Pressure washers are a wonderful way to clean several items. While washing your driveway may seem unappealing, the use of a pressure washer makes it easy and efficient. While you may think that the only hazards are high-pressure steam and water, the surge of pressurized water through the wand presents a threat on its own. Protect yourself from injury by taking note of handling surges in your pressure washer properly.
Why Did Pressure Washers Surge?
Every pressure washer, regardless of whether you choose a gas engine or electric motor powers it, operates through the interaction of four components: a motor, a pump, an impeller, and an unloader. All of these parts work together to turn low-pressure water from your garden hose into high-pressure water capable of blasting through caked-on mud and lifting grime from concrete walkways.
When the surge occurs in your pressure washer, it’s caused by air that gets trapped in the pump. This can lead to pressure rollercoastering. To get rid of the problem for good, you’ll need to purge the air from your system.
Can a Pressure Surge Be a Bad Sign?
A pressure washer surge after every few minutes indicates a malfunctioning pump. Resolve the issue, have the following checked: Unloader Valve, Trigger Gun, Bypass Hose, Downstream Chemical Injector, or Vibration Isolation Pads.
Yes, a surging pressure washer is not good when it surges while under load. The pump may be improperly primed. Bleed the unit by running water through the garden hose connection on the pump for one minute to remove trapped air in the pump or pump inlet or outlet. It is recommended that you have approximately 20 PSI of city water pressure to your pressure washer.
If it surges too much, it can become too hard to function. If the GPM is too low, or there is no water at all getting to your spray gun, then you will have a problem. The same goes for if the pressure is too high. You could end up with a very dirty piece of equipment, which is not good for your washing.
Surging is not harmful to the engine or pressure washer itself. The only time surging can be a problem is if the user tries to operate their unit below the optimal RPM. If the user operates their unit below its optimal RPM range or idle speed for too long, the engine can be damaged.
You can increase the life of most pressure washer parts by decreasing the surge. This can be done by choosing the correct nozzle and keeping the spray within its rated pressure range. Another way is to vary the distance between the wand and the object being cleaned so that powerful jets do not hit it directly. There are many possible causes for a pressure washer to surge after only running for a few minutes.
Some include an insufficient water supply, clogged carburetor, a bad spark plug, dirty air filter, and improper use of detergent (i.e., using more than recommended). The best thing to do is contact the giraffetools customer service number listed in your owner’s manual and get the help you need.
