Can You Run a Pressure Washer Without Water? (Answered)

A pressure washer is an important thing to clean any type of surface easily. In this article, we are going to discuss whether we can run a pressure washer without water or not. Stick to the end of this article for your desired answer.

Running a pressure washer without water

We can run a pressure washer without water but it should not be done so. It is harmful and can cause serious irreparable damage to the machine. Water helps to keep the machine cool and lubricates the pump to run smoothly. That is why it is not recommended to run the machine in absence of water.

A pressure washer is a simple machine that helps the user to clean any surface easily and within a short period.  It can run without water but running it for a few seconds can cause irreparable damage.

It is never a good idea to run a pressure washer without water. Water is the main component of a pressure washer machine. Water helps to keep the machine cool and lubricates the pump to run smoothly.

So, if the machine is runningin absence of water, the motor will get overheatedand the pump will also get damaged due to working much harder than previouslycausing the entire system to break down.

A pressure washer machine is not supposed to run without water. A pressure washer runs very smoothly and does not make any unusual sound in presence of water but while running in absence of water for a long time it starts to make some odd sound causing serious damage to the motor.

A pressure washer machine will run a maximum of 3 to 4 times without water. After that, it will stop working and will need to be repaired by a technician.

So, if there is no water available around, we should attach a water tank or barrel with the pressure washer. It may serve for a very short time but still, it will save the pressure washer from getting destroyed.

Will it hurt a pressure washer to run without water?

Yes, definitely it will hurt a pressure washer to run without water. A pressure washer is supposed to run with water. When water runs inside a pressure washer, the temperature of the motor gets lowered and the components get lubricated.

Water is essential as it protects the motor from getting overheated and keeps the machine cool. If we run a pressure washer machine without water, its inner units will get seriously harmed due to overheating and insufficient lubrication.

The machine will make an odd and unusual sound. This does not good for the machine and the machine may stop working suddenly. So, we should not run a pressure washer without water for our betterment.

What happens if a pressure washer runs without water?

There are several reasons why we should not run a pressure washer without water. If something happens, it will severely damage the pressure washer machine.

It is recommended to run the pressure washer with water from the start. As damage can occur within a very few seconds, we should be aware of that. If a pressure washer runs without water, the things that may happen are:

Damage to inner units:

The pressure washer needs water to run. Water keeps a pressure washer motor cool and lubricates the pump to run fluidly. However, when a pressure washer is run without water the damage in the inner units is just a matter of time.

The motor needs to work harder than previously. As a result, it gets overheated and damaged.

Besides, the pump also cannot work smoothly due to having insufficient lubricant. That is why a pressure washer should not be run in absence of water.

Pressure washer making an unusual sound:

When a pressure washer runs without water for a long time, it makes an odd and unusual sound.

It makes such sound due to the absence of water. If the pressure washer is not turned off even after hearing such a sound, the machine will get destroyed within a few seconds.

Warranty will be void:

A well-branded pressure washer comes with a long warranty. If something happens to the pressure washer while working with it using water, a warranty can be claimed.

But, if the machine gets damaged or destroyed while running without water, the warranty gets void. So, ultimately it is a great loss.

There are a lot of damage that can happen if the pressure washer runs without water.

Although the damages may not often be apparent right away, the more times you operate your pressure washer with no water, the greater the chance that you may break it.

Keep in mind that if somehow the pump or the engine breaks, you will be unable to operate your pressure washer. Additionally, it’s possible that you’ll also have to repair the sealing and valves.

Throughout this instance, finding the perfect pressure washer can be more cost-effective than fixing or replacing the damaged components.

How long can you run a pressure washer without water?

Though there are no proper data available on how long we can run a pressure washer without water it is assumed that, if a pressure washer is run in absence of water for 3 to 4 seconds, it will get destroyed.

Sometimes, the pressure washer can run for some more time without water but it should not be done so. If we unintentionally start the pressure washer without water, we should immediately turn it off.

Water is the most essential thing which helps a pressure washer machine to run. Without water, some serious damage to the machine may take place.

The machine makes a loud and unusual sound. While making this kind of sound, if it is not turned off the pressure washer will surely stop working forever.

How do you start a pressure washer without water?

A pressure washer should not be started without water. If done so, it will get destroyed within a few seconds. A pressure washer needs water to work. The pump inside it creates pressure so that water can come out quickly.

However, if there is no water source available around, we must come up with a temporary solution. We should manage a very little amount of water in order to run the pressure washer.

Water sources won’t be available everywhere and it’s very normal. In that case, we should use a water barrel or tank. The water in the barrel can get finished at any moment. So, we should be aware of that.

We have discussed some of the steps that you can follow whenever you want to start a pressure washer without water:

Connecting the hose:

In the first step, we should make sure the water barrel is filled up with water.

Now, we will take a hose. We will connect one end of the hose with the pressure washer and another end with the water barrel. The connection should be made very tightly.

Adjustment of the sprayer:

In the second step, we take a sprayer. We connect the nozzle with the pressure washer very tightly. Then, we take the sprayer in hand and spray to determine if any unnecessary water exists inside the sprayer.

Checking everything and starting the pressure washer:

In the third step, we should turn on our pressure washer. We should have a look at all the connections to make sure that everything working fine.

Next, we should go for a cold start if we start the pressure washer for the first time. But, if we started the pressure washer earlier, we should go for a warm start.

Checking whether the washer is running smoothly or not:

In the last step, we should pull the chord to start the pressure washer. Then, taking the sprayer in hand and we should spray the water for a few seconds.

If the water comes out from inside and the pressure washer does not make any odd sound, then we can say that the pressure washer is working perfectly fine.

So, this is how we should start our pressure washer when there is no water source around. This technique will help us to protect the pressure washer from damage.

Final Thoughts

A pressure washer is not supposed to run in absence of water. It is a must to use water to keep the pressure washer safe from danger. However, if it is run without water, some serious damage may occur instantly or gradually the machine will break down.