Can You Start a Pressure Washer Without Water?

how long can you run a pressure washer without water

Can You Start a Pressure Washer Without Water?

When stains happen, it’s all hands on deck for your business. You get your trusty pressure washer, fill up your soap dispenser, and get ready to blast away that grime, only to run into a problem: there’s no water source nearby.

Can you start a pressure washer without water? Will we have to deal with these stains by manually scrubbing them? And how long can you run a pressure washer without water?

The good news is that you can run a pressure washer without water. But we don’t recommend it. You’ll have a limited period before your internal parts become damaged.

You want to avoid what happens if you run a pressure washer without water wherever possible. We’ll review a few ways to get around low water availability, including water tanks and trailers.

If you have questions or want to upgrade to a trailer to have a reliable water source available, talk to our team at RJP Hotsy New Jersey! We have assisted thousands of local Jersey businesses with their cleaning needs, from mom-and-pop shops to large corporations like Penske and the Phillies.

Can You Start a Pressure Washer Without Water?

Let’s tackle the burning question on your mind: can you start a pressure washer without water? And if so, how long can you run a pressure washer without water while cleaning your property?

The answer is that you can for a handful of seconds–but should you?

Running a pressure without water is a recipe for disaster. It’s like starting a car without any oil in the engine.

Your pressure washer relies on water to keep its internal parts cool. If you run it without water, you create immediate friction that will lead to expensive repair bills.

How Long Can You Run a Pressure Washer Without Water?

What if you’ve already started your machine? How long can you run a pressure washer without water before something terrible happens?

There is no universal answer to this question. It’s similar to asking how long someone can hold their breath underwater–it depends on the situation.

Some pressure washers are highly durable and can withstand a few seconds without water, while others will be damaged almost immediately.

But given what happens if you run a pressure washer without water, you mustn’t take any chances. If you notice no water flowing in your machine, shut it down quickly. This will help you minimize the risk of damage.

Besides, you won’t get much cleaning done without water–it’s better to pack things up and tackle those stains another day than struggle to do the job.

What Happens if You Run a Pressure Washer Without Water For Too Long?

Can you start a pressure washer without water? Yes, but it’s a bad idea. Let’s explore the worst-case scenario.

You fire up your pressure washer despite no water source or a severe water leak that prevents your machine from being adequately lubricated. You figure you’ll be “fine” because you have the best pressure washer chemicals to do most of the heavy lifting and just need your pressure washer to finish the job.

How long can you run a pressure washer without water in this case?

Well, within moments, your pressure washer pump will start taking damage. Without lubrication in your machine, your internal parts will heat up like a Thanksgiving turkey in the oven. The internal seals in your pressure washing pumps will warp and decay.

When those seals decay, the floodgates open for more problems. Your valves, pistons, bearings, seals, and gears will also suffer under the intense heat.

From there, instead of spending your next hour blasting away stains gleefully, you’ll find yourself pressure washer troubleshooting to figure out precisely what went wrong. Given average pressure washer repair costs, especially for critical parts like the pump, you’re looking at expensive delays.

The moral of the story is that running your pressure washer without water is a massive mistake. Thankfully, you don’t have to give up and start manually scrubbing because there isn’t on-site water.

How to Pressure Wash Without an On-site Water Source

Whether you’re just pulling up to a new job site and realizing there’s no running water or your hoses won’t reach the ends of your parking lot, you must be prepared for everything.

There are a few ways to pressure wash without direct access to water, so let’s explore your options.

You must understand how pressure washer GPM works to determine your water needs. GPM stands for gallons per minute, and each pressure washer has a specific rating.

For example, a 4 GPM model requires 40 to 80 gallons of water for a typical cleaning session.

Using a Water Tank System

Your first option is to use a water tank. These attach to your machine, allowing you to bring your water supply to any job site.

These tanks typically range from 50 to 500 gallons. They attach to your machine through a gravity feed or a transfer pump. Belt-drive and gear-drive pressure washers generally prefer gravity tanks, while direct-drive machines require the transfer pump.

We recommend consulting with your retailer for specifics on using a water tank with your pressure washer.

Water tanks are convenient water sources but can be challenging to transport.

Using a Pressure Washer Trailer

If lifting and transporting a water tank isn’t on your agenda, a trailer may be just what you need.

Pressure washing trailers are like a mobile command center featuring everything you need. You can mount a pressure washer to a trailer and add a large water tank, soaps, accessories, and even a generator for power.

With everything you need in one place, there are almost no situations that a well-equipped pressure washer trailer can’t handle. The only additional requirement is a work truck capable of towing the trailer.

The only hang-up is that finding a high-quality pressure washer trailer can take time and effort. It’s complicated to create a DIY pressure washer trailer.

Even small details like making a rack for your accessories or leaving enough space for your detergent tanks can be a nightmare if you are inexperienced.

That’s why we recommend leaving it to the experts. If you’re looking for help with customized industrial pressure washer trailers in NJ, our team at RJP Hotsy can help!

We’ll save you the trouble of figuring out how to plumb a pressure washer trailer or deciding whether an electric vs gas pressure washer is more suitable. Simply give us your needs and requirements, and we’ll do the hard work for you.

You can still call us if you aren’t in the New Jersey area but want help with your pressure washer trailer. We’re happy to provide advice and assistance no matter where your business is located!

Alternative Water Sources

Water tanks are the most reliable alternative water source. But what if you can’t transport a tank or afford a full trailer setup?

There are a few more options.

Natural water sources can work. However, you have to be very careful about local environmental regulations. Additionally, you’ll need a sound filtration system for your machine to avoid damage to your equipment.

Rainwater barrels are another option if you live in a particular rainy climate. You can use this or other forms of reclaimed water to reduce your environmental footprint.

Finally, rare scenarios exist where a fire hydrant can be accessed with the correct permit. This is usually only viable for specific large-scale commercial jobs, and often, the costs of securing those permits are far more expensive than investing in a water trailer.

Closing Thoughts on Running Pressure Washer Without Water

Let’s recap our discussion.

Can you start a pressure washer without water? And how long can you run a pressure washer without water before something awful happens?

You can turn on a pressure washer without water…for a few seconds. But your internal parts will immediately start accumulating damage. The high temperatures will wreak havoc on your pump, spreading to rubber seals, pistons, valves, and the engine itself.

But all hope is not lost if you don’t have access to a water source. You can still bring water to job sites that don’t have a direct source. While water tanks and natural water sources are sometimes options, they have a few drawbacks.

As such, we recommend pressure washer trailers specifically to help you avoid any issues. You fill up your water tank at your convenience, then transport everything with your work truck.

If you need help creating or buying a trailer, RJP Hotsy is here to help.

As the #1 home for industrial pressure washers in New Jersey, we’ve helped businesses across the Garden State tackle their cleaning needs. From typical tasks, like how to pressure wash concrete, to complex custom trailed builds for isolated job sites, our expert team will set you up for success.

You won’t have to stress researching complicated pressure washing terminology, such as pressure washer sizing, how much PSI to use, or when to use hot vs cold water pressure washers.

Tell us your cleaning needs, and we’ll walk you through a personalized recommendation that fits your goals.

As New Jersey’s only authorized Hotsy retail center, we’re the #1 home for industrial hot water pressure washers in New Jersey and industrial cold water pressure washers in New Jersey. You can rely on Hotsy, the industry leader with over 50 years of reputation for durable and effective commercial cleaning.

We offer sales and industrial pressure washer leasing in NJ that will fit your budget. And if you were wondering where to rent a pressure washer or trailer, we’re also the #1 home for industrial pressure washer rental in NJ.

We make the entire process as simple as possible. We’ll walk you through how to rent a pressure washer, including reviewing how much it costs to rent a pressure washer and how to take advantage of our drop-off/pick-up system.

You’ll also learn how to use the machine itself. We’ll walk you through how to use soap dispensers on pressure washers, show you how pressure washer storage works, identify what soap to use in pressure washers for your stains, and teach you how to use a water tank if needed.

Finally, if you shop with us, you can rest assured we’ll be a long-term partner for your business. We’re the #1 home for industrial pressure washer repair in NJ, as the state’s only Hotsy repair center. Our expert team knows all the ins and outs of how to repair pressure washers, with a comprehensive 24-point inspection process to ensure your machine stays in top shape.

You can even rely on us to maintain a pressure washer, as we offer oil changes and other crucial tasks. Plus, you’ll have access to our rental services if you want to avoid downtime entirely.

So whether you’re leasing, buying, or renting a pressure washer, RJP Hotsy has you covered. Don’t let the lack of water get you down–our team will help you figure out a solution in the form of a dedicated water tank or customized trailer build.

Reach out to our team today to learn how we can help you streamline your cleaning services!