Maintaining Your Equipment
Unfortunately,
power-washing equipment doesn’t last forever.
It will, however, last a very long time if operated
and maintained properly.
The
fact remains; power-washers are high maintenance equipment
that operates under grueling conditions. High-pressure
water will eventually wear out seals, O-rings, valves,
springs and numerous other parts that make up a high
pressure cleaner.
As
the owner of a power washer, you can expect to replace
fluids, seals, valves and O-rings as part of routine
maintenance. Periodic checking and replacement of these
inexpensive parts and fluids will greatly increase the
life of your equipment.
However,
the most common causes of excessive repairs and maintenance
are operator error and negligence. Typically, we find
the following issues to blame for most equipment failure:
» Problem #1 – Running the machine dry /
without water
Running
the power washer without water will normally damage
the pump and/or seals very quickly. Costs for repair
can range from a relatively inexpensive seal kit to
a damaged/warped pump head and bent plunger rods. Replacing
the entire pump is usually the most practical fix in
this case.
^Top
» Problem #2 – Running the machine in “extended
bypass”
By-pass is when the power washer is running
but the trigger is not open and water is not flowing
out of the machine.
With
the engine running and the trigger closed, the water circulating
in the machine (and in the pump) begins to heat and may
damage the pump if the machine is not equipped with the
proper safety devices.
Warning:
before buying a “disposable” power washer
from a local retailer, make sure running the machine in
by-pass for short periods of time does not void the warranty.
Commercial
/ industrial grade power washers deal with overheating
problems by incorporating unloader or, thermal relief
valves. These components protect the power washer by
purging heated water and dumping it on the ground. As
safety is first never run any machine in bypass for
more than 3 minutes.
^Top
»
Problem #3 – Cavitation
Cavitation is caused by air getting into your
pump. The air can damage your pump as it rapidly expands
and contracts. The first sign of cavitation is loss
of water pressure and a hammering noise.
The
cause of cavitation is lack of water or, air getting into
the system.
For example, your pressure washer is rated for 4.2 gallons
per minute (GPM) but the inlet hose only provides 3 GPM,
the power washer pump will still try to pump 4.2 GPM thus
starving the pump for water and consequently sucking in
more air.
A
hole in the inlet hose can also cause more cavitation
as the pump will sometimes suck in additional air through
the hole. The solution to cavitation is to feed the
pump the required amount of water and to make sure there
are no leaks in the water inlet systems.
^Top
»
Problem #4 – Freezing
If you live in a cold climate and let your
power washer freeze with water left in the pump, there
is a possibility the pump will be damaged. A good prevention
for this is to run a little anti-freeze into the pump
before storage. Never let your system freeze with water
in it.
^Top
»
Problem #5 – Lack of lubrication
High-pressure pumps, like gasoline engines,
require oil to lubricate the plungers in the backend
of the pump opposite the pump head. The forces generated
in the pump are substantial, causing friction and heat.
The
oil is needed to keep the pump parts cool and turning
freely. If oil is allowed to leak out, or water gets
into the pump oil, the pump parts will overheat and
begin to break apart. Always
check your oil level and maintain the correct amount
and type of oil in the pump to prevent damage.
^Top
Question?
Call or email us anytime!
If
you have questions about the performance of your equipment
or would like to know more about the preventative maintenance
you can perform on your equipment, call or email us
anytime and we’ll be delighted to help.
