Your pressure washer typically uses a gas engine or electric motor. It generates the force to drive pressurized water through your hose and out through your nozzle onto the surface to be cleaned. That subjects the high-pressure hose to a lot of stress.
Therefore, when you have been using the same pressure washer for a while, it’s likely that you’ll encounter a leak in the high-pressure hose.
Repairing pressure hose leaks is not the same as repairing leaks in a garden hose – with epoxy or tape. While a garden hose might be able to hold up with a minor patch-up, high-pressure hoses deal with thousands of pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure. The materials used in them are wire meshes and different types of durable plastic coverings to make sure they don’t burst or leak easily.
Choosing a more durable and long hose with a 2 to 5-year warranty is always a better option, but there’s only so far a hose can go in terms of durability. Usually, they don’t come with a warranty to back them up due to the high level of risk involved.
Gas pressure washers are generally more expensive and more durable too, but electric ones are easier to use and easy to replace.
Repairing The Pressure Hose Is Worth the Trouble?
The first and most important thing that you should do is to check whether the materials and tools that you are going to use to repair it cost less than a new hose – the same as the old one or a better one, even. If replacement is more affordable, you don’t need to take up the tough job at all.
No matter what sort of a pressure washer you have, hose replacement is always an option you can consider over hose repair. There are lots of reliable hoses available for you to choose from.
They come in varied ranges of pressure that they are made to handle. For example, if you have a 3200 PSI pressure washer, you should choose a pressure hose that comes with the same pressure listed on it.
What tools and materials do I need for the repair?
- M22 Adapter
- Gates compression fitting
- Adjustable wrench
- Cutter
- Scale
- Motor oil
Pressure Washer Hose Repair – Step by Step
Step 1 – make sure that your pressure washer is switched off and the water in its pressure hose has been drained completely. For that purpose, you would normally switch off your gas pressure washer or unplug your electric pressure washer. Then you would press the trigger to spray out any residual water in the hose.
Step 2 –clearly single out the area of the leak – where there’s a tear in the tubing. Separate it out by making square cuts on its two sides – make sure that you’ve neatly cut off the hose on both sides of the leak. Due to the high pressure that your hose has to deal with, it must have the leaky chunk cut off and connected firmly by a new coupling.
Step 3 –measure the diameter of your hose to make sure that you are using the right gates compression fitting. Usually, residential pressure washers have a diameter of 0.25” – even so, it is better to confirm that. This is where a scale will come in handy.
Step 4 – your gates compression fitting has a male part and a female part. The male part fits into the female one, and you attach each one of the parts to one of the two cut ends of your hose. The male coupling goes on one cut end of the hose, the female coupling on the opposite one. Start by lubricating the cut ends with motor oil.
Step 5 – fit the male coupling into one well-lubricated end by crimping it up in your hand. Straighten out any creases, make sure the fitting is perfect and stable. Do the same on the other end with the female coupling, and then attach both to each other. Tighten the connection up with an adjustable wrench.
Step 6 – connect the M22 Adapter and screw it onto the pressure washer. Job is done! That’s about it. You can start enjoying leak-proof pressure washing again, throughout your house. If you change your mind about repairing the hose after reading these details and want to get a replacement instead, that’s always a preferable option.