Showerthought: My cheap pressure washer almost cost me a $500 repair bill

I was cleaning my deck in Phoenix last month with a $90 Sun Joe model when it started surging and spraying erratically. I shut it off and found the inlet filter was clogged with grit from my garden hose, which was putting strain on the pump. I cleaned the filter and flushed the hose before the pump seals blew. Has anyone else had a budget tool fail because of a simple, overlooked step like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavinramirez2d ago

Oh man, that's actually a solid save! Honestly, that grit is more likely from your house pipes or the spigot itself than the hose.

the_iris2d ago

Wait, so my own pipes are the problem, @gavinramirez?

cameronschmidt1d ago

Yeah, that grit from your pipes can really mess with your washer's filter too.