the debris is removed is all that is required to accomplish this simple task.
It is a breeze to do this because it is so straightforward. Because it is inevitable that over time, a certain amount of debris may accumulate within your nozzles, ensuring that they are cleaned on a regular basis is of the utmost importance.
It is important to keep in mind that the more you use your pressure washer, the more worn out it will get. A pressure washer that is already worn out is always more likely to have a variety of issues, including being clogged with debris. It is possible for the particles to form a cake, and even filthy water may cause harm to the washer.
Detergents and soaps are also a concern since many of these products will create some form of corrosion within the nozzle if the nozzles are not cleaned out properly every once in a while. This is the case even if the nozzles are cleaned out thoroughly on a regular basis.
You may also be interested in reading another of our articles on how to clean vinyl siding.
The Trigger Isn’t Pulling in the Right Direction
As you can probably guess, having a trigger on your pressure washer that doesn’t function may be a pretty irritating experience. Due to the fact that difficulties with the trigger are often connected with a more fundamental issue, the unit will not be turned off if there is a problem with the trigger.
To provide just one example, the trigger may not operate correctly if the oil in your gun needs to be changed or if it just hasn’t been maintained properly. Because of this, you need to handle your pressure washer in some aspects in the same way that you treat your automobile.
This means that you should always be checking the quantity of oil as well as the quality of the oil to ensure that everything is functioning as it should.
A second issue is that pressure washers, particularly electric models, have the potential to overheat, which may result in trigger issues for the user. When there is an issue with the trigger, you should let the device rest for at least half an hour before attempting to start it again. This is one of the reasons why.
There are others. Last, check your unloader valve. It is possible for this valve to get blocked, which will result in a decrease in the performance of the unit; consequently, the best course of action in these situations is to either replace it or clean it thoroughly.
There are issues going on with the Pump
Therefore, we are going to start with the “best” part first. The pump is a very vital component of your pressure washer; however, the good news is that in many cases, you may fix it rather than having to purchase a whole new pump. Turning off the pressure washer and removing it from the hose is the first step you may do to troubleshoot the issue.
Keep the garden hose connected, and after letting the water flow for 20 to 30 seconds via the connecting line, disconnect the garden hose. After that, disconnect the garden hose, and then put everything back together.
This is an excellent option that ought to take care of the issue in the event that air becomes caught in the pump.
In addition to that, steps of common sense need to be adopted. Ensure that your garden hose is turned up to its maximum setting so that there is an adequate amount of water entering the pump. Conduct a thorough inspection of all of the valves and other components to determine whether or not they need cleaning or replacement.
In addition to this, you should always review the user manual for your device to ensure that you are following the instructions correctly and avoiding missing any crucial details.
Because each pressure washer is unique, it is essential that you carefully follow all of the included directions to the letter in order to avoid causing even more damage than was already there.
It is never a good thing to have a pressure washer that surges or pulsates, but with the possible exception of the need to replace the pump, the majority of the issues that are creating this issue can be simply diagnosed and even more quickly resolved.
There are some minor issues, such as kinks, blockages, and other problems.
You are going to experience both high and low pressure in your pressure washer if the flow of water is limited since this will cause the pressure to fluctuate. If you notice that this is occurring, the first thing you need to do is inspect the hose that is connected to the unit for any leaks, kinks, or other issues that might be causing this problem. If this is the issue, there is good news: it can be resolved quickly and easily.
A filthy intake or discharge valve. Regularly cleaning out the little divots that may be found within these valves will ensure that they are always clear and unobstructed by debris such as dirt or even mineral deposits from hard water.
A lingering residue of soap or detergent. If you notice that the pressure washer has a lot of detergent or soap in it, you may remove dirt and debris that has adhered to surfaces by running some distilled vinegar through the machine.
If you want to maintain the cleanliness of your discharge valves or inlets, you should give them a thorough cleaning every five times that you use the pressure washer. You should perform this cleaning procedure more frequently if the pressure-washing jobs have been particularly lengthy or challenging.
Closing Remarks
In a nutshell, the more you use it, the higher the likelihood that its components may wear out, which might result in fluid leaking out instead of being pushed by the pump. If you give the advice that we have provided a try, you should be back in business in no time at all.