Answer
May 15, 2024 - 02:24 PM
You may have a clogged nozzle, or possibly too much water flowing into the system. Check out the troubleshooting steps below to address these issues.
DO NOT turn the machine on unless it shoots at least 10 feet with the power off.
SymptomsClogged nozzles show themselves in a few ways:
- No water comes through and no power
- Little or no water comes through when trigger is squeezed
- Power cycling on/off ONLY while the trigger is squeezed.
- Lack of pressure
Unclogging
- Use the wire cleaning tool provided on the manual or any thin wire to run through the tip of the nozzle where the water comes out.
- If that does not work, remove the nozzle, then put it in a cup of vinegar
- For lance-nozzles (push-and-turn connection, over 6 inches length), to conserve vinegar, soak it tip-down vertically in a cup and pour some vinegar in the back end so that it soaks from both sides.
- Let it soak for 15 minutes and the debris will be dissolved.
- Reconnect to the machine.
- Test the water flow before you turn it on.
- DO NOT turn the machine on unless it shoots at least 10 feet with the power off.
Bucket Test Concept
To confirm that you're putting in the right amount of water you should perform a Bucket Test. The idea is to get between 4-6 gallons per minute into the machine at standard household water pressure, which is between 40-60 PSI.
Note: The pressure matters less than the flow. So, if you're 10-20 psi off but your flow is good, don't worry about it.
Procedure
The bucket test is easy, you need a five-gallon bucket (it must be 5) and a stopwatch. Use the stopwatch to find out how long it takes to fill the five-gallon bucket with your garden hose (disconnected from the pressure washer).
- You should start with the water turned on as high as possible before starting to fill the bucket.
- It should take between 50 and 70 seconds to fill to the brim.
- If it’s under 50 seconds you have too much waterflow.
- You'll need to adjust the water and do the test again until you get inside the range of 50-70 seconds before trying your machine again.
Special Notes
Keep in mind that your water supply may change based on other conditions around your home.
Anything that uses water could drop your flow down, so be mindful of how different things effect water flow when using the machine.
Watch for things like:
- Showers/baths
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Sprinklers
- Etc.
