Pressure Washer Maintenance

Maintaining your pressure washer the correct way is extremely important if you want to make the most of your pressure washer for cleaning.

The main cause of failure on electric pressure washers is the distinct lack of maintenance which not only takes away valuable cleaning time, but it can also cost a small fortune depending upon what the particular problem is.

A little TLC can save you a boat load of unnecessary wasted time and a boat load of cash. So take the time to read through this guide to make the most of your pressure washer.

The first and most important thing any pressure washer owner should do, is read the manufacturer owners manual. This is often neglected by pressure washer owners and is often the cause of what could have been a preventable failure.

The manual often has many tips on the maintenance and cleaning of the pressure washer as well as a number of troubleshooting guides.

Most home unit pressure washers are maintenance free. They are low powered and tend to be cheap for any replacement parts. Be sure to read the manual to see if any maintenance can even be performed on this type of model.

The next and what is probably the most common unit, is a small industrial unit. This usual contains a small pump and a valve assembly at the point of the hose connection. Check to see if your pump is an oil or oil less type pump. Oil less pumps usually require no maintainance however on the oil pump you should be sure to change the oil at least once if not twice per year. The clean oil will keep the pump cooler and extend the lifespan, and given that the pump is the most costly part of the pressure washer you should ensure you take good care.

Finally we have the large industrial model. The large units put out up to thirty thousand pounds of pressure. Though they typically have the same parts as the smaller industrial pumps such as the oil based pump, they also tend to include a soap dispenser and heater unit that will require additional servicing and can cause great damage if not properly maintained. They should be taken to a professional maintainer or to the manufacturer for servicing. The servicing of these units should not be performed at home due to the pressures and dangers involved.

Whilst maintaining your pressure washer, and this applies to all models, you should check on a regular basis for cracks ruptures and general wear and tear. And any damaged parts should be replaced before reuse.