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Many home owners and businesses have discovered a variety of uses for high powered pressure washers. Many home owners have begun using them for household cleaning and resurfacing projects including the cleaning of oil stains on garage floors and the cleaning of aluminum siding. Commercial cleaning companies have been using pressure washers for years to efficiently clean up large job sites and concrete and brickwork. The increase in sales of high powered pressure washers of the last decade has increased mightily due to wide range of uses for the product. The cost of a good quality pressure washer ranges from a little more than one hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars depending on the size and power of the washer. With such a financial investment required for the purchase, owners need to be aware of the proper cleaning and maintenance procedures to keep their washer working properly for many years.
There are several things that every pressure washer owner, commercial or residential, needs to know to keep their washer in good working condition. These cleaning and maintenance procedures need to be performed after every use of the washer regardless of the length of use or the size of the job being performed by the washer. Although critical to the longevity of the washer the cleaning and maintenance required are surprisingly easy and not very time consuming. Every owner should know and follow these procedures thoroughly to ensure years of maintenance free use of the power washer.
After every use, owners should be certain to flush the chemicals, cleaning solution or detergent from the intake, pipes and basically entire power washer system. This flushing of the system will ensure the owner that the entire system is now clear of the cleaning solution used for that project. Some chemicals used in cleaning solutions are very powerful agents, and if left in the system over a long period of time could possibly result in the deterioration of intake hoses as well as any the washer hoses and valves themselves. Simply use clean cold water and resume spraying until the clarity of the water dispensed form the washer is consistent with that of the water that was used during the flushing process. This will prevent erosion and rust to and metallic parts of the washer and should lengthen the life of the washer greatly.
After flushing the system of cleaners and detergents, the owner should immediately turn the pressure washer off to prevent the motor from enduring any unneeded wear and tear. The nozzle to the washer unit should be left in the on position to reduce the pressure of water trapped in the hose. The pressure that sometimes builds up due to water in the hose has been known to lead to the tearing of the hose and causing the hose to become dislodged from the washer head. The washer hose leading to the nozzle has lead to headaches for the owner as well as an unneeded expense for owners who failed to adhere to this principle.
The excess water that remains in the pump can also be dangerous as erosion could deteriorate the entire washer system. After every use the water that remains in the system should be purged properly to prevent this erosion. This tasked is very simple and performed differently based on the type of washer the owner has. On gas models, the washer should be purged by simply pulling on the starter rope four or five times until no water continues to exit the nozzle. In electric powered models the task is just as easy. Flipping the power switch a few times between the on and off positions will safely remove the excess water that may have been built up during use.
After all water has been drained from the system, the owner should disconnect all hoses from the unit and be sure to drain these hoses of any water or cleaning solution that may still exist. This will allow the hoses to dry in their natural shape and ensure proper fittings in the future. These tight fittings will result in a water tight seal on the next use of the washer and prevent any leakage of water or cleaning solution during the cleaning project.
Finally, where and how the owner stores the washer will ensure a longer lasting system for many years. Pressure washers should always be stored in areas that will keep the m dry and away from the elements. This will prevent the unit itself from rusting and deteriorating due to the harshness of Mother Nature.
People who have made a serious investment in a pressure washer should follow these steps after every use of the washer. They have been proven to add years of life to the product and kept it working in good order to fulfill the cleaning needs, no matter the size, of the project.