When you want to clean a large outdoor area doing so with just your pressure washer spray wand and a quick connect nozzle, well, it’s not going to be a good time. It’s going to take a long time. There’s a high chance you’ll leave score marks in your concrete. This is where your surface cleaning comes in. This thing is designed for cleaning those large outdoor areas; used properly, you won’t get random scoring, just perfectly clean concrete.
So what do you do when your surface cleaner does not spin? The first question is why my pressure washer surface cleaner won’t spin? This can be because your surface cleaner’s sealant, which sits on the spray nozzles’ threads, has clogged up. This sealant can interfere with how the nozzle works, which can stop the surface cleaner from spinning.
Your pressure washer cleaner will pick up a lot of dirt and debris during use, and if not cleaned properly, it can cause it to not work properly. Other problems can lead to your surface cleaner to stop spinning.
Surface Cleaner Is Not Spinning
There are times when you walk outside and notice that your patio floor is dirtier than you will except. It’s in this moment that you rush to grab your pressure washer surface cleaner only to find that it just won’t work; you pull the trigger, and it stopped spinning.
Without this function, well, it’s basically useless. Here are some issues which can be the reason.
- The surface cleaner’s sealant is clogging up the spray nozzles.
- You may have to add new grease to the bearings/swivel.
- You may need to change the inline filters to remove trapped dirt.
- Your pressure washer senses that it is overheating and turns everything off.
- A small stone is preventing the rotation.
These are just some of the reasons as to what is stopping pressure washer surface cleaner from spinning. Some people find that the jets still shoot out water but doesn’t spin, while others have to found that their surface cleaner only spins if they tilt it.
Fortunately, you have a few options to pick and choose from that will allow you to fix your surface cleaner.
My first tip is to check your warranty wording to make sure you won’t void your warranty if you do your own repairs to your surface cleaner.
How To Fix Your Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner
Several things may affect your surface cleaner from spinning. With a little bit of knowledge, knowing what is causing your pressure washers surface cleaner from cleaning can easily be troubleshooted. Think of it as a diagnostic test.
Clogged Nozzle
First of all, if your spray nozzles are blocked, there are a few things you can do to clear them.
- Unscrew the nozzles and wash them in a bucket or your sink with soapy water. This is so that the hot soapy water can entirely engulf the nozzle.
- As you are washing the nozzles, use something small enough to enter the nozzle and take out any dirt.
- Remove the sealant on the threads and find something like tape to put on the threads. After you are done with the threads, you can now put everything back together.
Overheating Pressure Washer
If your pressure washer is overheating, it will shut itself off via its thermostat. Perhaps you’ve been using your pressure washer in an enclosed space with a low level of cool air, then there won’t be any cool air to keep your engine from heating up.
Even if you are outside, if the weathers:
- Hot
- Sticky
- Humid
This environment can cause the same results, that being your pressure washer overheating. If this happens, you’ll need to let your pressure washer cool down to a cooler temperature before you start it back up again.
This is why it’s important to learn about the differences between gas vs. electric, so you know their pros and cons.
If you are working in a situation where your pressure washer gets too hot, reduce your washing time. Yeah, it’ll extend the total duration of the clean, but preventing your pressure washer from overheating is best.
Manufacturer’s Warranty
There’s a range of ways to fix your surface cleaner, though there will be times when it’s best not to fix it yourself. Some manufacturers go out of their way to prevent the customer from repairing their units.
Sometimes they add screws that require specialist screwdrivers, specialist tools that repairmen will normally only have. Sometimes the repair costs outweigh the price of a new surface cleaner.
Make sure to check what your warranty covers. Some will cover repairs that can only be performed by the manufacturer. Others will allow a third-party servicer to take care of your surface cleaner. The best ones will send a technician to your home to look at your surface cleaner.
If a technician comes to your home, you’ll usually need to fill out an agreement. The agreement will state that if the technician finds signs of poor handling or neglect, then the cost of the technician’s time and repairs will be taken care of by you.
If your warranty has expired, then you’ll want to get stuck in and find the cause of the problem yourself. Some surface cleaner servicers will repair your unit without needing a valid warranty, though at your cost.
Gas Versus Electric Pressure Washer
Both of these types of pressure washers are great to use, but which one you’ll use will come down to your personal preference and also your target price range.
Choosing Electric
Electric pressure washers will produce less PSI than what a gas pressure washer can put out. This is because electric pressure washers will only create typically up to 3000 Pounds per square inch (PSI), and that’s on the highest end of the scale. Your gas pressure washer will blast through that PSI range.
While your gas power washer is much more powerful than your electric pressure washer, there are the following pros to electric:
- They are lightweight, making them easy to transport around
- They are low maintenance, typically just plug them in and turn them on
- They don’t need oil or gas to run, which keeps the running costs low
There are some cons to an electric pressure washer, though:
- They are bound to a power outlet
- The power cord will only reach so far
- You may need to bring in an extension cord
If you are providing a pressure washing service, then you’ll want to make sure that you can access electrical outlets at the properties that you’ll be cleaning. Otherwise, you may find that you won’t be providing any service.
Electric pressure washers are usually made from inexpensive materials, so they are usually the low-cost option. This means that they can become easily damaged and typically have a short lifespan (usually rated in hours); this life span is much lower than your gas pressure washers running hours.
An electric pressure washer is great when you have ample amounts of electric outlets at your disposal.
Going with Gas
Having a gas pressure washers means that you can set up your own business of providing a cleaning service to others. Gas is more heavy-duty, so it can handle much more strain.
Gas pressure washers will produce huge amounts of PSI.
The higher the PSI, the more range of services you’ll be able to provide. Also, graffiti and oil won’t stand a chance against the pressure of a gas unit.
The cost of a gas pressure washer is much higher than that of an electric, but it produces higher PSI, they are more durable. They are also bigger and need wheels to move them around due to their weight.
If you use your pressure washer more than once or twice a week, then it’s recommended that you service it every 3 months or so, making sure to replace the oil. If you use it every now and then, then you can service it once a year.
If you want your gas pressure washer to last, then maintenance checks are essential.
How to Choose a Surface Cleaner
When choosing the right pressure washer surface cleaner, try to figure out what it is that you need. There are two types that you can choose from.
- Consumer-Grade: This is your entry-level surface cleaner for those who rarely use one and don’t have large areas to clean
- Professional-Grade: You have a business that tackles heavy dirt and grime daily. These can handle high PSI ranges and are incredibly durable.
If you’ve never cleaned with one before, then you need to clean your driveway with it; trust me, once you’ve cleaned with a surface cleaner, you won’t do it by hand again!
If you have a large area to clean, then a 10″ surface cleaner is the minimum requirement.
If you are worried about tracks being left on your newly cleaned floors, look for a surface cleaner with a non-marking track.
A splash guard is a great optional extra that will stop water from spraying and ruining your outside appearances. Brush skirts also keep the dirt your surface cleaner comes across within itself, rather than spraying out everywhere.
You want your surface cleaner to be able to handle high-pressure connections, so make sure that the PSI of your surface cleaner can handle the PSI of your pressure washer.
Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner Brands
There are many surface cleaner brands to choose from, the manufacturer of your pressure washer will have their own, no doubt. But three brands that put out excellent surface cleaners are:
- Ryobi
- Karcher
- Craftsman
RYOBI 12 in. 2,300 PSI Electric Pressure Washers Surface Cleaner
- QUICK- CONNECT SYSTEM offers easy attachment/detachment allowing you to move quickly between jobs
- 4X FASTER than a standard spray nozzle
- ROTATING JETS that give you a large streak free clearing path
Ryobi offers two pressure washer surface cleaners. These are:
- Yellow 15 inch Gas Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner
- Black 12 inch Electric Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner
Both the Ryobi 3300 PSI 15″ Gas Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner and the Ryobi 2300 PSI 12″ Electric Pressure Washer Cleaner Surface Cleaner works best with:
- Driveways
- Patios
- Sidewalks
- Other hard surfaces
These are 15 inch and 12-inch surface cleaners which will clean at least 4X faster than a standard pressure washer nozzle. These surface cleaners have jets that rotate on their own, making your pathway clear of any streaks.
These have a ¼ inch quick connect that allows you to attach your surface cleaner to your pressure washer easily.
The difference between these two Ryobi surface cleaners is that the 15″ gas surface cleaner connects to all pressure washers that have a PSI rating of 2500 to 3000 PSI. The 12″ electric surface cleaner will be able to attach itself to most electric pressure washers that have a PSI rating that goes up to 2300 PSI, that and the gas one is larger.
Karcher Universal 15" Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner Attachment, Power Washer Accessory - 1/4" Quick-Connect, 3200 PSI
- Universal Compatibility: Easily connects to wands with a standard ¼” quick-connect fitting. Compatible with most pressure washers rated 2600-3200 PSI up to 2.7 GPM
- Cleaner; Quicker: Delivers professional level cleaning over an area 15” wide with two spinning nozzles instead of one, significantly reducing your cleaning time and water usage
- Multi-Surface Cleaner: Perfect for cleaning large surfaces such as concrete, driveways, patios, decks, sidewalks and more. It can also be used to clean hard vertical surfaces like brick and stucco
Karcher has three exceptional surface cleaners for you to choose from.
- 15″ Surface Cleaner
- T300 Deck and Driveway Cleaner
- 11″ Surface Cleaner
The Karcher 15 inch Surface Cleanercan be used with both an electric and gas pressure washer with a PSI rating of up to 3200 PSI. It uses quick-connect connections to make attaching it easy.
This 15 inch Surface Cleaner comes with two spray nozzles that rotate, and it can also clean vertically with is a plus as you can clean your garage doors and the siding of your home. Karcher claims that the 15″ Surface Cleaner prevents streaks from happening because of the height of the nozzles.
Karcher's T300 Surface Cleaner is excellent for the following:
- Deck
- Patio
- Driveway
- Garage Floors
This model comes with an 11-inch cleaning head and a 32-inch extension wand. There is also a splash guard that helps you dry during use.
The T300 Surface Cleaner is only compatible with its Karcher’s electric pressure washers, which include:
- K2 Model
- K3 Model
- K4 Model
- K5 Model
The T300 Surface Cleaner is not compatible with these other models:
- K1700 Model
- K1800 Model
- K1900 Model
- K2000 Model
Karcher also has this 11″ Surface Cleaner. This surface cleaner works with models up to a PSI range of up to 2000 PSI. The two nozzles rotate and can clean vertically.
Briggs & Stratton 6328 6196 Spray Nozzle, Black
- Cleans up to 4 times faster than a 40 degree pressure washer nozzle
- Glides across surfaces for easy maneuvering such as garage floors, driveways, decks, and more
- Dome controls overspray to protect walls and flower beds
If you look on the Craftsman website, you’ll notice that you’ll struggle to find a surface clean, but you may also notice that they are partnered with Briggs & Stratton.
For Craftsman surface cleaners, you’ll need to check third party sites such as:
- Lowe’s
- Ace Hardware
- Amazon
- Atwood’s
- Blain’s Farm and Fleet
- Menards
- NAPA
If you find that your craftsman won’t stop check this article out.
The Briggs & Stratton 14-inch rotating surface cleaner and the 18″ heavy-duty rotating surface cleaner are both great for:
- Garage Floors
- Driveways
- Patios
- Sidewalks
- Decks – Just make sure your deck has been built using the best wood screws otherwise you risk your decking coming loose
- Other outdoor surfaces
This 14-inch surface cleaner features two spray nozzles. It’s also able to control the overspray to protect your walls or garden. This works best with most gas pressure washers that have a range of up to 3400 PSI.
Craftsman’s partners with Briggs & Stratton’s 18″ Heavy Duty Surface Cleaner is more expensive, but it’s compatible with gas pressure washers from 2800 to 4200 PSI.
The 18″ version is made of heavy-duty steel. This has three caster wheels, so it can be easily maneuvered. This is the surface cleaner you want if you use your pressure washer daily.
Closing Thoughts
Surface cleaners are amazing, but like any tool, they need maintenance, and sometimes things go wrong. Hopefully, I’ve helped you fix your surface cleaner and that it’s now spinning happily, and you’re about to go clean some large spaces!
