The pressure washer pump is one of the most critical parts of the machine. It’s the heart of the unit, ensuring that water gets to where it needs to go at the proper pressure and volume. The quality of your work depends on it. But what happens if, despite your best efforts at maintenance, you find yourself with a faulty pump? Is it time to replace your pressure washer?
The answer is: not necessarily. Most pumps can be fixed, usually for a fairly low cost compared to replacing the entire machine. Finding out where the problem is will save on costs that you would have paid someone to do. First of all, before deciding on your search results, you need to know the essential parts that can cause significant setbacks in a pressure washer machine.
Knowing what kind of pump you have will help you decide whether or not to replace it, and knowing what’s wrong will help you decide whether or not to replace your pressure washer.
The Best Tips to Prevent Premature Pump Failure
A pressure washer is a machine that cleans dirty surfaces such as decks, concrete, driveways, and outdoor furniture by spraying them with high-pressure water. It is important to use a pressure washer with the right amount of pressure because if the pressure is too low, it will not clean efficiently, and if it’s too high, it may damage surfaces.
The pump that provides the water for the pressure washer can break down on occasion. If this happens, you should replace it. You can prevent premature pump failure by following these tips:
1. Use only clean water for your power washer. If you have to use hard water or water from a murky source, install an inlet filter.
2. Always use a garden hose that has no kinks and connectors without leaks.
3. Do not move or tilt the machine while you’re using it.
4. Do not shut off the power before turning off the engine or pump of your pressure washer.
Steps to Replacing the Pressure Washer Pump
If your option is down to replacing the faulty pump at the comfort of your house after getting one is also at best you follow the right procedure. Pressure washer pumps are located in two places, either inside a durable plastic housing (direct-drive) or outside of it (belt-drive). If you have a faulty pump, you will need to replace it.
The direct-drive pump is located directly behind the front panel of your pressure washer and can be replaced at home without having to hire a professional. The belt-drive pump is larger and more complex, so replacing it will require more time and effort.
Direct Drive Pump Replacement
The following steps should be completed if you need to replace your direct-drive pump.
1.-Turn off the engine and allow the pressure washer to cool for at least 20 minutes.
2.-Unplug the spark plug wire from the spark plug.
3.-Remove any parts that could potentially obstruct your access to the pump, such as control panels, wheels, or hoses.
4.-Remove any bolts holding down the front cover with an adjustable wrench. You may need a screwdriver to pry certain parts loose, depending on your model.
To avoid having a faulty pressure washer pump and the costs of having to dig deeper in your pockets to get a new one, you can visit the giraffe tools collections to get the best pressure washer in the market with fewer problems.
