Outdoor Cleaning with Pressure Washers

Preventative 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 only manufacturer-approved parts and supplies.

Setting Up a Pressure Washer
Learn the proper steps to getting your pressure washer up and running.
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Using Cleaning Solutions
Learn how to use your pressure washer's cleaning solution injection system.
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Winterizing and Storage
Make sure your pressure washer is ready for the winter.
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