Are you having trouble adjusting the pressure on your pressure washer pump? Pressure washers are great for cleaning surfaces, but they only function well when adjusted correctly. Therefore, it is best to know how to adjust the pressure on the pressure washer pump to avoid damaging your surface or causing injury.
Pressure washers are a quick option for cleaning surfaces as they use a high-pressure stream of water to blast the dirt away. Pressure washers can be powered by either a gas or electric motor but adjusting a pressure washer pump is important. So let us hop into this article and learn how to adjust a pressure washer’s pressure.
Steps On Adjusting A Pressure Washer’s Pressure
Determine The Right Pressure
Before adjusting pressure on a pressure washer pump, you should determine the right pressure. It would be best not to go low or high on pressure because it can damage the surface or cause injury. To determine the right pressure, you can use a test strip. A test strip prevents you from going high or low on pressure. It helps you determine the approximate PSI necessary to clean a surface without causing damage.
Find The Adjustment Knob
Once you have determined the right pressure, find the adjustment knob. The adjustment knob is located on the trigger gun. It is worth noting that some pressure washers do not have an adjustable knob feature.
If you have a pressure washer that does not have an adjustable knob feature, you need to buy a model that has. You can get a good pressure washer with an adjustable knob ranging from $200 to $300. Having a pressure washer that has an adjustable feature knob is important as it gives you more control of the pressure.
Turn The Adjustment Knob
Turn the adjustment knob to the direction you desire your PSI to be to adjust the pressure. Check your pressure frequently while cleaning to ensure you are not going too high or too low on pressure. It is worth noting that some pressure washers have a two-stage trigger. The first stage trigger engages the trigger, while the second stage trigger releases the pressure. Ensure you hold down the second stage trigger until you are ready to release the pressure.
Adjust The Nozzle
After adjusting the pressure, you need to adjust the nozzle. The nozzle controls the width and the angle of the water stream. A wider stream covers more area but is not as effective in removing grime and dirt.
On the other hand, a narrower stream is more effective in removing dirt and grime but will not cover as much area. But you will have to experiment with other nozzles settings to find out which one suits your needs.
Adjust The Unloader Valve
If you have a pressure washer that has an unloader valve adjustment, it is important to adjust the unloader valve. The unloader valve releases pressure when you don’t engage the trigger, thus preventing the pump from overheating.
If you want to adjust the unloader valve, turn the knob clockwise to adjust the pressure and increase it, while you can turn the pressure washer unloader valve counterclockwise to decrease the pressure. Ensure you do frequent checks on the pressure to ensure you are not too high or too low.
Steps On Adjusting The Unloader Valve
To let water flow, you need to turn the outlet valve of your pressure washer. The water will push the air that remains inside the nozzle. You should not turn off the outlet valve until all the air gets out and water flows out of the hose.
Keep an eye on the pressure gauge assembly and tighten the pressure spring. Next, engage the gun trigger up to a point where it indicates that it has applied maximum pressure. After disengaging the trigger, the pressure spike should be 6 to 9 percent.
If you cannot adjust the pressure to a less than 10 percent pressure spike, you need to keep adjusting until you get there. However, anything below 10 percent is still considered an acceptable range. If you can still adjust the lock nuts, you must unlock the nuts, washer, and spring.
Once you get the best adjusting range, let the trigger gun go off for a minimum of 12 to 20 minutes to create a perfect break in the loader valve and ensure the valve does not get hung up. Then, observe as you get the perfect unloader valve adjustment.
After getting the targeted adjustment:
- Place the lock nuts, washer and pressure spring in their respective places and check the readings on the pressure gauge to see whether it is giving the same readings.
- Finish by screwing the lock nut back o top of the piston rod.
- Put the cap of the adjusting knob in its place.
Start Cleaning
Once you have adjusted the pressure and the nozzle, it is time to start cleaning. Again, start from a small area as you work your way out. It is also important to maintain the movement of your pressure washer while you are cleaning. If you stop the nozzle, it continues to spray water which may damage the surface.
Why Should You Adjust Your Pressure
You should adjust your pressure if your nozzle is clogged. This is because a clogged nozzle reduces the amount of water released from the nozzle.
Also, when there is high or low water pressure, you should adjust your pressure to minimize the chances of damaging the surface.
