Fixing a Carpet Cleaner That’s Stopped Spraying Water

Does your carpet cleaner seem to have thrown in the towel? Don’t panic, if it has stopped spraying water, there are 10 things you can do to fix it.

If your carpet cleaner stops spraying water, do this:

1. Check the water level
2. Check the tank connection
3. Release an airlock
4. Prime the trigger
5. Replace the trigger
6. Unclog the spray holes with a toothbrush
7. Unclog the spray holes with warm water
8. Unblock the filter
9. Replace damaged tanks
10. Change a broken belt

There’s a lot involved when it comes to fixing a carpet cleaner that’s stopped spraying water. To find out where the problem lies in your unit and fix it, take a look at the following section.

10 Ways to Fix a Carpet Cleaner That’s Stopped Spraying Water

Gathering the strength to deep clean your carpet is a chore. If you were just about to start the job when you realized the spray had konked out, you face a dilemma. Should you spend hours trying to find out what’s wrong with it? Or should you toss it to one side and turn a blind eye to the grubby carpets?

Neither. In this article, we’ll show you 10 ways you can quickly fix your carpet cleaner. Grubby rugs will soon be a thing of the past!

Step #1 Check the Water Level

To get your carpet cleaner on the road to recovery, you will first need to check the water and formula levels. Make sure there is enough water and formula in both tanks.

If the water or formula levels are low, the carpet cleaner will not be able to spray. You may find that your water or formula tanks need multiple refills throughout a job. This is normal if you are cleaning a large floor area.

Step #2 Check the Tank Connection

One reason why your carpet cleaner might start acting up is that its tanks are not connected properly. If the formula or water tanks are not nestled in correctly, the unit will not be able to spray.

Checking your tank connections is quick and easy. Here’s everything you’ll need to do:

1. Turn the carpet cleaner off
2. Check that the lids to the tanks are firmly on
3. Check that the bases of the tanks are attached properly. Push down firmly to ensure that you have locked them into place. There shouldn’t be a gap between the tanks and the machine.
4. Turn the carpet cleaner back on
5. Press the trigger to test the spray

Step #3 Release an Airlock

Is your carpet cleaner throwing its toys out of the pram? Then that might be because of a buildup of air in the spray line. If there is air in the line, it will have trouble releasing the water. You need to clear this for it to work properly again.

There are two ways of releasing an airlock from the spray line. So, if you try one and it doesn’t work, make sure you have a go at the other.

Here’s the first method:

1. Turn the carpet cleaner off
2. Wait one minute
3. Turn the carpet cleaner back on
4. Press the trigger to test the spray

Here is the second method:

1. Fill the water container
2. Hold the formula container backward at a 45-degree angle
3. Press and hold down the trigger for 5 minutes. Then release the trigger.
4. Press the trigger to test the spray

Step #4 Prime the Trigger

Here is another step that will help you to rule out the trigger as the culprit to your spraying dilemma. If your trigger has lost its prime, water will not be able to spray from it. This is a simple problem to fix. This is what you’ll need to do:

1. Turn the carpet cleaner off
2. Press and hold the trigger for 30 seconds
3. Turn the carpet cleaner back on
4. Press the trigger to test the spray

Step #5 Replace the Trigger

Do you think that your trigger is the root of the problem? Does it have the following issues?

• The trigger doesn’t spray
• It doesn’t have any tension
• It doesn’t spring back when you press it

All of these are indicators that your trigger is the weak link in the chain. To replace it, you will need to contact your manufacturer. They will be able to guide you to purchase the right replacement parts and talk you through what you need to do.

Step #6 Unclog the Spray Holes with a Toothbrush

If the fault does not lie with the trigger, you’ll have to move on to your next suspects. They are the spray holes.

It is easy for spray holes to clog up. This is because the formula that comes through the holes sticks and clogs around them. In time, this could stop the flow of water.

Clogged-up spray holes are easy to clean. Here are a few simple instructions that will help you on the way:

1. Turn the carpet cleaner off
2. Turn the cleaner upside down
3. Take the main panel off of the floor tool
4. Lift the brush
5. Remove any buildup of formula that is blocking the spray holes using a toothbrush
6. Turn the carpet cleaner back on
7. Press the trigger to test the spray

Step #7 Unclog the Spray Holes with Warm Water

Are your spray holes still clogged up? It is all too easy for them to get bunged up with cleaning formula that crusts over them when it dries. Then in this step, you’ll find another way of clearing the holes. You might want to fish out your old cleaning toothbrush for this one. We’ll also be using warm water.

I can’t emphasize enough the need to use warm water for this step instead of boiling water. Boiling water could warp your tanks and kickstart a whole new set of problems. So, for this step, make sure the water is warm not boiling hot. Anything too hot to touch is no good for your carpet cleaner.

This is what you’ll need to do:

1. Fill the water tanks with warm water
2. Press the hold the trigger for 2 minutes
3. Turn the carpet cleaner off
4. Turn the cleaner upside down
5. Take the main panel off of the floor tool
6. Lift the brush
7. Remove any buildup of formula that is blocking the spray holes using a toothbrush
8. Put the main panel back on the floor tool
9. Turn the cleaner back upright
10. If the water in the tanks has gone cold, replace it with more warm water
11. Turn the carpet cleaner back on
12. Press and hold the trigger for 2 minutes

NOTE: To prevent sticky holes in the future, always flush the tanks through with warm water after each use.

Step #8 Unblock the Filter

It’s time to check your filter. A blocked filter will prevent water from spraying through the spray holes. Here’s how to rectify this problem:

1. Turn the carpet cleaner off
2. Consult your user guide to locate the filter. (Its location will depend on the make and model of your carpet cleaner.)
3. Remove the filter
4. Run the filter under cold water to remove any dust or debris from it
5. Return the filter to the carpet cleaner
6. Turn the carpet cleaner back on
7. Press the trigger to test the spray

Step #9 Replace Damaged Tanks

Are your formula and water tanks in good shape? If they are cracked or deformed, they will not work properly. This could be the reason for the spraying issue.

To check the status of your tanks, do this:

1. Turn the carpet cleaner off
2. Remove the water and formula tanks
3. Inspect the tanks for cracks, warping, or other damage. If the tanks show signs of damage, you will need to replace them.

Step #10 Change a Broken Belt

The last thing to do to fix your carpet cleaner is to inspect its belt. Lots of models have a brush that connects to the spray mechanism. So if one doesn’t work, nor will the other.

The best way to check this is when your carpet cleaner is running. If the brush doesn’t move, this could indicate a broken belt. If the belt is broken it will need removing and replacing. With a new belt, the spray should work normally.

If you want to get any replacement part – or see how much one would cost – click to enter your model number in the search bar below. Our partners at AppliancePartsPros stock almost every part with free guides on how to install them.

Conclusion

Are you trying to fix a carpet cleaner that’s stopped spraying water? Regardless of whether you’re at the beginning or the end of a job when this happens, it’s mighty frustrating. That’s why this article is jam-packed full of 10 ways you can fix this problem and resume your carpet cleaning.

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Have a great day!

-Craig