It’s Spring again, which means it’s also time to pull your pressure washer out of storage and put it back to use. Before you start up your machine again for the season, you should take the time to look it over and perform pre-season maintenance. That way you can help ensure that your pressure washer is operating correctly when you need it most, help increase its lifespan, and protect it from costly damage.
To help, we’ve compiled a quick checklist of things to look out for as you restart your pressure washer for the season:
Check For Winter Weather Damage
Before starting up your machine, inspect your hoses, pump, guns, and other parts of your machine for cracks or leaks that could have been caused by freezing water. If you properly winterized your machine, you should be good to go. However, it’s best to double check as starting up your machine with broken parts could result in further damage to your machine, or even user injury.
If you discover broken parts, replace them immediately before using your pressure washer!
Flush And Replace Oil & Fuel
If you left oil and fuel in in your machine over the winter it’s always best to flush them and start with new fluids. Flushing and replacing oil and fuel not only ensures smooth operation but also prevents buildup of contaminants that can degrade performance and even lead to costly repairs over time.
To do this, simply drain the old oil and fuel from their respective reservoirs, following the manufacturer’s guidelines for drainage and proper disposal. Then replace with fresh fuel, oil, and pump oil as needed.
Check For Gunk & Debris
Inspect your filters, tanks, and float tanks before use. Particulates and gunk can build up in your machine over the winter, especially if fluids are left inside.
If you find debris inside your tanks, you’ll need to flush and clean them before starting up your machine. Start by draining any remaining fluid from the pressure washer system. Next, flush the system with clean water to remove any residual detergent, debris, or contaminants.
If your filters are gummed up or filled with debris, be sure to replace them before use.
Flushing your system and regularly replacing filters not only ensures optimal performance but also helps prevent clogs, corrosion, and damage to the pressure washer’s components, extending its lifespan and efficiency.
Look Out For Critters
Small animals like to find warm places to nest during the winter and the inside of your pressure washer may have been their home for the past few months. Double check your machine for nests or the critters themselves, especially inside tanks and coils, and clean them out before use.
Also keep an eye out for chewed and frayed wiring. Critters may end up using bits of your machine for their nests resulting in the need to replace electrical parts prior to use.
If you don’t have the time to prep your machine for the new season, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing the work yourself, call a professional technician to help. The service team here at Northstar, is always happy to help, and can get your machine back to peak condition in no time.