Hot Water Pressure Washer Problems

RTR · Jul 10, 2018

Hey guys. We have a Hotsy hot water pressure wash and have had some problems with it lately. It was in the shop last year and worked fine about 2 times before we had problems again. This time the pressure coming out of the gun is very light. Reminds me of the "spot free rinse" in automatic car washes. Now when it first started doing it, it would sometimes have normal pressure when you first pressed the trigger only to go to the lower pressure. Now it is lower pressure all the time. Secondly, it is trying to burn to heat the water but it is burning in spurts and smoking black smoke. Not sure if the problems are related or not.

We have a brand new unit we have never used ......bought it last time we got this one out of the shop. I'm just trying to get this one going and working, and am trying to fix it myself rather than spend another $600 on it so soon. Here is a video showing the problem.

https://youtu.be/72hv7mkgIWM

JD Seller · Jul 10, 2018

The uneven pressure is usually the unloader valve. The unloader valve can also have a sensor on them that shuts the burner off if your not using any water. This way it does not over heat the water if your not washing.

One question?? Do you have hard water??? That will plug things up.

I put a filter/chemical inductor on my washer. It puts a polyphosphate into the water. The calcium is changed so it will not bond to the internal parts of the washer. The Brand is Scaltrol The unit we use is SC-100 from Pressure Washer Parts.com

I installed these 4-5 years ago and it greatly reduced the repair bills on the washer.

PS if you do have scale in your current washer you can use Muriatic acid to clean it. Mix 1/2 gallons of acid with 2 gallons of water. Remove the nozzle first. LOL It will plug with the stuff that comes loose. Then run the mixture through your washer without any heat. Mine has a tank with a float that the washer pump sucks water out of. So all I have to do is dump the mixture in it. When it has sucked it down I just turn the water back on to flush it out. If there is any calcium in there it will come out. The first time I did mine I got a five gallon bucket full out of it.

RTR · Jul 10, 2018

(quoted from post at 03:07:42 07/11/18) The uneven pressure is usually the unloader valve. The unloader valve can also have a sensor on them that shuts the burner off if your not using any water. This way it does not over heat the water if your not washing.

One question?? Do you have hard water??? That will plug things up.

I put a filter/chemical inductor on my washer. It puts a polyphosphate into the water. The calcium is changed so it will not bond to the internal parts of the washer. The Brand is Scaltrol The unit we use is SC-100 from Pressure Washer Parts.com

I installed these 4-5 years ago and it greatly reduced the repair bills on the washer.

PS if you do have scale in your current washer you can use Muriatic acid to clean it. Mix 1/2 gallons of acid with 2 gallons of water. Remove the nozzle first. LOL It will plug with the stuff that comes loose. Then run the mixture through your washer without any heat. Mine has a tank with a float that the washer pump sucks water out of. So all I have to do is dump the mixture in it. When it has sucked it down I just turn the water back on to flush it out. If there is any calcium in there it will come out. The first time I did mine I got a five gallon bucket full out of it.

Is there a way to pull a plug and clean out a trap or something where debris might get stuck or collected? Do you hunk that is my problem from watching the video? We do have a water softener system but that Pressure Washer was bought used 2 years ago.

JD Seller · Jul 10, 2018

No the stuff get on the inside of the coils. If you have been running soft water through it you should be fine. So you need to look online for a parts break down on your model washer. The unloader valves usually are under $50. You just replace them usually.

RTR · Jul 10, 2018

(quoted from post at 04:38:00 07/11/18) No the stuff get on the inside of the coils. If you have been running soft water through it you should be fine. So you need to look online for a parts break down on your model washer. The unloader valves usually are under $50. You just replace them usually.

Did you watch the video ? Is the valve moving back and forth in the video the unloader valve ?

Hot Water Pressure Washer Problems

RTR

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JD Seller

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RTR

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JD Seller

Well-known Member

RTR

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