A pressure washer is a handy tool that can be used to remove dirt and grime from the exterior of your home or other hard surfaces. The unit has a pump that pumps water out of a hose at high pressure. You simply point the spray nozzle at the area you would like to clean, and water blasts away dirt, dust, oil spots, etc.

What is a Pressure Washer Switch?

The switch is an electronic device that controls and regulates the flow of electricity to the pressure washing machine. It basically powers the pressure washer into action and also provides an added level of protection against electrical overloads by breaking the electrical circuit.

Why Would You Need to Reset Your Pressure Washer Switch?

Resetting the pressure washer switch is a quick and easy way to improve the performance of your pressure washer. Easy does not mean easy to do, however. It's important to take the time to read the instructions so you don't make a mistake that could cause catastrophic damage to your pressure washer or make it inoperable.

If you have a power washer, it has a switch (normally located on the handle) that controls the motor/pump. The motor/pump is what moves the water and cleans your driveway, sidewalk, or walkway between your house and garage. But if you're using an electric motor or pump, any sudden power surges can damage the motor or pump, which will cause it to fail or become inoperable.

A quick way to check the switch is by using a meter with a continuity tester on it. However, there are times when you might need to reset the pressure washer switch for other reasons — maybe your pressure washer isn't working correctly for some reason, and you need further troubleshooting. In this case, it's best to contact a professional like Giraffetools collections.

If you run out of gas or the power goes out while using a pressure washer, you will probably not be able to restart it right away. If you try to start it again before resetting the switch, nothing will happen. Luckily for you, there is an easy way to reset the switch on most models of these machines.

How Do You Reset the Switch?

It's fairly simple to reset the switch on your pressure washer:

1. Locate the small hole in your pressure washer's body (some models have more than one). This is where the reset button is located. Press it with a screwdriver (or any other long object) until it clicks. Don't worry about pressing too hard — it won't break anything! When pressed, this button should make a clicking sound and stay depressed for as long as you hold down on it with your screwdriver.

2. Unplugging and plugging back in again until it works again

3. Take apart the sprayer and jiggle the ball valve until it turns back on.

You, however, need to know the exact problem before resetting the machine. The most common cause of pressure washer switch problems is a loose connection between the switch and the pressure hose. This type of problem is easy to fix and can be avoided by paying attention to details.

In most cases, the switch itself mounts directly to the spray wand or wand extension. Don't try to remove it; that doesn't work, and you'll only increase wear and tear on the switch.

Check on the Giraffetools and collections website for more of guides about following the manual case of such faults.