How To Repair A Pressure Washer Hose

If you own a pressure washer long enough, you are eventually going to experience a leak in the hose. Sometimes it comes from touching the exhaust on a gas-powered washer with the hose. Other times it’s just old age, or bad luck.

A leak in a pressure washer hose can’t be fixed the way you would fix a garden hose. The patch won’t last; the high-pressure water will force the patch loose. Even a tiny patched leak can cause serious injury when it bursts open, and the high-pressure water hits your body. At the very least, you are going to get soaked and whatever washing chore you had planned for the day isn’t going to get done.

The layers of wire mesh and plastic distribute the water evenly throughout the hose and contain the pressure. To repair the hose, each layer needs to be shaped and repaired correctly. If not, the repairs won’t last.

This isn’t the hardest fix, but it’s not for everyone. Sometimes it’s best just to replace the hose.

If you prefer repairing the high-pressure hose, here’s how.

Steps to Repair Your Power Washer Hose

• Switch off the power of the pressure washer. If you’re using an electric pressure washer, unplug it.
• Press the hose trigger to get rid of any water inside of the hose.
• Find the leak and dry the area around the leak.
• Make a square cut on each side of the leak.
• Measure the diameter of the hose. You’ll need this to find the right size compression fitting in the next step. Most residential pressure washers are 0.25″, but check yours to be sure.
• Create a compression seal with a gates compression fitting. The female repair coupling is reverse threaded and spins counterclockwise when fitted onto the hose. To tighten it use an adjustable wrench. The male repair coupling fits inside the hose tubing. Use motor oil to lubricate the tip. Place the hose in a vice or use two adjustable wrenches to connect and tighten the two pieces.
• Next, connect the M22 adapter.
• Lastly, screw the M22 adapter onto the pressure washer.

Make sure the gates compression fitting is the right size for the outside and inside of the hose.

Pressure Washer Repair Video Demonstration

If you are the type of person that learns better from watching rather than reading, the following video does a great job of showing just how easy it a fix it can be. I’d recommend checking the price of the gates compression fitting and the M22 adapter first, and comparing that to the price of a new hose before tackling the project.