High Pressure Pump Basics

There sell a number of products that are tagged with the word “pump”: sump pumps, vacuum pumps, air pumps, transfer pumps, water pumps and the list continues. Going down to the basics however, how much do you know of and how familiar are you with a high pressure pump? Read on to find out what you could be missing.

• Overview. A high pressure pump is one of the fundamental components of a pressure washer. The pump works alongside the motor, a high pressure hose and a trigger gun.

• Function. Simply put, the most fundamental function of a high pressure pump is to displace liquids or gases through physical or mechanical means. Pressure results once resistance to the displacement flow of the liquids or gases arises. Many activities and equipment rely on pumps for added efficiency in various processes ranging from unclogging a toilet with a simple plunger to generating cooler temperatures with the aid of a compressor, such as those used in refrigeration and air conditioning. Note that no standard pump size applies. The size and style are fairly relative to the function the pump serves.

• General Purpose. Treat the high pressure pump as a jack of all trades; reliability is its middle name. Although it is not exactly the master of any one task, the tool is fairly all-around and, when used in tandem with a pressure washer, is suitable for a variety of purposes such as water boosting, sand blasting, gutter cleaning, slurry displacement, paint stripping, mud blasting and jet setting.

• Nomenclature. The pump is also known as a general use pump. However, there is more to the pump than being just classified as a regular tool that does not fall into a specific category or specialization. In fact, its name is also descriptive of and inspired by General Pump, one of the world’s leading suppliers of pump products and noted for the motto “We will find a way.” Labeling products according to their manufacturer has become a common practice today (CAT, Comet, Giant, General, AR, Kranzle, Legacy); hence, do not be surprised to see “high pressure pump” spelled in lowercase letters sometimes.

• Maintenance Tips. Damaging pumps through ignorance or neglect can be a costly mistake. In a published checklist, the manufacturer shares the following daily and weekly maintenance tips to keep the high pressure pump in running condition for a longer period:

• Clean the filters.
• Check the oil and change as needed. Discolorations, bubbles and milky consistencies are clear signs of contamination.
• Check for oil leaks in the manifold and bearings, and outside the covers. Immediately change the seals.
• Check for water leaks in the manifold and valve caps. Immediately change the packing assembly or the valve’s rings as needed.
• Align the belts and the clutch.
• Check the operating and bypass pressure in the regulator.
• Tighten all bolts, nuts and fasteners to prevent leakages.
• Regularly change oils, valves and packing – ideally after 50 hours on the first time and after every 500 hours thereafter.

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