The Importance of Cleaning Your Pressure Washer Nozzles

We all know pressure washer nozzles come in different styles. Nozzles with smaller holes put out more pressure, and nozzles with bigger holes put out less pressure. These different nozzles with their different pressures can be useful for different tasks. You might use a nozzle with more pressure for concrete and one with a little less pressure for decking. You may use one for metal chairs that you would not use on your vinyl siding.

So, knowing what we do about nozzles with smaller holes, what would happen if the one of these nozzles started to become clogged? The more clogged it becomes, the smaller the hole becomes, which means higher pressure. Higher pressure means more work for the engine and the pump.

Imagine if you were blowing through a straw and someone placed a wet piece of cloth over the end. You’d have to blow a lot harder to get the same amount of air flow through the straw. The same applies with pressure washers. The pump is like our lungs, the hose is like the straw, and the clogged nozzle is like the wet cloth. The pump is going to be working extra hard to push the water through that clogged nozzle.

To clear the blockage in your nozzle and prevent over-exerting your pressure washer, follow these few steps.

Unclogging Your Nozzle Remove the nozzle If you clear the blockage without taking the nozzle off, it’ll likely just clog again. Using a straightened paperclip, try digging and poking the blockage backwards out of the hole. Hold the nozzle by the sides with the front of the nozzle facing you. Using the paperclip, try pushing the clog back the way it came.  Rinse the nozzle thoroughly front and back Replace the nozzle and go.

If the nozzle remains clogged, remove it and try clearing it out with a paperclip again. Just remember that reversing the clog is the best way to unclog it. Push it back the way it came from. If you have a lot of trouble getting it unclogged, try soaking it in hot water and then attempt it again.