Symptoms
- Spray pattern is uneven or off to one side
- Reduced pressure that improves with a different tip
- Spray sputters or dribbles instead of a clean jet
- No water comes out of the wand at all
Likely causes
- CommonDirt or debris lodged in the tipEspecially common after using the washer near a dirty driveway or garden bed.
- PossibleMineral or hard-water buildupScale can build up inside the narrow orifice over repeated use with hard tap water.
- PossibleDebris in the quick-connect fitting, not the tip itselfGrit can lodge where the tip meets the wand, restricting flow even with a clean tip.
- Less commonWrong tip for the task creating a false 'clog' impressionA very fine-degree tip naturally produces a thin, high-pressure stream that can look 'blocked' compared to a wider tip.
What to do
- Turn off the machine and release pressure by squeezing the trigger before touching the nozzle.
- Remove the nozzle tip from the wand.
- Use the cleaning pin that came with the unit, or a straightened paperclip, to gently poke through the tip's orifice from the spray-exit side.
- Rinse the tip under running water, spraying backward through it if possible to flush debris out.
- Inspect the quick-connect socket on the wand for lodged debris and clean it out as well.
- Reattach the tip and test the spray pattern at low trigger pressure before full use.
- If the tip's opening looks worn (oval instead of round) rather than blocked, replace it since a worn tip won't hold pressure.
Tools and parts
- Nozzle cleaning pin or straightened paperclip
Pressure washer nozzle tip setSearch: “pressure washer nozzle tips replacement set”
When to call a pro
This is a simple DIY fix; professional help is rarely needed unless clogging keeps recurring, which may point to a failing inlet filter letting debris through.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.