April 19, 2023

Pressure washer symptoms

Cleaning your deck is a pain when your pressure washer won't spray, only produces weak spray or water sprays out the pressure relief valve. Follow the DIY troubleshooting steps for symptoms you're encountering with your pressure washer so you can get back to your cleaning chores. Order the replacement parts you need by entering your pressure washer model number in the search bar. Follow the steps in our pressure washer repair guides to install the parts you need and get your pressure washer running again.

gas pressure washer

Symptoms common to all gas pressure washers

Choose a symptom to see related pressure washer repairs.

Things to do: tune up the engine, inject pump saver into the water pump when storing the pressure washer for the winter
Main causes: overfilling engine with oil, improper fuel/air mixture, choke system problems, dirty carburetor, engine needs tune up
Main causes: pump running for more than 5 minutes when the spray wand isn't being used, faulty pressure relief valve, bad unloader valve
Main causes: insufficient water supply, clogged water inlet screen, clogged pressure hose, faulty pump check valves, stuck unloader valve
Main causes: using a high-pressure spray tip when applying detergent, clogged siphon tube, chemical injection system failure
Main causes: damaged recoil starter, oil inside cylinder, locked up engine piston
Main causes: dirty air filter, stale fuel, clogged or dirty carburetor, bad unloader valve
Main causes: stale fuel, gummed up carburetor, engine needs tune up, throttle and choke controls need adjustment, bad recoil starter
Main causes: faulty unloader valve, bad pressure regulator
Main causes: broken recoil spring, damaged recoil starter

Repair guides for gas pressure washers

These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your pressure washer.

How to install a pressure washer chemical injection kit

The chemical injection valve draws detergent into the pump. If it’s not drawing detergent, use a repair kit to replace the chemical injection valve.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
How to install a pressure washer O-ring kit

O-rings seal fittings on the pressure washer pump. Damaged seals allow water to leak from the pump. Follow these steps to replace the O-rings in a leaking pressure washer pump.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 45 minutes or less
How to replace a pressure washer pump

The pump can be damaged by air in the inlet water supply or by chemicals that remain in the pump body after using the chemical injection system. Follow these steps to replace a damaged pump.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less

Articles and videos for gas pressure washers

Use the advice and tips in these articles and videos to get the most out of your pressure washer.

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7 steps for winterizing and storing a pressure washer

7 steps for winterizing and storing a pressure washer

Follow this advice to winterize your pressure washer.