My Craftsman pressure is one of the best tools that I own as it has helped me clean my cars since the last two years. It makes the hassle of cleaning my car so easy that even cleaning seems fun.
However last week it started to act suspicious. The soap dispenser was no longer spraying out soap and there was only water that was coming out of the hose.
Before you go on reading the rest of this article, you can first watch the short video I made about how I fixed my Craftsman pressure washer when its soap dispenser didn’t work. The video is down below.
To fix this issue, I ensure proper soap dilution, check the tube inside the soap applicator, inspect and remove any clogs, make sure water supply is good, and use the correct soap applicator or nozzle.
I was left confused and I didn’t know what to do until I came up with these 5 solutions that helped me fix my Craftsman Pressure Washer Soap Dispenser Not Working.
So if you are someone who is facing this problem, just follow the steps below to fix it.
5 Ways to Fix Craftsman Pressure Washer Soap Dispenser Not Working
Fix 1 – Ensure Proper Soap Dilution
I have learned this fix after years of using my pressure washer that adding more soap into the soap dispenser doesn’t mean a better washing. The soap dispenser can only take so much soap before clogging itself with foam.
I always make sure to use 1 part soap and 10 parts water for cars and increase the concentration only if needed in specific cases.
I also make sure to use washer specific detergent or soap for my pressure washer, make sure to use only Craftsman certified soap for their pressure water and keep the dilution perfect.
Fix 2 – Inspect for Clogs in Soap Applicator
After making sure that the soap dilution is correct or not I made sure to check the soap applicator for clogs or blockages due to debris.
This is important as it is the part where the soap comes out from and if it is clogged with water it can stop dispensing soap or work properly.
Clean the opening of the applicator with a soft brush or clean water to ensure there are no blockages and the soap comes out properly.
Fix 3 – Check the Soap Tube
The soap tube is not a new part of the pressure water but if you are still not sure as to what it is, it is the tube that is connected to the applicator and goes inside the soap solution bottle to carry the soapy solution and spray it out.
If the soap tube or pipe is clogged it won’t dispense any soap and stop the pressure from working properly. Remove the solution bottle and make sure the tube is free from any debris of blockages.
Fix 4 – Verify Water Supply and Pump Function
Now this one was a very dumb mistake from my side until my friend pointed it out. Even though I call myself an expert I forgot to properly feed my pressure water with water.
It turns out my washer was placed too above the water source. If you are using a bucket to feed the pressure washer water make sure it is not positioned too low from the machine.
As soon as I realized this mistake and fixed it the Craftsman pressure water started working fine again and it dispensed soap perfectly.
Fix 5 – Use the Correct Soap Nozzle/Applicator
The Craftsman Pressure Washer is made to be used and dispenses soap only when it is attached with a proper soap nozzle made by Craftsman. While I tried using the washer without the applicator it didn’t work for me.
It would only result in water coming out of the house, not even with a good pressure. Make sure to use the proper Craftsman nozzle/applicator to ensure the soap dispenses properly and the washer works perfectly.
If you have misplaced your applicator or if it’s broken, replacing it with a new one can fix the problems for you.
It’s very important that you know how to use the Craftsman pressure washer soap dispenser properly in order to avoid this problem, so I also made a video about this topic which you can watch below.
You just need to follow 3 simple steps: open the soap applicator and fill it with suitable detergent, attach the soap applicator to the spray gun, and lastly turn on the pressure washer and start dispense soap.
