Pressure washers are a great tool for cleaning anything. But the amount of time they spend on the job is important, because if they run out of water, they will just stop and be useless.
One simple way to prevent this is to turn off your machine when you’re done with your cleaning list. This can be either a mechanical or electrical switch, but it must be on before starting the job and off after finishing.
To turn off a pressure washer that has been running for long, you’ll have to remove it from its connection. A lot of pressure washers have a manual-release valve that you can use to drain the water out of the system. Other models have an electrical switch that is turned on by an electric motor. You should find this in your owner’s manual or online.
Once you’ve found the switch, flip it off and remove the hose from the gun (or turn off the water supply). Then return the hose or gun to its connection so it can continue working later.
When is a Pressure Washer Running Longer than Needed?
Here are some conditions that can cause a pressure washer to run longer than needed:
- If the motor starts up slowly or stalls while running, check for fuel in its tank or loose fitting parts working loose. It may be time for a tune-up.
- If your power nozzle is clogged, the pump will have to work harder to move the water around, which can cause it to run dry or overheat. If you have a clog in your nozzle, turn off your power washer and use a wrench or pipe wrench to remove the obstruction.
- The nozzle isn’t fitted properly or allowed enough air into the hose. This is tricky because unless you’ve got some kind of a gauge, you have no way of knowing what’s happening inside your hose without taking it apart and checking for leaks (which isn’t recommended).
- If the water is still running at full blast even when there’s no pressure in the hose, the pump is probably clogged or dirty. This can cause all kinds of problems if you’re using an electric power washer.
How Much Damage Can a Pressure Washer Do?
A pressure washer is a powerful appliance that can be used to clean the exterior of your house, car or other building. But it’s also very dangerous if used improperly.
Pressure washers can damage your car by removing body panels, or by damaging the undercarriage and transferring that damage to the body itself. They can also cause severe damage to exterior walls and paint. This damage is often not covered under warranty, so you may need to pay for repairs out of pocket.
And pressure washers can be dangerous indoors too — if you’re not careful, they can start fires by throwing hot water at flammable items like curtains.
Also, many pressure washers are equipped with high-pressure nozzles that can easily cut through paint and other flammable materials. Because of this risk, it’s important to check that your pressure washer has a special nozzle designed only for washing cars or buildings.
When placing your order for a pressure washer with the Giraffetools collections, be sure to ask for a manual guide on the precautions of using the machine.
