How well do you maintain your pressure washer?

Your Hotsy Water Blast pressure washer is an investment. Not only is it an asset itself, it helps maintain your other assets. It keeps your heavy machinery in working order, preventing unnecessary financial losses due to depreciation. Maintaining your investments means keeping your Hotsy Water Blast in proper working order. It should have consistent PSI and a smoothly running motor. Keeping it in top form will also prolong your pressure washer’s life. Besides purely financial concerns, having a well-maintained machine will help ensure that it’s used safely. Hotsy Water Blast cleaners are powerful machines and can cause a lot of damage if they malfunction due to improper maintenance.

What maintenance should I be doing on my pressure washer?

Not only is it an asset itself, it helps maintain your other assets. It keeps your heavy machinery in working order, preventing unnecessary financial losses due to depreciation. Maintaining your investments means keeping your Hotsy Water Blast in proper working order. It should have consistent PSI and a smoothly running motor. Keeping it in top form will also prolong your pressure washer’s life. Besides purely financial concerns, having a well-maintained machine will help ensure that it’s used safely. Hotsy Water Blast cleaners are powerful machines and can cause a lot of damage if they malfunction due to improper maintenance.

Before each use

• Check your motor and screen filters for any leaks, dents or cuts. This should be done both before and after using your pressure washer.
• Check fuel and oil levels regularly and top-up as necessary.
• Examine the high-pressure hose and couplings for bulges and other damage.
• Make sure the connections to the spray gun, wand extension and spray tip are secure.

After each use

• After each use, be sure to run water through your system for one to two minutes to flush any leftover detergent.
• Relieve the pressure in the system by holding down the trigger on the spray gun until all water remaining in the line is expelled.
• Flush the pressure washer pump by pulling the recoil handle six times.
• Engage the trigger lock and allow the pressure washer to cool down.
• Disconnect the spray gun, wand extension and high-pressure hose.
• Wipe down the machine and clean off any dirt, debris and grime.

Following these simple steps will greatly improve your machine’s performance and ensure it withstands hundreds of hours of worry-free use.

That’s pretty easy, but how can I check for more complicated problems?

Besides regular maintenance, there are other parts of your pressure washer that should be regularly inspected to make certain everything is working as it should. Be sure to follow these simple tips:

• Change your oil after every 50 hours of use.
• Clean or replace the air filter every 25 hours of use.
• Inspect and clean the spark arrestor and muffler every 75 hours of use.
• Clean or replace the spark plug every 100 hours of use.
• Lubricate O-rings regularly and replace any degraded rings as necessary.
• Check your screen filters, spray gun and nozzle regularly and change or repair components as needed.
• Pro tip: always change the oil in your engine and water pump at the same time so you don’t forget one of them.

Whether you have a gas or electric pressure washer, taking the time to perform regular maintenance will safeguard your investment from unexpected breakdowns and repairs.

Long-term storage tips

Here are some general tips for storing your pressure washer over the winter for longer than 30 days.

• Flush out any leftover detergent residue to prevent it from clogging the internal components of the pressure washer pump.
• Disconnect the pressure washer from the water source and run it until all of the water leaves the machine.
• Use pressure washer antifreeze to help prevent damage from mineral deposits, which could wear out the pump seals and pistons. Since the pump tends to be the most vulnerable part of a pressure washer, this is an extremely important maintenance step.
• Drain any remaining fuel from the machine and store it in an approved gasoline container. Gasoline is not intended for long-term storage and will begin to degrade after a couple of months, which can cause corrosion and buildup in the engine.
• Store your pressure washer in a dry, well-ventilated area that’s protected from freezing temperatures and other weather extremes. You should also keep it away from heat sources that could dry out the pump seals or ignite fuel vapour.

You may want to purchase a pressure washer maintenance kit that contains the essential items to keep your pressure washer running optimally, including pump saver, fuel stabilizer, cleaning solution and more. Correctly storing your pressure washer when it’s not in use will ensure it’s in good working order when you need it.

Professional maintenance

One way to be sure that your machine is properly taken care of is through our Maintenance Inspection Program. With this program an expert will regularly inspect your machine with our thorough 50-point examination. Our scheduled maintenance program includes:

• Replacing the standard spray nozzle
• Replacing micro-switches
• Changing out the pump oil
• Adjusting all belts and grease

If any serious problems occur with your pressure washer, don’t hesitate to contact us immediately at any of our nine locations: you can find us in the Greater Vancouver area in British Columbia; Regina in Saskatchewan; Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge and  Grande Prairie  in Alberta; and  Bismarck and Williston in North Dakota.