Pressure Washer Issues

**BLACKWRX** · 08-07-2006, 02:48 PM

okay i have a my a water tank.....the water spout is at the bottom.....i plug the hose in.......i make sure water is coming out......i plug it into the pressure washer......start the pressure washer....and nothing.......nothing water doesnt come out......
if i plug the pressure washer up to my hose.....i have no problems
is my pressure washer pump just not strong enough......
however if i keep pressure in the pressure washer hose line.......it works
why is this.....and if so how can i correct this problem?
thanks

**GearHead_1** · 08-07-2006, 03:07 PM

Is your tanks outlet higher than the inlet on the pressure washer? If not this could be your problem. Perhaps your pressure washer doesn`t have the ability to create a vacuum (suck) some don`t. They just aren`t designed to pull but rather push. Some pumps will and some won`t. These type of pumps require the water to be delivered to the inlet, some require that it be delivered under pressure (20 lbs for instance). Don`t know if this is what you are up against or not.

**Joe's Detail** · 08-07-2006, 04:37 PM

i would get a pump between the water tank and the pressure washer. Its the safest way. Most power washers pumps need about 20-25 psi to operate correctly, without this the pump will not last long. I burnt out a pump just letting it run off gravity.

What kind of power washer is it?

**BLACKWRX** · 08-07-2006, 09:21 PM

coleman briggs and stratton....the water tank sits up in the truck bed and i place the pressure washer on the ground.......its like i need to hook it up to a hose let let it spray for a few seconds getting alll the air out and to build pressure in the pw hose......then i hook it up to the tank and its fine.....but if i loose pressure(in the pressure washing hose) and iam out in the middle of no where i am screwed......

**dr_detail** · 08-07-2006, 09:33 PM

an image of the type of pump you have would help in finding a solution

**GearHead_1** · 08-07-2006, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by BLACKWRX

coleman briggs and stratton....the water tank sits up in the truck bed and i place the pressure washer on the ground.......its like i need to hook it up to a hose let let it spray for a few seconds getting alll the air out and to build pressure in the pw hose......then i hook it up to the tank and its fine.....but if i loose pressure(in the pressure washing hose) and iam out in the middle of no where i am screwed......

You do understand the point I was trying to make in stating that the pump isn`t designed to pull water? It doesn`t matter the brand or the engine`s horse power rating. Some pumps just won`t do it.

**karwaxer** · 08-09-2006, 03:29 PM

try priming the pump. Fill your tank and have the water running out of the hose as you hook it to the pressurewasher, youll get a little wet but I had to do this to one of my washers and it worked. Just dont let your tank run dry or dont disconnect the hose if you do you will have to prime it again

**ajbarnes** · 08-11-2006, 06:03 PM

I have a full port ball valve (good water flow) on my tank along with a short 2 ft. hose (the shorter the better) that is connected to a Water Ace pump, then I have another 2 ft. hose from the pump connected to the pressure washer. I first open the valve on the tank, then plug the pump in, let the water run for a few seconds, then I connect the hose to the water tank (as "karwaker" said, you`ll get a little wet) while the water is running, then I squeeze the trigger on the gun to let air out and to get the water circulating, and finally choke the pressure washer and start it up. You can get a Water Ace pump or a Shurflo pump from a local Lowes, Home Depot, or a boat supply dealer.