Know Your Pressure Washer: Pumps and Parts
If you regularly use pressure washers as part of your business, then you would do well to educate yourself about the various parts to your pressure washer system, how pressure washer pumps work, and how to troubleshoot and make repairs to your pumps. That way you minimize downtime and can cope with problems with your pressure washer systems efficiently.
Finding a reliable supplier of pressure washer parts, pressure washer pumps, pump repair kits, triggers, and spray nozzles will keep your business running smoothly with minimal downtime and minimal effect on your bottom line. Know what goes into high quality pumps and pump repair kits so that you can be certain that all your equipment is in optimum condition at all times.
Using commercial grade pumps that stand up to hours of use in demanding work conditions is wise. Making sure that you have the hoses and pumps that allow you to match the equipment to the job is the key to handling all those different demands that come up with pressure washing jobs. You want to be able to handle any psi and temperature, as well as the cleaning or other chemicals you may need to use. And you’ll need to be sure your hoses are sufficiently long and have bend restrictors on the ends to prevent kinking.
If you know the basics of how to maintain and repair your pumps, you’ll be miles ahead of the competition. You probably already know to switch off the engine of your pump when the water tank is empty, or you’ll risk burning out the pump. Changing the oil in the pump every month is a good idea, as is carefully refilling with oil to be sure you don’t overfill it.
You can change the check valves yourself too, and you should do it after about 300 to 500 hours of use. This is a matter of removing the six bolts on the pump, removing and replacing the old valves, being sure to seat the new valves evenly and making sure the o-rings are snug.
Inspecting the pump is something you should learn too. Check that the belts are tight and tighten them if necessary. Also look for water drips on the exit side of the pump. These can result in significantly lower pressure at the nozzle. Fixing these drips using ample Teflon tape when you re-tighten the fittings will not only fix the leaks, but can stop future leaks and prevent rust.
Holes or leaks on the inlet side of the pump can let air in and will cause the pump to pulsate. When water in the tank reaches a point below the leak, air will replace water and your pressure will plummet, so you want to fix these leaks and holes as well to keep your system running smoothly and powerfully.
Lubricate the pump every three months or 500 hours of use, whichever is soonest. Using the correct weight of hydraulic oil with rust inhibitor additives, fill halfway to the red dot on the indicator window on the side of the pump.
Knowing how to maintain your pressure washing system and how to make minor repairs will minimize downtime and make sure you can work as efficiently as possible. Invest in some Pressure Washer Parts to keep your tools running efficiently. You may also be interested in pump repair kits which can save you money in repairs.
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