My 5 year old pressure washer starts right up and runs but the pressure never increases. It has never been an issue but to start this season, it won't pressure wash anything!! I have checked all the hoses, and the filters. I assume it must be the pump?
#2
ILENGINE
Either have a stuck unloader valve, or bad check valve. Most likely unloader valve
A trick that works sometimes to unstick the valves is to tip the unit up so that the water inlet is up. Pour dish soap into the inlet, I always put a lot in, cheap. Let sit for about five minutes, then connect the water line. Turn the water on low, just so you see it come out the nozzle, start the unit, work the control on/off and see if anything happens. What you are doing is trying to seal and unstick the valves. Works about 50% of the time and does not cost much to try. Good Luck.
I hope you winterized it over the winter unless you keep it in a heated garage, Rivets gave great info for easy fix, if that does not work check for clogged inlet holes etc. I have seen on more than one occasion where insects have got into the open inlet/oultet holes and made nests (mud dobber bees). I took pumps apart and cleaned all pieces and replaced, worked like a charm after. Also the pumps do burn up due to heat as well as leaving water in them over the wintertime.
Well, I tried the suggestion but it didn't seem to work. I have cleaned the filters and checked the inlets but it still has only one pressure and it isn't high. I will have to have it checked. Thank you for the advice.
This will sound odd and it may not be it, but I have seen the wand go bad, we replaced the wand on one with low pressure and with the new wand it works fine.
does the wand have different nozzles or does it have the wand that you turn to different settings? you say it has some pressure but not high? is it like stuck on the soap setting? just trying to get more info to diagnose.
Basically, when the water is turned on, there is only one speed the water comes out of the nozzle, and it is not high pressure. The trigger makes no difference in the water pressure. Wand doesn't have any other nozzles, you just turn to go from stream to wide spray, and you pull the end to go from high pressure to low pressure (trickle).
I had exactly the same problem you describe, with my pressure washer. My problem turned out to be the wand (tip end). After sitting all winter, it was a little stiff going in and out for high and low pressure, and after checking thouroughly I found that it was going all the way when I'd switch it to high pressure. A little WD-40 and working the tip in and out a few times freed it up enough to go all the way to high pressure. Just something you can check to be sure the wand is truly on high pressure setting.
