The sole purpose of buying a commercial pressure washer is its power, so it can be quite frustrating to have a machine that doesn’t have the amount of power you’d expect. This usually happens over time or when the equipment is not properly maintained or used. The worst time for your machine to show little or no pressure is while you’re on the job, so make sure you do everything you can to keep your machine in good working order.
Common reasons why this happens
So what are the common culprits that cause commercial pressure washing equipment to lose power? The top three reasons include the pump not producing adequate pressure, erratic pressure coming from the pressure washer, or low water volume or pressure loss. The key to finding the problem is to fix some problems.
How to Troubleshoot Your Pressure Washer Equipment
There are many different reasons why these three scenarios may appear on your machine. The first thing to look at is whether the engine is running at full speed or not. If not, try moving the throttle control to the fast position.
Another area to check is the nozzle – is it in low pressure mode? If so, just switch to a higher pressure nozzle. Make sure the water inlet and filter screen are also free of obstructions. If you see that it is, disconnect the hose from the inlet and clean it. If there is damage, you will need to purchase a new screen.
Try checking the spray gun for leaks. If so, you can replace the spray gun. If you notice the nozzle orifice is clogged, turn off the machine and bleed the air out of the pump. Then remove the orifice from the nozzle and/or remove the spray tip from the nozzle and clean it with a wire tool. This can be found in your maintenance kit.
The water pressure and flow rate should also be adjusted accordingly. The minimum must be 20 PSI and 1 MOC taller than him MOC rating for your machine. If it is not set correctly, adjust it accordingly.
It’s a good idea for all cleaning professionals to learn how to troubleshoot their portable carpet cleaning machines and commercial pressure washing equipment. Keep the manuals handy until you remember how to keep them by heart.
