Pressure Washer Pulsating – Causes And Possible Solutions

I can feel your pain of finding your pressure washer pulsating just when you decided to wash your driveway or patio. I know the frustration when your pressure washer is spitting intense pressure of water for few seconds followed by no pressure at all.

This pulsating can be quite annoying and even cause hand fatigue if you are using the washer for an extended period of time.

Why Is My Pressure Washer Pulsating?

The good news is that your pressure washer is not completely defective. The problem is caused by the pulsating nature of water pressure due to some of the reasons we have discussed below.

What is meant by pressure washer pulsating?

When a pressure washer pulsates, it means that the pump is cycling on and off. This usually happens when the water flow is too high or when the pump is overloaded. When the water pressure coming out of the nozzle is not the same, it causes the pressure washer to pulse and is known as pressure washer pulsing

The Causes Of Pressure Washer Pulsating

Spray Nozzle

The Unloader Valve

Hose And Filter

It is possible that there are blockages or kinks in the hose of your pressure washer that are causing it to pulsate. This can be caused by a number of things, such as dirt or debris getting caught in the hose, or bends in the hose that are restricting the flow of water.

If you think that there may be something blocking the hose, you can try to clear it by spraying water from a garden hose at full pressure into the opening of the pressure washer. If this does not work, you may need to disassemble the pressure washer and clear any blockages manually. Also check if there may be bends or kinks in the hose, you can try to straighten it out by gently pulling on it. If this does not work, you may need to replace the hose.

Water Supply

Pump

Valves

If your pressure washer is pulsating, the dirty inlet or discharge valve may be the cause to pulsate your pressure washer. Hard water , dirt and soap are the major source that can clog up the inlet or discharge valve. A dirty inlet valve will restrict the flow of water and cause the pump to pulsate. Moreover, when the valve is dirty, it can’t close all the way and this lets the air escape which causes the pulsating.

To fix this issue, clean the valves with a brush and solvent. Be sure to remove all the dirt and debris from the valves. If the valves are damaged, replace them with new ones.

Why does my pressure washer shut off when I pull the trigger?

There are a few reasons why your pressure washer might turn off when you pull the trigger. One possibility is that the machine is not getting enough water. This can be due to a clogged nozzle, a kinked hose, or low water pressure from your garden hose. If the pressure washer is getting enough water, the next possible explanation is a faulty pump. Finally, there could also be an issue with the electrical wiring or switch.

Why is my Sun joe pressure washer pulsating?

There are a few things that could be causing your Sun Joe pressure washer to pulsate. Here are a few things to check:

  • Make sure the wand is attached securely and that the quick-connect fitting is properly tightened.
  • Check the pressure switch hose for kinks or obstructions.
  • Make sure the nozzle is pointed in the right direction and is not blocked.
  • If you are using an extension cord, make sure it is properly rated for the wattage of your pressure washer.

Why is my Ryobi pressure washer pulsing?

There are a few things that could be causing this issue in your Ryobi pressure washer. One possibility is that the water pressure is too high. When the pressure is too high this may result in the pressure washer pulsating. You can try turning the water pressure down to see if that fixes the problem. Another possibility is that there is something caught in the spray gun. You can try cleaning the gun to see if that fixes the issue. If neither of those solutions works, then you may need to have the pump serviced.

Why does my pressure washer keep losing pressure?

There are a few reasons why your pressure washer might be losing pressure.

  • The pump is overworked and overheating
  • The water supply is not adequate or is dirty.
  • You might also have a leak in the hose.
  • The water is not coming out fast enough, which could be due to a clogged nozzle or a dirty filter, or
  • There is insufficient water pressure coming from the faucet.

To troubleshoot this problem, you can start by checking the pump’s overheating protection system. If that’s not the issue, then check the water supply. Make sure the water is coming out of the spray gun at full pressure. If it’s not, then there might be a leak in the hose

Why does my pressure washer have intermittent pressure?

There are a few reasons why your pressure washer might have intermittent pressure. One possibility is that the water supply is not strong enough. Another possibility is that there is dirt or debris blocking the spray gun, which can be cleared by disassembling the gun and cleaning it. A final possibility is that there is a problem with the pump. If the pump is not working properly, it will not be able to produce the desired pressure.

Why does my pressure washer rev up and down?

There are a few potential reasons why your pressure washer might be revving up and down:

  • the choke is not set properly. If the choke is too open, the engine will not run properly and will stall out. If the choke is too closed, the engine will run too fast and could overheat.
  • Another potential issue could be a dirty air filter
  • the engine is not receiving enough fuel.
  • the spark plug is not firing correctly, or
  • there is something blocking the nozzle.

Try checking the fuel levels, cleaning the spark plug, and checking for blockages in the nozzle to see if you can solve the problem.

Why does my pressure washer surge when not spraying?

When a pressure washer surges without any water coming out, it is usually because of one of two problems. First, the water inlet valve may be closed. Second, the pump could be blocked.

To troubleshoot the problem, start by checking the water inlet valve. If it is closed, open it and try spraying the pressure washer again. If it is still surging, then the pump may be blocked. To check this, remove the hose and turn on the pressure washer. If the pump is blocked, the machine will not run.

Why is my Karcher pressure washer surging?

There are a few reasons why your Karcher pressure washer might be surging.

One possibility is that the water pressure is too high. When the pressure is too high, the washer will start to surge. This is because it cannot keep up with the amount of water being pushed through it, and it will start to spurt water out in short bursts.

If the water pressure is not too high, then the problem might be with the washer itself. There could be something blocking the nozzle, which is causing the water to build up pressure until it eventually bursts out.

If the water pressure is good, you’ll want to check the inlet filter. The inlet filter keeps dirt and debris from getting into the pump. If it’s dirty, it can cause the pump to surge. You can clean the inlet filter by removing it and rinsing it off with

Why does my pressure washer sputter?

If your pressure washer is sputtering, it’s likely because the water isn’t getting to the pump.

One common cause of sputtering is low water pressure. If the water pressure is too low, the pump will not be able to pull the water through the hose fast enough. This will create a backup and cause the washer to sputter. To fix this problem, you can either increase the water pressure or use a booster pump.

Sputtering can also occur by a clogged filter, a kinked hose, or a low water level. To clear the filter, remove it and clean it with a garden hose. Straight out the kinked-pressure hose. And if the water level is low, add more water to the tank.

Why power washer loses pressure when the trigger is pulled?

There are a few reasons why your power washer might lose pressure when you pull the trigger. One possibility is that the water is not flowing properly. This could be due to a kink in the hose, a dirty filter, or low water pressure from your municipal water supply. If the problem is not with the water flow, it could be that there is air trapped in the pump or a clog in the nozzle.

 

Why does my pressure washer keep pulsating?

Flinn Milan

Flinn Milan is the content director at Washwith. He is responsible for developing helpful content in collaboration with other hard-working team members. Over several years, his content strategy is mainly focused on describing and highlighting every product with its positive and negative points

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