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How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:05 pm
by Zonda_
Went to snow foam the car today and as soon as I plugged the washer in it started running as though you are squeezing the trigger. The pressure of the water coming out is low too. It’s a Karcher K4 and is only a couple of years old.
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:19 pm
by JonMad
Not just a kink in the hose? Mine sometimes clicks on for a second or two when the water is off, but not continuously.
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:39 pm
by Zonda_
JonMad wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:19 pm
Not just a kink in the hose? Mine sometimes clicks on for a second or two when the water is off, but not continuously.
No, checked all that.
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:09 pm
by mik
No idea. Could be a hose (possibly internal) filled with gunk?
Karcher’s rep for reliability seems to have dropped a bit over recent years. I have been v impressed with my Nilfisk.
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:11 pm
by Mito Man
It’s not leaking water out anywhere is it?
They usually stay on like that when they’re struggling to get water or suctioning it up from a non mains source. New one way valve fitted wrong way round to hosepipe?
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:23 pm
by Zonda_
Mito Man wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:11 pm
It’s not leaking water out anywhere is it?
They usually stay on like that when they’re struggling to get water or suctioning it up from a non mains source. New one way valve fitted wrong way round to hosepipe?
It did seem to be leaking from the bottom yes, annoying thing is it was only bought 2 years ago and has barely been used 10 times.
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:27 pm
by JonMad
That is annoying. I’ve been using ours non stop all weekend doing the driveway to get rid of all the residual sand and crap after we had some builders do our patio.
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:38 pm
by Zonda_
mik wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:09 pm
No idea. Could be a hose (possibly internal) filled with gunk?
Karcher’s rep for reliability seems to have dropped a bit over recent years. I have been v impressed with my Nilfisk.
Where did you get yours from, what model is it?
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:14 pm
by mik
Zonda_ wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:38 pm
mik wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:09 pm
No idea. Could be a hose (possibly internal) filled with gunk?
Karcher’s rep for reliability seems to have dropped a bit over recent years. I have been v impressed with my Nilfisk.
Where did you get yours from, what model is it?
Mine is no longer made - just checked - I got it April 2011. I seem to remember
@Foz got the bigger brother or long after.
I think the current equivalent for it is probably
this one. This is more powerful than mine.
I recommended this to someone else recently - flow rates of the Nilfisk are generally higher than the competition for the same pressure rating.
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:28 pm
by Simon
Mine is 20 years old and still going strong.
Not that that helps you.
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:58 pm
by Mito Man
Zonda_ wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:23 pm
Mito Man wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:11 pm
It’s not leaking water out anywhere is it?
They usually stay on like that when they’re struggling to get water or suctioning it up from a non mains source. New one way valve fitted wrong way round to hosepipe?
It did seem to be leaking from the bottom yes, annoying thing is it was only bought 2 years ago and has barely been used 10 times.
Could have been damaged by frost over the winter then? My hose split the first time I washed my car this year as the garage went to -3. Its worth opening up the plastic case and seeing if there's any obvious plumbing broken.
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 10:57 pm
by Foz
mik wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:14 pm
Zonda_ wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:38 pm
mik wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:09 pm
No idea. Could be a hose (possibly internal) filled with gunk?
Karcher’s rep for reliability seems to have dropped a bit over recent years. I have been v impressed with my Nilfisk.
Where did you get yours from, what model is it?
Mine is no longer made - just checked - I got it April 2011. I seem to remember @Foz got the bigger brother or long after.
I think the current equivalent for it is probably
this one. This is more powerful than mine.
I recommended this to someone else recently - flow rates of the Nilfisk are generally higher than the competition for the same pressure rating.
Indeed, it pisses water out though, it’s like an o ring has gone but it’s never bothered me enough to fix it as still works well
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 6:18 am
by V8Granite
There is an o-ring between the fitting and attachment. Check it’s still there as it sounds like yours has gone. Sometimes they come off when you swap attachments.
Dave!
Re: How to fix a pressure washer?
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:15 am
by Foz
Checked that years ago, it’s internal, might have another look as sure there’s YouTube guides
