How To: Pressure Washer Upkeep

Like all lawn equipment, your pressure washer needs some attention if it’s going to keep doing its job. Regular maintenance is imperative, as is proper prep between cleaning seasons. Thankfully, for most home models, these chores are ones you can handle yourself without the help of a professional repair service and we’re here to help!

Follow our guide on proper pressure washer maintenance and upkeep, and you’ll be keeping decks, driveways, and sidewalks clear for years to come!

Winterizing Your Pressure Washer

Just like all of your other lawn equipment, your pressure washer – whether gas-powered or electric – should be properly winterized before you put it away for the season. Taking the proper steps to protect your pressure washer from the elements and a long idle period will ensure it’s in good shape come spring.

Here are the steps you should take to prep your pressure washer for winter storage:

If you have a gas-powered pressure washer, don’t forget to stabilize the fuel.

Provided the fuel in your pressure washer is less than 30 days old, you can add fuel stabilizer to preserve it through the winter. Follow the instructions on the fuel stabilizer bottle when doing this, and be sure to run your pressure washer’s engine for around two minutes so that the stabilizer is properly circulated.

If the fuel in your pressure washer is more than 30 days old, it’s already begun to deteriorate, and will not benefit much from stabilizer. You can either run the equipment until the fuel tank is empty, or hand siphon it from the fuel tank into an appropriate receptacle for safe disposal.

Flush and drain all water and detergent from your pressure washer

You don’t want to leave water or detergent in your pressure washer all winter. If it’s stored somewhere susceptible to the cold, the water may freeze and expand, damaging internal parts. Even stored somewhere warm, like a heated garage or basement, the water inside could evaporate, leaving behind buildup that causes clogs and corrosion.

To get rid of any leftover water or detergent, you’ll want to attach a garden hose to your pressure washer as normal, and then either place the detergent feed hose in a clean bucket of water or fill the detergent reservoir with water.

With a low PSI setting, run your pressure washer until all the detergent is cleared out. Then, disconnect the garden hose and run the pressure washer again until it is out of water.

There will still be some water trapped in your equipment, so disconnect the wand and hoses and get them as dry as possible before moving on. 

Prep your pressure washer with pump saver or antifreeze

You can add antifreeze (with glycol) or pump saver to your pressure washer via the hose inlet to ensure nothing internal is damaged by fluctuating temperatures. Be sure to thoroughly read and follow label instructions when completing this step. 

For gas-powered pressure washers, don’t forget the spark plug!

Before you put your equipment away for the season, be sure to check and disconnect the spark plug.

Wipe down your pressure washer

Clean your pressure washer up and dry it off before storage to prevent rust. An old shop rag should be enough for this job!

Proper storage steps

Store your pressure washer in a spot where it’s protected from the elements, like a garage or shed – or your basement, in the case of a smaller electric pressure washer. You may also want to purchase a cover for it. This will ensure that pests like rodents don’t decide to make a nest of it during the winter months.

Prepping Your Pressure Washer for Spring

Prepping your pressure washer for spring is thankfully a little less involved than winterizing it, and it starts with an inspection of the washer itself. First, check the washer body for signs of damage from rodents or other pests and clean it up. If you have a gas-powered washer, check and reconnect or replace the spark plug.

Check the hoses, wand, and nozzles, as well. Any water that had been trapped inside could have potentially damaged these components by freezing and thawing during winter, or you might need to clear away a clog. Check the o-rings, which can be found where the hoses and gun connect. If they’re looking a little dry, you can apply some plumbers grease to keep them in good shape. Replace them if they are dried out, crumbling, or otherwise damaged.

Next, you’ll want to check and, if necessary, change the oil, fuel, and any filters your equipment may have.

With that done, you’ll likely need to flush out any pump saver or antifreeze you used. Be sure to check the label for the product you used for instructions on how to properly dispose of it, and ensure your pressure washer’s system is completely flushed before you use it to clean anything. Once your winterizer is cleared out, you can hook your pressure washer up to water and do some actual testing – make sure the pressure is adequate and all parts are functional.

Everyday Pressure Washer Maintenance: Before You Clean

If you haven’t done so, consult your manual for specific steps on proper pressure washer usage. Your specific make and model may have specific use steps. We can set you up with some basics, though:

• Start by checking oil and, if necessary, fuel levels. Top them off if needed, but don’t overfill. If you notice any leaks, do not use your pressure washer.
• Keep in mind that pressure washer oil should be changed either after 50 hours of use or yearly, whichever comes first. If you’re hitting one of these milestones, take care of the oil before you use your pressure washer.
• Inspect the washer and its accessories. You’ll want to check the inlet screens and clear away any dirt or debris that could block them, and check the gun, hoses, and nozzles you plan on using to be sure they aren’t damaged or blocked. You can use a small, straightened paperclip to clear your pressure washer’s nozzle, if necessary.
•  Before connecting the garden hose,  flush it out by running it for a few seconds. Once you’ve hooked it up to the pressure washer, be sure to watch for leaks in the water system.

Everyday Pressure Washer Maintenance: After Use

To keep your pressure washer in great shape, you’ll want to make sure you take care of a few basic maintenance steps after every use.

• Flush the detergent system. We’ve already described the steps to do this above – just run warm water through the detergent reservoir or detergent siphoning tube until the power washer water runs clear.
• Empty the water tank. Even in warm weather, you don’t want to store your pressure washer with water in the tank and accessories. After disconnecting your garden hose, run the pressure washer for a couple of minutes on a low  pressure setting to drain the remaining water.
• Make sure all pressure has been released from the washer. You can do this by turning off the pressure washer after it’s been disconnected from its water supply, pointing the gun in a safe direction – not at any people, animals or plants – and holding the trigger until nothing more comes out.
• Detach any accessories and put your pressure washer away.

Pressure Washer Maintenance Schedule

Repairing a pressure washer is a whole lot pricier than maintaining it. In addition to the steps we’ve outlined above, make sure you’re meeting these other maintenance milestones to keep your equipment in good shape.

• Oil should be changed after the first five hours of use on a new machine, and subsequently every 50 hours of use or annually – whichever comes first.
• If your pressure washer has an air filter, it should be cleaned after 25 hours of use and replaced every 2 years (or after 200 hours of use).
• The spark arrestor and muffler should be checked and cleaned annually or after 75 hours of use.
• The spark plug should be checked, cleaned, and potentially replaced annually.

Remember to consult your equipment manual for more specific instructions!

Wrapping Up

Proper maintenance and upkeep will ensure this expensive piece of equipment stays useful for the full length of its potential lifespan. Have questions that haven’t been answered by today’s guide? Check out our blog for more tips and tutorials, or head over to our main site to speak with one of our friendly experts. Whether you’re just getting ready for the spring growing season or need assistance fixing damaged equipment, AppliancePartsPros.com is on your side.