Heavy-duty machineries, like cars, require proper care and maintenance to not just ensure that they’re running properly but also to ensure that they are still safe to operate. Commercial electric water blasters that are suited for personal and/or residential use might not seem hardcore enough to be considered heavy-duty machinery, especially when compared to petrol water blasters, but they are complex enough to require more than just baseline maintenance.
Maintenance and storage for water blasters
Most models usually come with a manual supplied by the manufacturer that includes a maintenance guide among other things. Generally, proper care for water blasters is divided into two main categories. The first deals with operational safety and involves steps to be taken before and during using water blasters. The second deals with off-season maintenance, which involves maintenance work during long-term storage when water blasters aren’t expected to be used, like during winter. Those two steps will be detailed in the following.
Operational maintenance for electric water blasters
Electric water blasters are composed of several interlocking parts and components that need to be checked and taken care of individually before using them. Even parts that might seem small and insignificant can cause you a lot of headache or worse, actual injury, if their conditions are not up to par. Some of the common steps performed before using water blasters include:
- Inspect the rubber ‘o rings’ on the ends of the high pressure hose and see if there’s any visible wear on them. Worn ‘o rings’ are one of the most common cause of leakage on water blasters. Due to the high pressure involved in water blasters, a leak could cause you actual injuries so replace any worn ‘o rings’ if there are any.
- Pressure washer nozzles get replaced all the time since different nozzles serve different purposes. Ergo, always check that you’re actually using the right nozzle for the job and that particular nozzle is secured in place.
- Always keep the nozzle open when the water blaster’s running. Pressure will build up inside the hose otherwise, which might damage the water blaster.
Maintenance and storing guide after using water blasters
Proper care for electric water blasters involve more than just simply turning it off and keeping them stored in your garage. Some of the components in water blasters, like the hose and the ‘o rings’ are thankfully easily replaceable so if any of those components are showing visible wear, don’t hesitate to replace them. Some of the tips for maintaining water blasters after usage and during storage include:
- Turn the pressure washer off first before cutting off the power source.
- Squeeze the trigger until all pressure is released and there are all leftover water has been drained out completely.
- Remove the detergent tank and clean it thoroughly with water to ensure that no chemicals are left and that the water coming out of the intake is clear.
- Detach the gun from the hose and clean it with water like you did with the detergent tank.
- Detach the house from the water blaster and again, clean it thoroughly with water.
- Remove the power cord from the water blaster and store it on its designated place on the water blaster. Do the same thing with the high pressure hose.
- Store the pressure washer and all of its disconnected components somewhere that won’t be ravaged by the weather and the extreme cold.
- Try to check your water blaster from time to time and give it a go during an extended off period to see if it’s still working properly.
Specific models might come with unique maintenance procedure but the common steps outlined above should work with most models as they use the same basic structure and design. Because private and residential use of pressure washers are far from a regularity, maintenance of water blasters, especially electric ones that have a reputation of being easy to use is rarely a priority. Like any tool though, proper care and maintenance need to be taken to ensure longevity.