Electrical Pressure Washer Troubleshooting

This article will cover the setting up and starting of your pressure washer.

Video example model: Yardforce EW U13.

1. Connect the hose connector/male inlet connector to the inlet valve on the pressure washer. This is generally located at the front, but not always. Please check the manual for confirmation.
2. Connect your high-pressure hose. Some pressure washers connect to the hose reel, others connect to the outlet valve on the body of the pressure washer. You can confirm this by checking your manual.
3. Assemble and connect your spray gun/lance/nozzle/patio washer and connect the hose. Nearly all spray gun accessories connect using a push and twist or bayonet connection.
4. Connect your garden hose to the inlet connector using a quick connect coupler (generally not included with your pressure washer).
5. Connect the power lead to the mains.
6. Turn your water tap on (ideally using an outside tap).
7. Now you can turn the pressure washer on.

 Tip to clear airlocks:

• Keep the pressure washer switched off.
• Point the spray gun away from you. 
• Pull and hold onto the trigger to start the water flow, waiting for it to flow smoothly.
• Then turn on the pressure washer.

This draws water through the machine before it starts up and can clear any airlocks!

Video Example Model: Yardforce LW C02 Cordless

This article will cover the soft fixes you can do if you are having issues with your water pressure and the motor not starting.

If your pressure washer seems to be lacking pressure/power try the following:

• Please check that there are no leaks coming from any attachments, spray gun or a high-pressure hose.
• Please check that there are no blockages in any of the attachments and spray gun.

If you are having issues with the water pressure, please purge the system to remove any air pockets that may be constricting the flow of water:

Line Purge Process

1. Turn the power off at the mains.
2. Turn your water tap off.
3. Disconnect the spray gun/lance from the high-pressure hose.
4. Turn your water tap on.
5. Let the water run through the machine with no power and out of the hose for 10-15 seconds, to flush through any airlocks or debris in the machine.
6. Once you have done this turn the water tap off.
7. Reconnect the spray gun/lance.
8. Reconnect the pressure washer to the mains.
9. Turn the water back on and pointing the spray gun/lance away from you pull the trigger to draw through some water.
10. Finally, press/turn the power switch to the on position on the pressure washer.

Please Note: On the Cordless Pressure Washer, it is necessary to allow 10-15 seconds for the water to be drawn up from the water source.

This article will cover the soft fixes for power issues on your pressure washers.

Warning! Before working on any electrical circuit you must ensure that it is isolated correctly and cannot accidentally be switched back on. If you are not 100% certain what you are doing call a qualified electrician.

1. Unplug your pressure washer from the mains and plug it into a completely different socket. If your machine works when connected to a different socket then you may need to call an electrician to look at the faulty mains socket.
2. If there is still no power going to your machine after plugging it into a different socket you'll need to check the fuse.

Checking the fuse:

• We recommend Wiki How's article on checking and changing a fuse How to change a fuse.

Cordless Pressure Washer 

• Ensure your battery is fully charged, press the battery test button to observe the 3 green lights

   Recharge battery pack immediately when the power output starts to slow. DO NOT CONTINUE TO USE PRODUCT WHEN BATTERY LEVEL IS LOW.

This article will cover the correct way in which you can use detergent with your pressure washer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. Detergent bottle affixed to gun
• 2. Detergent Tank
• 3. Yardforce Pressure Washers

WARNING: Using detergents/chemicals other than those recommended by the manufacturer can affect the safety of the washer. Only use detergent cleaners supplied or recommended by the manufacturer - ie. products specified for pressure washer usage.

• Do not allow the detergent to come into contact with the skin, eyes and mucous membranes, as it can cause burns.
•  In the event of contact with the detergent, immediately flush the applicable areas with plenty of clean water and consult a doctor if necessary. If medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand.

Depending on your model there are two ways of using detergent, from the gun or from a tank: 

1. Detergent bottle affixed to gun:

If you have the Qualcast or Spear & Jackson Q1W-SP09-1450 or McGregor MPW1470,  or a Cordless pressure washer, then your detergent bottle will affix to the end of your gun.

Using a bottle: 

1. Prepare the cleaning solution.
2. Unscrew the bottle cap of the detergent bottle. Fill the bottle with the detergent solution. Screw the bottle cap on tightly. 
3. Fit the detergent bottle to the trigger gun. 
4. Turn on the pressure washer. Pull the trigger to operate the unit. The liquid detergent will automatically mix with the water and be discharged through the nozzle. Apply the detergent to a DRY work surface, from the bottom to the top. 
5. Rinse with clean water under high pressure. On a vertical surface, rinse from the bottom up, and then rinse from the top down to avoid streaking. Hold the nozzle 6-8” (15-20 cm) from the work surface at a 45° angle.

2. Detergent Tank:

Most other models have a tank/container on the machine where the detergent-water mix goes into.

Using a tank:

1. Prepare the cleaning solution.
2. To lock the trigger for the spray gun, flip the yellow safety lock up until it locks in place [OR, for the Q1W-SP05-2200, lock the trigger by pushing the safety lock at the bottom of the handle].
3. Take the cap off the cleaner container and pull the hose out. 
4. Fill the container with the diluted cleaning solution. 
5. Guide the hose back into the cleaner container and screw the cap back on.

Spraying detergent:

1. Once you have followed the above steps, affix your variable pressure nozzle onto your spray gun.
2. Set the nozzle to lowest pressure. For the Q1W-SP05-2200 this means twisting the nozzle. For all other models it requires you to pull out the nozzle to a forward position. *Note: the detergent will only come out on the lowest pressure setting of your vario-pressure nozzle*.
3. Release the safety lock and depress the trigger of the spray gun to begin work.

^For models other than the Q1W-SP05-2200A

3. Yardforce Pressure Washers

• The EWU13A & the EWU15 use both the gun-affixed bottle & the detergent tank on the main body. 
• The EWU13 compact pressure washer (the one on the instructional video) only has a tank which is in the machine itself, accessible via a top lid. See below diagram. *Note: the detergent will only come out on the lowest pressure setting of your vario-pressure nozzle*.

Your nozzle cleaning pin will not be found in the box - this is because it is already slotted into your machine. Have a look at the unit, and you will find it in the side or rear of your machine. It is about the size of a postage stamp.

Our cordless pressure washers are not supplied with a nozzle pin, please ensure that your nozzles are kept clean, if you choose to use saltwater or water from a lake/stream, it is important to flush the machine through with fresh water at earliest opportunity to prevent any corrosion. 

If water is leaking from the gun/hose connection it can be caused by the hose not being securely connected to the spray gun. If your connection is a push fit, please retry the connection by pushing the hose into the spray gun and turn it until it locks, if your connection is a screw one please make sure that the screw cap at the end of the hose is not damaged.

If the above did not work the o-ring could be missing from the end on the hose, if you would please check the hose to see if the red/black is still in place, if not we can supply these to you free of charge if your machine is in the warranty period, if your machine is out of warranty then replacement o-rings can be purchased on our website.

If the o-ring is still in place then a replacement spray gun will be required, this can be supplied to you free of charge if you are in your warranty period or if the machine is outside the warranty period a replacement spray gun can be purchased on our website.

If water is leaking from the main unit then there could be a crack on the seal around the machine, this could also be caused by a seal coming away from the motor which would make the product leak water from underneath. If this is the case your product will likely need to be replaced.

Please live chat or raise a ticket and we'll be able to confirm.

If water is leaking from the trigger of the spray gun it means that a seal has gone when you pull in the trigger.  If water is leaking from the body of the spray gun this can be caused by a small pinhole on the seams.

This will require a replacement spray gun for your machine, if your machine is within the warranty period this can be sent to you free of charge under your warranty, if your machine is out of warranty then a replacement spray gun can be purchased on our website.

Over time the rubber o-rings can break or disintegrate.

If the o-ring is missing we can supply these to you free of charge if your machine is in the warranty period, if your machine is out of warranty then replacement o-rings can be purchased on our website.

Please contact our helpline or live chat with us or create a ticket.

If the inlet adaptor is broken or cracked this can be caused by it being screwed on too tight to the pressure washer.  If the inlet adaptor arrives damaged/missing from the box a replacement can be sent to you under your warranty.

Please contact our helpline or live chat with us or create a ticket.

If the extension tubes are leaking from the connection on either the end that connects to the patio cleaner or the end that connects to the spray gun, please check to see that there is no damage or debris that may have got stuck

A replacement extension tube can be purchased from our website

If the extension tubes are leaking from the middle connection or from the seams this can be caused by a crack in the tubes.

A replacement extension tube can be supplied to you free of charge if your machine is in the warranty period, if your machine is out of the warranty period the extension tube can be purchased on our website

If the hose is damaged this can be caused by wear and tear when dragging the hose across the ground, this can also be caused when the hose is not laid out correctly, please check one of the below to which best represents the damage on your hose.

• The black casing has split/torn
• The hose has a dent in it

If the hose is leaking this can be caused by a defect, please check one of the below to which best represents the damage on your hose.

• The hose has come away from the connection
• There is a pinhole on the casing
• There is a spit at either end of the hose. 

A replacement hose can be supplied to you free of charge if your machine is in the warranty period, if your machine is out of the warranty period the hose can be purchased on our website.