Hopefully this article will help you find a solution to this problem.
There are several possible reasons for leakage from the pistol
a) The o-ring on the hose connection
b) Damage to a water bearing pipe inside the pistol, (Frost damage or warranty issue)
c) Dirt or a blockage inside the valve in the pistol, which makes it leak water even when the trigger is not pulled (temporary issue or possible warranty issue)
d) Problem with an O-ring on the nozzle or lance that is attached to the pistol
If everything was tight and sealed in the Autumn months, but the pistol leaks when springtime comes, chances are there has been a temperature drop down to below 0 degrees at some point over the winter. Water, which expands when it freezes, can move mountains, and therefore our high pressure pistol is likely to have been damaged internally if left filled with water in freezing temperatures. However, even if frost was not the cause, the following steps should help identify the problem.
Please try the following steps:
- Press trigger on the pistol once to release any remaining pressure, and then disconnect the pistol from the hose/washer. Inspect the O-ring on the end of the high-pressure hose, If it looks fine, then this is probably not the cause of the leak. A damaged/faulty o-ring will usually be identifiable with a quick visual check. If it needs replacing, you can do so by using the AVA First Aid kit, which is available at most AVA-dealers and also in our online store:
https://avastore.co.uk/product/first-aid-kit-for-ava/
- If water seems to be escaping from between the pistol and nozzle/lance, try with another attachment on the pistol. If there is no leak from the new attachment, the O-rings on the original attachment may have worn out or been damaged, and can be replaced from the same AVA First Kit.
- If the water runs through and out of the end of the pistol even when the trigger has not been pulled, then the valve in the pistol is not closing properly. Remove all accessories from the end of the pistol and pull the trigger a few times to see if this removes any blockage in the valve.
Damaged Internal Pipe:
- Water left inside the gun freezes, expands and cracks the main pipe inside of the pistol when it gets too cold. New pistols are available at your local AVA dealership or from our online store, however it is far cheaper and more ecological to simply replace the pipe itself:
Loosen 8 screws on the side of the gun to open the cover, and check if the tube is cracked. The cracks are often very difficult to see due to the colouration of the pipe. If you want a new pipe, they are available in our online store here:
https://avastore.co.uk/product-category/accessories/
Be sure to have a look through our guide to preparing your pressure washer for winter if you have any concerns about frost damage!
If you are to having a look through our online store, we recommend the AVA First Aid Kit, which includes O-rings for nozzles, high-pressure hoses and lances, O-ring fixers for accessories and mesh for the foam canons! 😊️
https://avastore.co.uk/product/first-aid-kit-for-ava/
Thanks!