Summer is the perfect time to pressure-wash your home — you can take advantage of warm days with no rain or wind to thoroughly clean all the algae, mildew, and dirt that’s built up on your siding. But before you head to your nearest home improvement store to rent or purchase a pressure washer, read these tips. Pressure washers are extremely powerful and, if not used properly, can cause damage to your home and to you!
Gas or Electric?
For pressure washing a house and driveway, a gas pressure washer is the way to go. If you purchase a gas pressure washer, you’ll need to perform oil changes and other routine maintenance, but these washers are more powerful and will clean larger areas more efficiently than an electric one. Plus, you won’t have to connect it to an electrical outlet.
How Much Power?
Go with a medium-duty power for washing your home. Medium is also great for cleaning the driveways and walkways around your property. Light duty is good for a small deck or patio, and heavy duty is best for large, multilevel homes. Professional-grade power washers are good for prepping your home for a paint job.
What Type of Nozzle?
Pressure washer nozzles are universally color-coded. A white nozzle will do a great job of cleaning your home’s siding and windows.
Which Attachments?
You can purchase various attachments depending on the type of job you’re doing. If you’ve got a lot of build up, get a rotary nozzle, which spins at a rapid speed and will blast that gunk away. Expandable wands will help you reach high areas, and you can use a brush attachment or soaping nozzle to scrub down your siding before blasting it clean with the pressure washer.
Before You Begin
• Always eye and hearing protection, and spray about 18 inches from the surface.
• Cover all surrounding bushes and plants with plastic sheeting.
• Cover all vents and any other areas you don't want water to seep into with plastic sheeting and duct tape.
• Turn off the power to all exterior electrical outlets. Exercise caution when spraying around any electrical outlets, particularly those without waterproof covers. If water gets into them, you could damage your home’s electrical system.
TIME TO WASH
1. Using the brush attachment, apply soap and scrub about a 6-10 foot area of your house.
2. Hook your pressure washer to your hose and, holding it in both hands, begin spraying the top of the soapy section. Start out slowly to get a feel for its operation; you can speed up as you become more comfortable. Spray from the top down.
3. Keep going around your house, a section at a time, until the job’s done!
Safety Tips
• We don’t recommend using a ladder while pressure washing. The force of the sprayer can knock you right off it.
• Never use the washer to rinse off your hands or feet, and don’t aim the pressure washer at anyone. A pressure washer is so powerful that it can literally take your skin off.
• Be aware of power lines close to your area, and stay away from them as you pressure wash.
• If you’re pressure washing any surface that was painted before 1978, let a pro do the job. You could be washing off lead paint, which is harmful to kids, pets, and the environment.
For more tips and tricks on pressure washing, including pressure washing your home to prep it for painting and how to pressure wash other areas such as your deck, driveway, and concrete areas, read this helpful article from Best Pick Reports.
Pressure washing can take several days or weekends and requires some practice. If you don’t want the hassle of pressure washing your home, call Burlett Painting. We’ve been providing professional residential and commercial pressure washing services, including homes, decks, concrete and brick areas, and even low-pressure roof washing!