Category
Why is my jetter losing pressure during operation?
When a jetter starts dropping pressure, there are a variety
of potential culprits.
Most likely causes:
- Bypass valve is open and should be closed
- If jetter hasn’t been used in a while, the valves inside the pump heads are stuck
- Water filter could be clogged
- PVC could be cracked along the plumbing line to the pump
- Pressure disc could be blown
- Water selector internal components could be worn out
For a full troubleshooting guide visit our Youtube Channel.
What is a good guide for hose size and corresponding pressure and flow needed to tackle for each pipe size?
1” Hose - 2000-3000 PSI – 50 GPM+ Flow - Pipe Size 12"-48"
3/4” Hose - 2000-3000 PSI - 30-40 GPM Flow – Pipe Size 10"-48"
5/8” Hose - 3000-4000 PSI – 20-25 GPM Flow - Pipe Size 8"-36”
1/2" Hose - 3000-6000 PSI - 12-18 GPM Flow – Pipe Size 4"-24"
3/8” Hose - 3000-4000 PSI - 10-12 GPM Flow – Pipe Size 3"-6"
1/4” Hose – 3000-4000 PSI - 5-8 GPM Flow - Pipe Size 2"-4"
3/16” Hose - 3000-4000 PSI – 5-8 GPM Flow – Pipe Size 3/4"-1 1/2"
How often should the hoses and fittings be inspected for wear?
Inspect before each use. Look for cuts, bulges, leaks, and worn areas. Replace immediately if damaged.
Why is my jetter not getting up to pressure?
Possible causes: worn pump seals, clogged nozzle, bypass is open, or insufficient water supply. Check and address each in turn.
How should the machine be winterized to avoid freeze damage?
For a full tutorial, see our Antifreeze Instruction video here. Drain all water from pump, hoses, and nozzles. Run antifreeze through the pump system if storing in freezing conditions.
Can I recirculate my water between jobs to avoid having to antifreeze my unit in freezing temperatures?
Yes, hook your sewer hose up to your return to tank line. Increase the revs of your engine (on Tier 4 go to pressure setting 2 which should be around 2000PSI, but for Tier 3 jetters running at idle is sufficient) and turn your water valve on. Make sure you have no leaks in order for the water to effectively recirculate.
How do I know if my jetter pump needs rebuilding
Pump maintenance is a normal part of keeping a jetter performing at a high level. Generally pumps only need rebuilding when they are leaking or cavitating and the pump is older than 3 years or has more than 800 hours on it. Changing out any components in the pump should only be performed if the pump is leaking or cavitating – no preventative maintenance is needed. If the pump starts leaking, depending on the location of the leak, the solutions are all slightly different.
- Leaking at the bottom plugs under the manifolds – replace those plugs
- Leaking between the two manifold heads on a pump less than 3 years old – o-ring kit replacement should solve the issue
- Leaking between the manifold heads or between the manifold and the pump, and the pump is older than 3 years or has 800+ hours on it – the valve kit (which includes an o-ring kit) will likely resolve the problem
Why is my jetter engine bogging down under load?
When an engine starts bogging, it’s because it is struggling
to regulate the RPMs. Often, a mismatched or clogged nozzle is the culprit. If
the orifices are too small for your pressure and flow of the jetter or they are
blocked up with debris, the pump over pressurizes and the engine struggles to
keep up.
Most common causes:
- Nozzle orifices are too small for your machine’s GPM
- Water flow getting choked by a kinked hose
- Bypass not opened sufficiently
The first thing to do is close the bypass fully, and then run the jetter at idle with a nozzle on the end of the hose. Verify if the pressure goes to 1000-1500PSI. If it goes over 1500PSI, then there’s an issue with the nozzle or hose. To confirm if the nozzle is mismatched, remove the nozzle from the end of the sewer hose and run the machine to full pressure. If the digital and analogue pressure gauge read 1000-1500PSI with no nozzle, then that means the nozzle pressure and flow does not correctly match the jetter’s pressure and flow and is causing the bog down. If the gauges went above 1500PSI, then the hose is likely kinked somewhere.
How do I troubleshoot low water flow on a jetter?
If you’re running your jetter and getting no water out of
the end of the sewer hose, it’s likely that the valves within the pump are
stuck. This can happen when the jetter hasn’t been run in a while. To fix,
unscrew the 8 bolts on the back of the manifold to allow the two manifolds to
separate enough to get a hand between the two heads. Press a finger into the
holes within the inlet manifold until you find the valves (pictured below).
Press into the valve until you feel them spring back. There will be three
valves with springs inside them that may be stuck.
