Frequently Asked Questions and Support

When the power washer does not turn on, it is either due to no water flow or no electricity going to the power washer. In other words, either a water flow or an electrical problem. Water-flow Issue

Water-flow Issue

The first area to check with the customer is water flow. There must be water flow through the system for the unit to turn on. The water flow check is as follows:

1. The high-pressure hose, spray gun and lance must be connected to the power washer.
2. The garden hose must be connected to the power washer using the garden hose adapter.
3. Turn the water completely on at the water faucet.
4. The power cord should not be plugged in.
Squeeze the trigger on the spray gun.
5. If there is water flow through the spray gun and lance, this confirms water flow is NOT the problem for the power washer not turning on.
6. If there is no water flow, perform the following troubleshooting procedures:a. Remove the lance, squeeze the trigger. If water flows, the lance is blocked. Use cleaning wire to clean the nozzle tip and try again.
7. If no water flow with lance removed, turn the water off. Remove the spray gun from the high pressure. Turn the water on, if water flows, the gun is the problem. Reattach the gun, turn the water on and squeeze the trigger. Sometimes this unblocks the gun. If not, replace the spray gun.
8. If no water flow with the gun removed, remove the high-pressure hose, turn the water on to make sure there is no blockage in the hose. This is very unlikely but we need to make sure.
9. If no water flows out of the water outlet, the quick connect garden hose adapter is problem. See Garden Hose Adapter troubleshooting issue.

Electrical Solutions

1. Each time the power cord is plugged in to an outlet, the Reset button on the GFCI module must be pressed down to connect to electricity.
2. Check to see if the Reset button has been pressed.
3. Next, confirm the small plastic window below the Reset button shows RED in the window. The RED color is not a light but a RED screen that slides into the window when the Reset button is pressed down. Because it is not a light, it can be hard to see in low light. If you are unsure, press the TEST button down. If the GFCI was set and RED was in the window, you will hear and feel a “click.”
4. The RED color must stay in the window once the button is released. This confirms there is electricity going to the power washer.
5. If the RED color goes away when the Reset button is released, there is NO electricity going to the unit. Try another outlet until the RED stays in the window.
6. Now if the unit turns ON for a second or two with the Reset button pressed and the power switched on, it is working as it should. All that is left to do at this point is to squeeze the trigger on the spray gun and the power washer will turn on. When the trigger is released, the power washer will turn off. This is due to the Total Stop System (TSS) that only turns the unit on when water is flowing through the power washer. When the trigger is released, water flow stops which the TSS sensed and immediately shuts the unit off.

So to review, if the Reset button has been pressed and is holding and the power switch is ON, the power washer is supposed to start up for a second or two and immediately shut off. At this point all you need to do is squeeze the trigger; the unit will turn on.

There a generally two reasons for this on & off cycling to occur:

Water leaking from the spray gun or high pressure hose. This causes the TSS module to sense water flow. When it does, it will turn the motor on. Because the water flow essentially stops when the unit is pressurized, the pump immediately shuts off. The fix: replace the spray gun or HP hose. A defective TSS module. Replace the TSS module. See the 112 video on this subject.

AR112, AR114, AR142, AR145, AR240, AR260, AR383:

The power switch on the back side of the power washer just below the handle The power switch is rectangular (½” x 2”) and has a waterproof vinyl cover. DO NOT remove the vinyl cover. It is there to prevent water from getting into the switch during power washing.

AR110S, AR111S, AR112S, AR117, AR119, AR142S, AR143S-Q2, AR240S, AR319, AR381, AR383L, AR383S, AR390, AR390SS, AR391SS, AR525, AR527:

On the front. Turn the dial from O (off) to | (on).

AR165S-Q

Facing the front of the machine with the AR logo, look on the right side in the center of the machine. Turn the dial from O (off) to | (on).

AR118:

On top of the machine, in the center where the handle meets the body.

AR118S:

The switch is located on the side of the machine. Look on the side that has the hose holder on the left side.

AR2N1(QVC/WM):

Above the water inlet and outlet, you’ll see a toggle switch. Flip the switch from O (off) to | (on).

The power switch is either a rocker switch or dial and has two symbols on the face: “O” and “ | “. They are the International symbols for power on and off. “O” means the power is OFF and “ | “means the power is ON.

To turn the power washer ON, press the “ | “ down on the power switch and “O” to shut off the power washer.

Take-Along:

On top of the machine, in the front where the handle meets the body.

AR610:

Green toggle switch under the data / information plate.

AR613(K):

The switch is located on the side of the machine. Look on the side the pump head is visible on, the power dial is directly to the right. Turn the dial from O (off) to | (on).

AR620 / AR630(TSS/HOT/TSS-HOT):

The switch is located on the side of the machine. Look on the side the pump head is visible on. The newer machines have a green toggle switch, while older machines have a power dial. is directly to the right. Turn the dial or flip the switch from O (off) to | (on).

AR767:

The power switch is located directly under the hose connections on the left side of the machine. Flip the switch from O (off) to | (on).

1. Turn the GFCI module over to the side with the 2 plug-in prongs.
2. Remove the 4 screws below the prongs using a Philips head screwdriver.
3. Remove the plastic cover.
4. Remove the 4 Philips screws that hold the power cord inside the module.
5. Attach the White and Black wires to a standard 2 pronged plug.

If your pressure washer turns on for 2 seconds, shuts off, and will not turn back on. In most cases you do not have a defective unit? Follow these two steps to get the unit running again.

When the water is connected, the accessories are assembled properly, and the power is turned on, the power washer may turn on for 1 – 2 seconds to prime the pump. It automatically shuts off and waits for the spray gun trigger to be pressed. When the trigger is pressed, water starts owing through the pump. The water sensor in the pump “senses” the moving water and automatically turns the power washer on.

To perform a “reset”. Turn the power switch to off. Hold the trigger on the spray gun so that you have a steady stream of water. While still holding the trigger, turn the power switch on.

The power switch is a rocker switch and it has two symbols on the face: “O” and “—“. They are the International symbols for power “On” and power “Off”.

“O” means the power is OFF and “–“means the power is ON.

To turn the power washer ON, press the “—“down on the power switch.

To turn the power washer OFF, press the “O” down on the power switch.

The detergent function works by using a siphon in the bottle. This siphons out the detergent solution at a 10:1 ratio. Or 10 parts water with 1 (one) part detergent. It dispenses the detergent solution under LOW pressure so it will only spray out about 2 to 3 feet from the bottle. This is totally normal as the detergent needs “dwell time” on the surface to be clean. Dwell time refers to the amount of time the detergent solution stays on the surface to be cleaned.. The longer the dwell time, the better the cleaning action when rinsed off with a HP spray from your AR Blue Clean power washer.

This means the detergent bottle is working exactly as it should.

The detergent bottle is designed to spray with low water pressure.

By using low pressure the detergent can be sprayed on to the surface to be cleaned and allow the detergent solution to stay on the surface so it can do its chemical cleaning action.

If high pressure spray is used, the detergent solution would be blown off the surface before any chemical cleaning could take place.

To engage the detergent tank on the 390, do the following:

1. Attach the variable spray lance to the spray gun.
2. The variable spray nozzle has two positions:
   1. The “Out” position activates low pressure detergent spray – grab the nozzle and pull it out/away from the spray gun.
   2. The “In” position activates high pressure water spray – pull the nozzle back toward the spray gun.
3. The rotary detergent knob on the front of the unit adjusts the detergent mix ratio:
   1. 10:1 when knob is turned clockwise until it stops.
   2. 20:1 when knob is turned counter-clockwise until it stops.

To engage the detergent tank on either the AR383ss or AR390ss do the following:

1. Put hot water in the detergent tank.
2. Hook up power and water to the unit.
3. Have the black Soap nozzle in the spray gun.
4. Turn on the water and power.
5. Squeeze and hold the trigger for 10-15 seconds.
6. While the water is flowing through the gun, squeeze the detergent tube above the detergent tank.
7. Hold the squeeze for 5-6 seconds.
8. Release the detergent tube, continue squeezing the trigger so water continues to flow through the gun.
9. Repeat this three times in succession.

What happens when the pressure washer is working fine, but you can’t remove the lance from the spray gun? Try the following:

1. To remove the lance from the gun, compress the lance into the gun and turn the lance counter-clockwise (to the left). The lance will slide out to the gun
2. Sometimes the lance will not compress into the gun as it should. If it is stuck, spray some lubricant into the joint where the lance is attached to the gun. Then try again
3. If still no compression, put the lance tip on the ground and push down on the spray gun. This usually breaks the lance loose and allows the compression to take place. Then try again.

Check to see if the Safety Lock is engaged/locked position. There’s a black or blue button on the handle of the spray gun. If the trigger lock is engaged, the trigger cannot be pulled in to create water flow.

If trigger lock is OFF, remove the lance from the gun and squeeze the trigger. If water flow occurs, the lance is plugged up. Use the wire cleaner to clear the blockage by inserting the wire into the end of the lance. Tap the end of the lance on a hard surface, to clear the debris out of the lance barrel. Look through both ends of the lance. You should be able to see light through it, which confirms the lance is no longer blocked. Reinstall lance into gun and squeeze the trigger to confirm water flow.

If you have recently replaced o-rings on the tip of the hose, be sure that it is placed only on the first indentation closest to the hose end. The second indentation is for the spray gun clip to latch on to.

If there is an o-ring on the second indentation, remove it and try again.

Be certain any o-rings used to replace missing or damaged pieces are from AR Blue Clean and the correct kit for your machine as they are designed for our machines specifically.

One more possibility: In most cases, this problem is restricted to the AR240, AR260, AR383, and AR388 models.

The problem arises when the vinyl sleeve gradually moves up toward the brass tip until the silver fitting below the brass tip is no longer visible. The vinyl sleeve then prevents the brass tip to fully inserting into the spray gun connection.

We suggest that you when you can’t remove the lance from the spray gun or find the lance is stuck in the spray gun you try the following.

• To remove the lance from the gun, compress the lance into the gun and turn the lance counter clockwise (to the left). The lance will slide out to the gun.
• Sometimes the lance will not compress into the gun as it should. Spray some lubricant into the joint where the lance is attached to the gun. Now, try again.
• If still no compression, put the spray gun and lance vertical in an up-right position with the nozzle tip on the ground and push down on the spray gun. This usually breaks the lance loose and allows the compression to take place. Then try again.
• It is always a good suggestion to apply a petroleum jelly like grease on the o-rings on the lances and high pressure hose. This protects the o-rings from the elements and makes the insertion and removal much easier.

Pressure washing works when the high pressure spray is very close to the surface to be cleaned. Generally that means less than 2-3 feet away or closer. This means to clean the second story of a house, a ladder must be used or extensions added to the spray gun or an extension hose.

• For 100, 200, and 300 (not including the discontinued 390) series models, we sell 15 inch lance extensions (PW3082860) for $6.95 each. Up to four extensions could be used along with the standard Underbody lance (PW40811-$19.95) for higher clean capability.
• For the 390 and above models, we have an 18 foot adjustable lance option:

18 ft Telescoping Lance Kit for 390 – QC on hose to lance
ARTEL-18 18 ft telescoping lance $100.00
AL413F-1.05 Vari-spray nozzle $9.95
AL457-B 15mm x 22mm ¼” B adapter $4.25
AL553-B 14mm x 3/8” B adapter $4.57
AL-QC3/8B QC 3/8 adapter for QC lance connection $4.96

Total Cost: $123.73

1. Grab a 5 gallon bucket.
2. Disconnect the garden hose from machine and any accessories that came with it.
3. Turn water all the way on.
4. Use a stop watch to time how long it takes to fill the bucket. (the bucket should fill or be close to full in 60 seconds. 4-5 gallons per minute is the target.)
5. If you have too much pressure and the bucket is full in 50 seconds or less, turn your water down at the faucet until you can fill the bucket at the target rate (4-5 gallons per minute.)
6. Reattach hose to machine and try going through the start up process again.

Damage to surfaces being cleaned occurs because the impact force of the water pressure exceedsthe durability of the surface. Bare wood can be penetrated, paint can be peeled off, etc. You can vary the force of your power washer by controlling:

• The angle of the surface being cleaned.
• The distance of the nozzle from the surface being cleaned

Important Safely Tips…

• Never use a narrow high pressure stream of water on soft surfaces susceptible to damage.
• Use the 25 ̊ angle quick connect nozzle when cleaning windows. Be sure to place the nozzle approximately 4 to 5 ft. away from the window with the nozzle at 45° angle. Squeeze the trigger and vary the spray pattern and angle until optimum cleaning efficiency is achieved.

The unit does require a garden hose attached. The unit’s pump does create enough pressure to siphon but it is recommended to use a garden hose for a positive feed to avoid damage to the pump. Ultimately this is not recommended and would likely damage the pressure washer.

n most cases, the reason for the leaking problem is because the two pieces are connected backwards to the power washer and garden hose. Confirm with you have the quick connect 2-piece garden hose adapter

Next explain that all Blue Clean power washers have METRIC threads on the water inlet. The clear adapter also has METRIC threads and therefore must be screwed on to the water inlet.

Then confirm the blue/blue adapter is attached to the end of the garden hose. The black side of this adapter is US threads and so is the garden hose.

You can upgrade to a brass garden hose adapter (PW2605B) for $9.95 + S&H if you need a heavy duty adapter that is low profile and will not break.

In most cases the problem is a “missing” o-ring on the tip of the high-pressure hose.

The fix: Replace the o-ring at the tip of the hose.

If there is water flow when the trigger is pulled but no pressure, the problem is likely electrical. The pump is not turning on because:

Electrical Solutions

• The power switch was not turned on. Find the power switch and make sure the “—“side of the rocker switch is pushed down. “O” = Off and “⎯” = On.
• Next, make sure the power cord is plugged directly into an outlet and NOT into an extension cord. The directions do say not to use an extension cord.
• Each time the power cord is plugged in to an outlet, the Reset button on the GFCI module must be pressed down to connect to electricity.
• Check to see if the Reset button has been pressed.
• Confirm the GREEN LIGHT located on the GFCI is ON. For older units see 5-a below.
• Confirm the small plastic window below the Reset button shows RED in the window. The RED color is not a light but a RED SCREEN that slides into the window when the Reset button is pressed down. Because it is not a light, it can be hard to see in low light. If you are unsure, press the TEST button down. If the GFCI was set and RED was in the window, you will hear and feel a “click.”
• If you have this type of GFCI, past this point GREEN LIGHT means the RED SCREEN for you The GREEN LIGHT must stay on once the button is released. This confirms there is electricity going to the power washer.
• If the GREEN LIGHT goes away when the Reset button is released, there is NO electricity going to the unit. Try another outlet until the GREEN LIGHT stays ON.
• Now if the unit turns ON for a second or two with the Reset button pressed and the power switched on, it is working as it should. All that is left to do at this point is to squeeze the trigger on the spray gun and the power washer will turn on. When the trigger is released, the power washer will turn off. This is due to the Total Stop System (TSS) that only turns the unit on when water is flowing through the power washer. When the trigger is released, water flow stops which the TSS sensed and immediately shuts the unit off.

So to review, if the Reset button has been pressed and is holding and the power switch is ON, the power washer is supposed to start up for a second or two and immediately shut off. At this point all you need to do is squeeze the trigger; the unit will turn on.

Water Solutions

Too much water pressure from the hose can cause this problem as well. To check how much water is coming from your hose, you will need to do what we call a bucket test.

• Grab a 5 gallon bucket.
• Disconnect the garden hose from machine and any accessories that came with it.
• Turn water all the way on.
• Use a stop watch to time how long it takes to fill the bucket. (the bucket should fill or be close to full in 60 seconds. 4-5 gallons per minute is the target.)
• If you have too much pressure and the bucket is full in 50 seconds or less, turn your water down at the faucet until you can fill the bucket at the target rate (4-5 gallons per minute.)
• Reattach hose to machine and try going through the start up process again.

The high pressure hose was not fully inserted into the water outlet, causing the threaded collar to not be completely screwed on to the water inlet threads.

The high pressure hose needs to be pushed into the water outlet about 1/4 of an inch. The threaded collar will line up to the threads on the water outlet. If they are having trouble inserting the metal end of the high pressure hose into the water outlet, have them coat the o-ring with a small amount of petroleum jelly and try again.

When the lance will not stay connected to the spray gun or the lance blew off the spray gun when the trigger is squeezed one of the following…

1. The lance was not properly locked into the spray gun.
2. To lock the lance into the gun, compress the lance into the spray gun barrel about an 1/8 of inch, then turn the lance clockwise (to the right). The lance should be locked into place. If it is, it cannot be pulled out.
3. To remove the lance from the gun, compress the lance into the gun and turn the lance counter clockwise (to the left). The lance will slide out of the gun.

1. First, make sure that you are attempting to connect to the correct fitting. Sometimes customers try to attach the HP hose to the water inlet.
2. Next, the metal fitting on the HP hose with collar must be pushed into the water outlet by turning/twisting it as it is being pushed into the outlet. The o-ring can be coated with petroleum jelly to make it easier to slide in. When in far enough so the collar can be threaded on to the metal fitting threads, make sure to screw it on until it stops.

This is a Turbo lance nozzle problem. It occurs when the nozzle is not screwed on to the lance tight. The lance with have to be replaced because the threads on the lance are stripped once the nozzle blows off.

First, make sure the blue/black adapter attached to the garden hose and NOT the water inlet on the power washer. This is because the adapter has a water check valve. Water will not flow through the blue/blue adapter when the water is turned on when it is not attached to the clear adapter. In order for water to flow through this adapter, the clear adapter must be fully inserted into the blue/black adapter so the check valve is opened.

ALERT: In most cases, the o-ring installed on the clear adapter is too large. If this is the case, the clear adapter is loose/”wiggly” when installed into the blue/black adapter. It is not fully inserted and therefore does not open the check valve. The fix: Get the correct sized o-ring. Short-term fix: apply petroleum jelly to the o-ring and push the clear adapter into the blue/black adapter very hard.

AIR FLOW TEST: Remove both adapters from the unit and the garden hose. Next, insert the clear into the blue/black adapter. Attempt to blow air from the black collar through the blue and clear adapter. If air flow is OK, then reattach to the unit and try again. Water should flow through the GHA

In this case UNPLUG THE MACHINE.

In most cases this is not an internal leaking problem. The leaking is caused by water leaking from the adapter attached to the water inlet because the clear adapter is not seated properly. Water leaks by the threads and is projected into the unit’s case and water comes out the bottom of unit. The leak is caused by the filter screen in the clear adapter protruding too far into the threaded section which doesn’t allow a water tight connection on the water inlet.

The fix: Make sure the clear adapter is attached to the water inlet and NOT the blue/black adapter. To confirm the clear adapter is the problem.

1. Remove the clear adapter, and then remove the black washer inside the threaded section of the clear adapter.
2. Now remove the filter screen from the clear adapter by tapping it on a hard surface or by using a pen/pencil to push it out from the other end of the adapter.
3. Replace the black washer and reattach clear adapter to water inlet.
4. Reattach the garden hose with the blue/black adapter.
5. Turn the water on at the faucet and check for leaking.

If the clear adapter is not the problem, contact AR Blue Clean customer service.

Sometimes water inlets break and begin dumping water inside the pump housing. You can confirm that an inlet is broken if the piece moves freely as it was designed to be stiff. Certain units (AR110S, AR111S, AR112S, AR142S, AR383L, AR383SS, AR390SS) have replaceable water inlets for the unlikely event that this happens.

The lance that does not work properly means it is plugged up with some debris in the end of the nozzle. The fix: Run the cleaning wire through the nozzle hole on the end of the lance. Tap the opposite end of the lance on a hard surface. Reattach to gun and try again.

If still not working, here’s the fix by each lance

• Adjustable lance – look through both ends of the lance to see if light can be seen through the lance. If yes, the reattach and try again. If no light, run the cleaning wire through the nozzle again, blow some air through the nozzle. Check for light. If still no light, replace the lance.
• Turbo lance – unscrew the nozzle from the lance. Remove the white washer from the nozzle. Inside there will be the a brass weighted cylinder. Run the cleaning wire through the nozzle tip. Remove any debris inside the nozzle. Make sure the nozzle hole is unplugged. Reassemble the nozzle with the brass portion of the cylinder facing up. Replace the white washer with the molded “X” of the washer facing up. Screw nozzle on to the lance and try again. If still does not work properly, replace the lance.

You may have forgotten to attach a lance to the spray gun. There can be no high pressure spray without a lance inserted into the spray gun barrel.

With these machines, the first lance you attach to the spray gun MUST BE the smaller extension lance (PW4120400), as it is the only one that will fit directly into the spray gun. Once the smaller extension is attached, any of the other attachments may be inserted into the end of it. You should keep this smaller extension attached as it will never have a need to be taken off.

Yes, if it has been treated with Pump Saver (Part # PW64511-$7.95) or RV antifreeze. The Pump Saver bottle has a molded cap that allows direct connection to the water inlet. Each bottle has 4 to 5 treatments. Otherwise it must be stored inside to prevent freeze damage. There is water in the pump that cannot be completed drained out of the unit. The Pump Saver conditions and protects the valves and seals inside the pump in any climate.

Yes, if it has been treated with Pump Saver (Part # PW64511-$7.95) or RV antifreeze. The Pump Saver bottle has a molded cap that allows direct connection to the water inlet. Each bottle has 4 to 5 treatments. Otherwise it must be stored inside to prevent freeze damage. There is water in the pump that cannot be completed drained out of the unit. The Pump Saver conditions and protects the valves and seals inside the pump in any climate.

Pump Saver is a product that protects and prolongs the life of the pump. This will keep the internal parts of the pump lubricated and protected from freezing while being stored in ALL climates. It also assists with protection from internal corrosion. The AR Blue Clean part #is: PW64511(16oz. bottle) You can order online from us right now.

Pump Saver Instructions

Turn unit off and disconnect the hose and gun before adding pump saver. Unscrew threaded top from bottle to remove seal and reattach threaded top to bottle. Remove black cap from bottle.

1. Place top of pump saver bottle onto the garden hose adapter previously installed on the pressure washer inlet.
2. Secure pump saver bottle by turning in a clockwise direction.
3. Turn the power on
4. Squeeze bottle to help it into the pump
5. Turn power off when pump saver exits the machine’s water outlet.

How To Properly Store Your Pressure Washer

Once you have completed using your pressure washer for the day we recommend the following steps to keep it running

General Storage

• When your pressure washer session has been completed, turn off the power switch. Unplug the power cord from the outlet. Turn off the water supply. Pull the trigger on the spray gun 2-3 seconds to drain out the excess water and to release any remaining water pressure. Do not allow the power washer to run with no water flowing through it.
• Remove high-pressure hose from spray gun and unscrew the other end of the high-pressure hose from the power washer.
• Remove lance from the gun. Place the gun in the holster on the side.
• Make sure to discard any remaining detergent from the tank. Residual chemical will stick to the container which could become contaminated and can cause the detergent injector to clog and not function properly. Flush the tank and nozzle head with clear water to prevent clogging.
• Wind the power cord around the L-shaped hooks located on the top of the machine
• The pressure hose is stored on the hose hook located on the back of the handle.

Storage In Freezing Temperatures

DO NOT store the power washer where it is exposed to freezing temperatures unless you use an antifreeze designed for pumps. Store the power washer indoors to prevent the water in the unit from expanding under freezing conditions. When the water freezes and expands, your power washer will be damaged and become inoperable. Or, if storing outdoors, it is recommended you use pump saver (not included) to protect pumps.

A clogged or partially clogged nozzle can cause significant reduction of water pressure coming out of the nozzle and/or cause the unit to pulsate while spraying.

1. Turn off the unit.
2. Turn off the water supply to the unit.
3. Relieve any pressure trapped in the hose by squeezing the trigger 2 – 3 times, then lock the spray gun by turning the dial to lock (“3” and “9” position). • Remove the nozzle from the spray gun.
4. Using the nozzle cleaner wire provided with your instruction manual(or an unfolded paper clip), insert the wire into the nozzle hole and move back and forth until debris is dislodged.
5. Back ush water through the nozzles using garden hose and highest pressure available (either standard water nozzle or use your thumb over the nozzle to create water pressure for back ush).

The screen inside the pressure washer garden hose adapter should be cleaned periodically. Remove it by dragging a thumb over the screen with enough pressure to pull the screen and washer out. Rinse it with clean water and then place it back in the adapter.