There are different reasons why your Craftsman Pressure Washer may not building pressure and not spray. This article discusses those reasons and the solutions to each of them.
But before you continue reading this article, you may first watch the short video I’ve made about this topic. You can watch it below.
On the video, I discuss the 4 reasons why a Craftsman electric pressure washer might not build pressure. They are water supply problems, faulty spray gun and trigger, pump issues, and faulty unloader valve.
4 Ways to Solve Craftsman Pressure Washer Not Building Pressure
1. Check the water supply
To fix my pressure washer I inspected the very first thing which is the water source, if there is not enough water being received by the washer the pressure wont build.
So I started by checking the water supply to the pressure washer. It is very important that the washer receives an adequate amount of water from the faucet so I checked if the faucet had enough water pressure itself.
Related: My 3 Tips for Fixing a Craftsman Electric Pressure Washer not Starting or Working
Make sure the hose is not kinked or restricted and that there is a smooth and continuous flow of water. You can also use a bucket as a water source to feed the pressure washer water but make sure to place the bucket not too higher than the washer or not too lower.
2. Inspect the Spray Gun and Trigger
A wrong nozzle can stop the water from coming out of the Craftsman pressure washer and make the spray slow. I removed the nozzle and tested the spray of the washer.
I did this to see if the pressure of the washer was correct or not, if not the nozzle might be the problem. It is important to make sure that the nozzle I was using was free of any dirt built up that caused the low pressure.
So I began removing it from the hose and checked for any blockage. Make sure to use the nozzle made for the Craftsman pressure washer only.
If you find any debris in the nozzle make sure to clean it using a small pin to return the pressure or try out a different one to test if the pressure returns.
Related: How to Fix Craftsman Pressure Washer Soap Dispenser Not Working: 5 Tips
3. Pump Issues
The Craftsman electric pressure washer uses an electric motor to send out pressure and if you are not able to achieve water pressure from the washer it might be the motor that is at fault and needs to be replaced.
I could not find any fault till now and my only option was to see if the motor was faulty or not so I got to work.
I removed the plastic covering by removing the screws that held it in place, after that I was able to access the internals of the pressure washer.
Once you remove the cover you will see a white cover which is holding the motor behind it. It can easily slide out of the way and you don’t have to open any screws.
After that I took a look at the motor to see any burning signs or motor damage. Inspect your motor thoroughly to look for signs of burning or water damage that might cause the motor to not work, if you find any replacing the motor can fix your problem.
Related: How to Fix Craftsman Electric Pressure Washer Keep Shutting Off: 5 Tips
4. Check the Unloader Valve
The unloader valve is very important for a pressure washer and its job is to redirect the pressure safely so it doesn’t buildup and damage the pump when you are not using it or when you have not pressed the trigger.
I opened the pump to see if that was the problem. I disassembled the pressure washer until I reached the motor unit, then I inspected the valve inside the washer and removed it to see if it was clogged or not.
If it is filled with dirt or debris it might be the reason as to why your pressure washer is not building pressure.
Clean the debris using a sharp tool and clean water to fix the issue and regain the water washer in your Craftsman electric pressure washer.
If you are comfortable enough you can also disassemble and clean the unloader valve to fix this issue, pull the unloader valve lock out and make sure that there is a spring in the valve before removing it.
