Troubleshooting Clogged Nozzles & Surface Cleaners That Stopped Spinning

Even tiny bits of dirt can clog the nozzles on your surface cleaner, causing uneven pressure and stopping the spray bar from spinning. Cleaning these nozzles every few uses—or better yet, after each use—will keep your cleaner running smoothly.

How can I tell if my nozzles are clogged?

To determine if your spray nozzles are clogged, remove them from the spray bar, hold the nozzle up to light, and look through the back of the nozzle. You should see an oval or football shaped opening. If you do not see an oval, the nozzles are clogged. See photo below.

What You’ll Need

A 14 mm 6-point wrench or 9/16″ wrench (for 14.5″, 20″ & 21″ models)
A 1.5″ wrench (for 12″, 14″ & 18″ models)
Nozzle-cleaning tool, sewing needle or fine wire

1. Turn Off & Depressurize

Shut off the pressure washer.
Close the water supply.
Squeeze the trigger on your gun until no more water comes out.

2. Remove the Spray Nozzles

Disconnect your wand from the surface-cleaner.
Use the correct wrench to unscrew each nozzle:
- 14 mm 6-point wrench / 9/16″ wrench for the 14.5-in, 15-in, 18-in (with 1/4-in NPT Nozzles), 20-in, or 21-in Surface Cleaners
- 1.5″ wrench for the 12-in, 14-in, or 18-in (with 1/8-in NPT Nozzles) Surface Cleaners
If a nozzle won’t budge, warm it for 10 seconds with a heat gun.

3. Inspect for Clogs

Hold the nozzle up to a light.
Look through the back—you should see an oval (“football”) opening.
If you only see a circle, it’s still clogged.

4. Clean the Nozzle

Insert your needle or cleaning tool into the nozzle from the back side, pushing debris toward the front.
Once the tool moves freely, re-check under light for that oval opening.

5. Back-Flush the Nozzle

Reverse the water flow: hold the nozzle under running water from the outside in.
Flush for 10–15 seconds, making sure any remaining grit is washed out.
Re-inspect under light for a clear oval.

6. Flush Out the Spray Bar

Reattach the wand to the surface cleaner and set surface cleaner on a flat surface.
Turn on the water supply (DO NOT START THE PRESSURE WASHER) and squeeze the trigger on the gun.
Allow water to run through the spray bar for approximately 30 seconds

7. Reassemble & Test

Screw each nozzle back onto the spray bar—finger-tight and then snug with your wrench.
Align each nozzle so its groove is parallel to the bar—this keeps spray balanced.

Remember, the nozzles get blocked really easily. They are cleaning dirt, sand and soil. They take a lot of abuse. It’s important to clean the nozzles often. We recommend cleaning the nozzles out every couple of uses, if not after every use.

Still having issues? Give us a call at 866-870-9930.