Pressure Washer Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance
Taking the time to examine and clean your pressure washer and accessories, both before and after each use, will help
you avoid performance problems and save money on parts and repair. Refer to your owner’s manual for special guidelines
appropriate to your pressure washer make and model.
Prior to Each Use:
- Check engine oil and fuel levels: Top off both oil and fuel if low, or change oil if needed using a manufacturer-recommended oil. Consult engine’s owner’s manual for instructions.
- Check inflatable tires: Keep air pressure at value marked on tires or within 15 and 25 PSI.
- Check water inlet screen: Flush with clear water if dirty or clogged; replace with new screen and rubber washer if damaged.
- Check in-line screen: Flush with clear water if dirty or clogged; replace with new screen and O-ring if damaged.
- Inspect high-pressure hose: Replace if leaks, cuts, abrasions, or bulging of cover exists or if couplings are damaged or have movement. New hoses must exceed maximum pressure rating of your pressure washer.
- Examine cleaning detergent injection tube and filter: Clean if dirty or clogged. Examine tube for leaks or tears and make sure it fits tightly on barbed fitting. Replace tube or siphon/filter if either is damaged.
- Test spray wand assembly: Replace O-rings if connectors leak (page 100). Clean nozzle orifices if clogged or replace spray wand, adjustable nozzle, or spray tips if original parts are damaged.
- Rinse out garden hose: Flush debris from hose prior to attaching to pump inlet.
After Each Use:
- Flush the cleaning detergent injection system: Run clean water through the system for two minutes before stopping the engine.
- Shut down the pressure washer: Shut off engine and let cool. Turn off water supply.
- Relieve the pressure in the system: Press and hold spray-gun trigger until all water remaining in the line is expelled. Disconnect high-pressure and garden hoses from pump, and detach high-pressure hose from spray gun.
- Empty pump of remaining liquids: Pull the recoil handle six times. A small amount of water will leak from the pump’s water outlet.
Replacing O-rings & Screens
O-rings keep the spray wand and hose connections tight and leak free, while screens help prevent debris from clogging hoses and damaging the water pump. Through normal operation of the pressure washer these parts may become clogged, worn, or damaged and should be cleaned or replaced before the unit is operated.
Step 1: To replace an O-ring, use a small flathead screw-driver to pry off the worn or damaged O-ring and discard. Install an O-ring in the same position as the old one.
Step 2: Cleaning & Replacing Water Inlet Screen. Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the inlet screen from the hose connector. If the screen is clogged, flush it and the hose connector with clean water. If the screen is damaged, replace it with a new one with the dome-side of the screen pointed outward.
Step 3: Cleaning & Replacing In-Line Screen. Detach the high-pressure hose and wand from the spray gun. Remove the O-ring and in-line screen from the wand extension. Flush the screen, spray gun, and wand with clean water from a garden hose to clear debris.
Step 4: Cleaning & Replacing In-Line Screen. If the screen is damaged, replace it with a new one: Place a new screen into the threaded end of the wand, pushing it in with the eraser end of a pencil until it rests flat at the bottom of the opening. Be careful to not bend the screen. Place a new O-ring into the recess, pushing it snugly against the screen. Reattach the wand to the spray gun.
Spray Wand Maintenance
Prior to use, always test the spray gun to make sure it works properly. To begin, make sure the hose connection to the spray gun is secure, then test the spray-gun assembly by pressing and releasing the trigger. The trigger should spring back into place when it is released. Next, engage the safety latch, and test the trigger. You should not be able to depress it. If the trigger is loose, or can be depressed while the safety latch is engaged, or water is leaking around the gun handle, the spray gun should be replaced immediately.
Step 1: Shut off the engine and turn off the water supply. Depress the spray-gun trigger to relieve the pressure in the system. Detach the wand from the spray gun. If you have an adjustable nozzle, twist the nozzle to STREAM, then remove the nozzle orifice using a 2mm (or 5/64) Allen wrench. If you have Quick-Connect spray tips, simply remove the spray tip from the nozzle.
Step 2: Use a paper clip to free any foreign material clogging or restricting the orifice or spray tip (inset). Note: Some manufacturers provide a wire nozzle-cleaning tool with the maintenance kit.
Step 3: Flush water through the nozzle for one minute to remove debris. For an adjustable nozzle, turn the nozzle to STREAM and move from low- to high-pressure mode while flushing. Reinstall the orifice into the adjustable nozzle (do not overtighten), or install the spray tip into the nozzle, then reconnect the wand to the spray gun and test to ensure the nozzle works properly.
Water Pump Maintenance
Pressure washer water pumps need relatively low maintenance. The two main concerns are keeping contaminants out of the pump and changing the pump oil on schedule. (Some pumps do not need oil changes.) Purge the water pump to remove impurities and debris and change the pump oil every 50 hours of use or once a year, whichever occurs first. Use only oil recommended by the manufacturer, as specified in the owner’s manual. (Purchase pre-measured bottles of pump oil for water pumps without dipsticks.) Never use special oil additives or detergents, unless specified in the owner’s manual.
Step 1: Purging the pump of contaminants. Prepare the pressure washer for use. Turn on the supply water, then remove the wand from the spray gun. Start the engine, then squeeze and hold the spray-gun trigger until there is a constant, steady stream of water. Hold for 2 minutes, then engage the trigger safety latch and refasten the wand to the spray gun.
Step 2: Changing pump oil. Drain the oil and fuel from the engine. Remove the oil cap on the water pump with an Allen wrench. Tilt the pressure washer to drain the used oil into an approved container. Tilt the unit back in the opposite direction after the oil has drained.
Step 3: Changing pump oil. Fill the water pump with fresh oil, following the directions in the owner’s manual. Note: Premeasured bottles of water pump oil are available for some models. Reinstall the oil cap and tighten firmly, then wipe up any excess oil around the cap and set the pressure washer in the upright position. Clean up any spilled oil, and dispose of used oil and soiled rags in accordance with local environmental statutes.
Engine Maintenance
Performing your own tune-up is a simple 4-step process. You’ll find everything you need for a tune-up plus easy-to-follow instructions in each Briggs & Stratton small engine maintenance kit, available at home centers and hardware stores nationwide. Refer to your engine’s owner’s manual for instructions on proper engine maintenance. Use
Step 1: Changing Oil. Changing the oil keeps the engine properly lubricated and ensures clean oil is continuously distributed to critical engine components, reducing friction. Less friction results in less wear and tear on engine components.
Step 2: Spark Plug. An eroded or fouled spark plug provides an inconsistent spark. Replacing the spark plug each spring ensures a consistent spark, making starting more reliable and improving fuel economy.
Step 3: Air Filter. Changing the air filter prevents clogging. A clogged air filter reduces the air/fuel ratio, resulting in higher fuel consumption. The lower air/fuel ratio also leads to excess or unburned gasoline, resulting in the release of extra hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons form ground-level ozone, a major component of smog.
Step 4: Fuel Stabilizer. Fuel stabilizer improves starting by preventing stored gasoline from degrading to the point where it is no longer combustible.
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