Tech – Tip: Winterize Your Pressure Washer
Use Mi-T-M Pump Saver Solution to Winterize Your Pressure Washer
The cold weather will be here soon so don’t forget to winterize your pressure washer…
Winterizing your pressure washer is very important not only to keep your unit’s components from freezing but to also extend the life of the pressure washer itself.
Many pressure washer providers recommend using windshield wash to keep a unit’s coils and plumbing system from freezing. This tactic is inappropriate for pressure washers and other pieces of equipment with carbon steel coils. Windshield wash has a mixture of about 32% Methanol which attacks carbon steel and when heated can increase the damaging effects it has on carbon steel.
Instead, we recommend using Mi-T-M pump saver solution to winterize your pressure washer. It’s fast and easy. First disconnect all hoses and the spray gun wand and assembly and drain as much water as possible from them. On a gas powered pressure washer, attach the pump saver solution bottle directly to the water inlet and turn the knob on the bottle to the open position. Then pull the recoil start a couple of times until the liquid coming out of the discharge is 100% solution.
On an electric powered pressure washer, attach the pump saver solution, like a gas unit, directly to the water inlet and turn the knob to the open position. Once the bottle is in place, squeeze the bottle while turning the pressure washer on until the liquid coming out is 100% solution.
After you have completed using the pump saver solution, your pressure washer is ready to be stored for the winter.
Tech Tip: Hot Water Pressure Washer Troubleshooting
Standard HEG Hot Water Pressure Washer Troubleshooting
What to do if the burner is not firing and how to check the MV terminal.
First things first, make sure the unit has a pilot flame. If it does then the next thing to check is if the ignition control box is seeing the flame correctly by checking the MV terminal on the hot water pressure washer. Every HEG unit has an ignition control box that is powered with a 24V AC the minute the pressure washer motor starts.
The ignition control box is mounted to the left of the water pump under a black metal cover. When a unit is started, the ignition control will create a spark and open the pilot solenoid on the gas valve to light the pilot flame. Once the ignition control box senses the pilot flame, it will send 24 volts of AC power out through the MV terminal. To check it properly, use a voltmeter by putting the black lead on the TR ground terminal and the red lead on the TH terminal.
So why is the MV terminal so important to check?
Because without the 24 volts of AC power that is sent out through the MV terminal no other part of the burner circuit will work. It’s the AC power that will power the main valve on the gas valve that’s used to light the burner ring. Regardless of what options are included, all HEG units have the same power circuit process. So, if there isn’t any power that is being sent out through the MV terminal, the sensing circuit on the machine is not satisfied. Make sure to check this terminal in the first steps of troubleshooting to narrow the variables down to the pilot flame, sensing rod and wire, or the ignition control box itself. On isolated occasions, the grounding of the unit can affect the sensing circuits, so keep this in mind while working on these units. But typically, if your ignition control box is sending out 24 volts of AC power through the MV terminal, then it’s simply a pressure switch or thermostat replacement that’s needed.
Ignition Control Box Showing MV Terminal
Tech Tip: Kerosene Forced Air (KFA) Portable Heaters Not Lighting Up
For the Mi-T-M Pressure Washer Certified Technician.
Possible Cause #1
If you are trying to light your KFA Portable Heater and you notice little or no air pressure registering on the pressure gauge, there may be an issue with one of the following components:
1. Fuel filter
2. Air hose
3. Air pump rotor
Solution:
– Check to make sure the air pump filters and fuel filter are clean.
– Check for a hole(s) in the air hose that connects the air pump to the burner nozzle. If you do not find any holes, remove and inspect the air pump rotor for cracks and damage.
– Replace the air hose or air pump rotor based on the root of the cause. When replacing the air pump rotor, you must set the proper gap at the top of the carbon rotor. To do this have the rotor in place and the outer steel ring loose, then place the .004 inch gauge between the top of the rotor and the bottom of the outer ring. Tighten the bolts in the steel ring.
– Next, rotate the air pump rotor clockwise and recheck the .004 inch air gap every 1⁄4 turn from the same top location.
– Reset the outer ring if any locations are less than .004 inch.
Possible Cause #2
If the proper air pressure is registering on the pressure gauge (see heater decal for proper pressure) and the heater sprays fuel, but you still cannot light up your KFA Portable Heater, there may be an issue with one of the following components:
1. Control board
2. Igniter (which is mounted underneath the fan pictured below)
Solution:
Disconnect the igniter wires from the control board and check for voltage on the control board. The voltage will need to be checked within 1 – 3 seconds of turning the heater on/off switch to the on position. The voltmeter should read 120 volts AC. If there is no voltage, you will need to replace the control board. If voltage is present on the control board, that means that your igniter is more than likely the issue and you will need to replace it.
Tech Tip: Portable Kerosene Heaters
For the Mi-T-M Pressure Washer Certified Technician.
Heater Season Again
The most common heaters you will see in the field are the Portable Kerosene Heaters (or Kerosene Forced Air, KFA). To best help you tackle issues with these heaters, new or used; here are some initial questions our Tech Team will ask you.
1)What is your air pressure?
There is a small carbon vain pump on the back of the fan motor that creates air (typically under 10 PSI) that pumps through the burner head creating a venture to lift the fuel and spray (atomize). So if there’s poor or no air pressure, then there’s poor or no fuel atomization.
Fan motor and air pump assembly
2) What is the condition of the fuel?
Good and proper fuel is vital. Old or poor fuel can clog up filters, nozzles and not light correctly.
3) Is there a good spark?
At start up, our KFA Heaters will have spark for 20 seconds. The spark is only for initial lighting; the flame stays lit based on proper air and fuel balance.
4) Is the heater lighting?
If the heater is lighting and how the heater is shutting down are very important indicators. For example, the most common heater problems is when the heater will start, light, run for a few seconds or minutes and then shut down and smoke. Any smoking is a sign of incorrect fuel/air mixture and in most cases is caused by poor fuel atomization at the nozzle. After double checking the air pressure, we would recommend new fuel, a new fuel filter, and cleaning or replacing the fuel nozzle.
Ignitor
For more information on equipment service or repair, visit our service locator here.