A Guide To Pressure Washing Maintenance

Pressure washing is one of the easiest ways to maintain home areas such as driveways, walkways, pathways, patios, and rooftops. The advantages of pressure washing are numerous which includes efficient cleaning methods, ease in cleaning, and effective removal of stains and dirt accumulation.

Pressure washing is very useful in any household, business, industrial, and farming applications because of its advantages. However, pressure washing is not devoid of disadvantages as well. The disadvantage is minimal because it is mainly concerned with the maintenance and replacement of parts and accessories that may be damaged or non-functional after frequent use.

Branded power washers are usually very reliable and have a long life time as compared to those without brands. It is therefore highly recommended to purchase branded power washers so you are able to enjoy the warranty afforded by branded equipment, aside from its outstanding durability.

Aside from purchasing branded power washers, it is also necessary that you take proper care of your equipment. Read the user’s manual prior to using the equipment and make sure that you keep it in a safe place away from frequent environmental exposure.

Before starting to use your power washer, it is pertinent that you check for the oil and fuel level of your pressure washer engine to avoid causing damage. Make sure that the oil or fuel you use is appropriate for the type of engine that you have, never use ordinary engine oil or you will risk disastrous damage to the engine itself. Also check that the oil/fuel is changed on schedule according to manual instructions.

A few things need to be checked prior to pressure washing. These include, the detergent injection tube and filter, hose, and spray wand assembly. For the detergent tube and hose, make sure that they are free from holes, leaks, damage, abrasions, foreign blockage, or dirt accumulation. The spray wand should also be free from the same problems mentioned above.

Replacement of detergent filter and tube, hose, and spray wand is indicated when there are leaks, cuts, and damage. Make sure that the accessories are tightly fitted to their attachments. For the new hose replacement, it must be able to overcome the maximal pressure exerted by your pressure washing equipment. Cleaning the hose with water flushed into it before connecting it with the pump inlet is also recommended for safety.

After subsequent power washing, it is necessary that you check for the viability of the water inlet screen and in-line screen as well as the O-rings. For water inlet and in line screen, make sure that no dirt has accumulated within by flushing it with water every after use. Keeping the screen and O-rings clean will help avoid dirt and contaminants from blocking your pump.

If you let dirt and contaminants accumulate in your screen, this may cause deterioration and wear destruction. For that reason, damaged screens and O-rings need to be replaced with new ones. Blocked screens and O-rings may cause great damage to the pump itself; therefore it is important to not skip this maintenance step as is commonly done by DIY users.

The detergent injection system should also be flushed with water right after every use. Allow water to run through its length for about two minutes before removing the power of the engine. When you are done flushing the detergent tube, it is now safe to turn off the engine power. Allow the engine to cool itself before you turn off the water supply. You should then pull the recoil handle of the engine and properly remove the attachments before keeping the power washer in a safe place.