What Should You Not Do When Pressure Washing?

From the outside, pressure washing can seem like a straightforward job. But it takes a lot of skill to successfully power wash the exterior of your home! If you’re considering attempting this project yourself, here is what you should not do when pressure washing: Not taking proper safety precautions, using too much pressure, and improper technique are all mistakes that could damage your property—and even put yourself in danger! Read on to learn more about why these seemingly simple errors can have costly consequences.

Be Careful Not To Apply Too Much Force

Getting familiar with the controls of a pressure washer is best accomplished by starting at the weakest setting. You can also get an idea of the spray's intensity on the weakest setting. Do not start the washing machine at full blast, as this could cause significant injury or even destruction of your home. You can safely use the washer if you take it easy first and gradually increase the pressure as necessary. 

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The most important thing to avoid while pressure washing any house is putting yourself or others in danger. Following these guidelines will help you clean your home without risking anyone's health:

• Put on safety gear at all times.
• Prepare the area to be cleaned by removing any trash or other obstructions.
• As you clean, ensure nothing can fall over or get knocked over.
• Get your questions concerning the machine's operation answered.
• Keeping an eye on your environment.

The pumps used in pressure washers pressurise water within a sealed system. This pressure is released when the spray gun trigger is pulled. But when your finger isn't on the trigger, what happens? A bypass valve diverts water away from the spray cannon and back into the system if the pressure ever gets too high in a single location.

The solution has one drawback, though: it raises the temperature. This is because the mechanism constantly heats all that redirected water. 

Eventually, the temperature rises to the point where it damages the pump, causing it to burn out prematurely and require expensive maintenance. (Some versions get around this problem by employing ceramic-lined components, but these tend to be out of the price range of typical consumers.)

It would help if you did not start the pressure washer until you are ready to use it. Then, press the off button to pause the washing machine while you attend to other matters. You should be alright if you're only taking one-minute rests between models.

Inability To Remember To Adjust The Spray Angle

When using a pressure washer, it's best to get in at an angle to the surface you're cleaning. We want to loosen the grime so it may be rinsed away. To clean something already unclean, spraying straight at it will only push the dirt further into the material. This is especially the case with porous materials like wood or concrete.

It may be necessary to move the spray head to attack particularly stubborn stains or ground-in dirt from various directions; however, there must always be an angle present to "scoop" away the dirt. 

We Recommend Only Using Water.

To get the best results from your pressure washer, you should use a mixture of cleaning solution with regular water. In many cases, a 50/50 mixture is the most effective. However, this depends on the potency and strength of a cleaning solution. Also, when using a power washer, the water is meant to be a delivery system for the cleaning solution, not the cleaning solution itself. Therefore, if you want your house to seem fresh and new after a pressure washing, you'll need more than just water.

Fail To Consider Potential Electrical Dangers

Open electrical boxes and dangling wires should always be addressed. It's easy for these to become potential fire dangers during pressure washing if they aren't properly sealed and maintained. So before beginning the pressure washing process, ensure any electrical problems have been resolved.

Directed Spraying Against The Siding's Upper Surface

Never aim the spray upwards through the siding when pressure washing a house's side. Water is directed from the roof to the ground using the siding. The bottom is left open to ensure that any water that manages to get through the barrier can escape without injury. Mistakenly spraying from below causes water to seep into the cracks between the siding and the home.

The best strategy is to utilise a stationary, non-telescoping extension wand from the ground. Avoid climbing a ladder. The force of the splashback from a pressure washer could cause you to lose your balance and fall.

If you need an extension, choose one with a sharp downward angle or a small curvature. You can aim the spray downwards or along the siding's surface. 

Avoid Starting With The Windows

After pressure washing your property, it is advised that you clean the windows. A pressure washer's spray might be hard to control and will only sometimes be focused where you wish it to be. Worried about the state of your windows? Relax, we can help. Pressure washing Melbourne window cleaning services will have them sparkling in no time. 

The spray and other debris from the pressure washer will certainly end up on the windows. Therefore it's better to clean the windows after the outside has been washed.

Begin With A Strict Pattern

Always start cleaning with wide, even strokes while using a power washer. Before focusing on more minute details, this is an excellent method to familiarise yourself with the power. In addition, broad, steady strokes will help preserve your home's finish by distributing the force across a larger area.

Strike Hard And Fast At The Edges

Pressure washer streams should never be directed towards a corner. Doing so will cause the water to rush back at you, which could cause damage to your eyes, head, or face if any debris is displaced. You'll get completely drenched, at the very least. Instead, use gentle, even strokes to thoroughly cleanse either side of the corner.

Is There Anything Special To Know About Pressure Washing?

• Pressure washing requires practice, so make sure you do it somewhere secure first. You probably don't want your first cut with the new saw to be smack in the middle of your house's siding because it takes time to get used to how this same equipment handles.
• Please ensure the nozzle tips and pressure won't etch or harm the surface by testing it in a small, unnoticeable area.
• It would help if you watered any plants or flowers near the places you plan to clean with chlorine (or other cleansers) to prevent the bleach (and other cleaning solutions) from sticking to them.
• Remove any fragile objects from your workspace.
• Cover or relocate any outside electrical outlets and tape them shut with painter's tape to prevent water and debris from entering.
• Apply the least amount of pressure first, then gradually increase it. To determine the strength of a pressure washer, one must know the unit of measurement in pounds per square inch (PSI). Surfaces can be damaged by the 3,000-4,000 PSI that many do-it-yourself cleaning companies can produce. Lower the pressure to a few 100 PSI and increase it gradually.
• Clean with mild chemicals. Low-pressure and mild detergents are ideal for the greatest pressure washing results.
• Start several yards away from what you're cleaning, and work your way in slowly and carefully until you're within a foot or two.
• Cleaning a fence, porch, or clapboard should begin at the bottom and progress upward. Next, begin from the top and begin working your way down as you rinse.
• If you don't want to leave any streaks or marks, use sweeping strokes and lift each one up and from the surface. Keep your swing or the spray of both the water moving to prevent leaving markings.
• When cleaning something, always check the reverse side to see what it looks like. If you're pressure washing their fence, ensure your neighbour's pet isn't outside. Your home is your biggest investment. Protect it with a professional exterior house wash from Pressure Washing Melbourne.
• Get yourself some shoes with good traction. Soap and water have the potential to leave behind a slippery film on hard floors. Keep your feet planted on the ground if you plan on pressure cleaning your roof.

Conclusion

It's not hard to pressure wash the outside of your house, but there are several safety precautions you should take to avoid harming yourself or others. Don't turn on the pressure washer at full blast; instead, work up to the desired level of force gradually. Use a stationary, non-telescoping extension wand from the ground rather than a ladder. When pressure washing the upper side of a house, the spray must never be directed upwards through the siding. For optimal results, dilute your cleaning solution with normal water.

Any exposed outlets or wires must be secured before the pressure cleaning begins. Pressure washer sprays can be unpredictable and difficult to direct. When first utilising a power washer, make sure to use broad, equal strokes to clean. If you want to keep the paint on your house in good condition, it's best to use broad, steady strokes so that the pressure is spread out. When pressure washing, it's best to use low pressure and gentle detergents.

When washing a fence, porch, or clapboard, it is best to start at the ground and work your way up. Start with pressure at 100 psi and work your way up. Soap and water might potentially form a slippery coating on hard flooring. Don't try to clean your roof while you're in the air.

Content Summary

• Pressure washing may appear simple from the outside.
• However, power washing the exterior of your home properly requires a lot of practise and expertise.
• If you're thinking about doing the pressure washing yourself, here are some things you definitely shouldn't do: If you don't take the necessary precautions, apply too much force, or use the wrong technique, you could end up damaging your property and putting yourself at risk.
• Keep reading to find out more about the hidden costs associated with these seemingly minor blunders.
• It is recommended to begin using a pressure washer at its lowest setting in order to become accustomed to its settings.
• The weakest option also provides some sense of the spray's intensity.
• If you turn on the washing machine too quickly, it could explode, causing serious harm or perhaps the loss of your home.
• As long as you start out gently and only increase the pressure if absolutely necessary, using the washer is risk-free.
• Putting yourself or anybody else in harm's way should be your top priority when pressure washing a home.
• You can safely clean your home by following these steps:
• Always use proper protective equipment.
• The cleaning process will go more smoothly if trash and other obstacles are removed first.
• Find out how the machine works and any questions you may have answered.
• Maintaining a vigilant watch over one's surroundings.
• High-pressure washers employ pumps to pressurise water inside a closed system.
• When the trigger of a spray gun is pulled, the stored pressure is released.
• If the pressure ever gets too high at the spray cannon, a bypass valve will redirect the water back into the system.
• However, there is one major problem to this solution: it increases temperature.
• If you take one-minute breaks between each model, you should be fine.
• Cleaning surfaces with a power washer requires you to approach them at a slight slant.
• A direct stream of water will just drive the dirt further into an already dirty object.
• If you're dealing with a really tough stain or ground-in dirt, you might need to experiment with where to point the spray head. However, there should always be an angle at which the dirt can be "scooped" away.
• Cleaning solution mixed with ordinary water produces the greatest results when using a pressure washer.
• But that is conditional on the effectiveness of the cleaning agent used.
• The water in a power washer is not the cleaning solution; rather, it is a delivery method for the latter.
• That being said, you'll need more than just water to achieve the desired results of a pressure-washed home that looks clean and revitalised.
• If they are not well maintained and sealed, they can easily become potential fire hazards during pressure washing.
• Make sure all electrical issues are fixed before beginning the pressure washing procedure.
• When pressure washing the side of a house, the spray must never be directed upward through the siding.
• Siding is used to channel water away from the roof and towards the ground.
• When water is sprayed at a building from below, it seeps into the spaces between the siding and the foundation.
• For best results, use a fixed, non-telescoping extension wand from below.
• Pressure washer sprays can be unpredictable and difficult to direct.
• A power washer's spray and other particles are almost guaranteed to land on the windows.
• It is recommended to wash the exterior of the building before cleaning the windows.
• Start with a very specific format.
• When first utilising a power washer, make sure to use broad, equal strokes to clean.
• This is a wonderful way to get a feel for the force before delving into the finer points.
• The finish on your property can be protected if you paint with broad, even strokes and apply pressure across a broader area.
• Pressure washer streams should never be aimed into a corner.
• Instead, wipe the surface of either side of the corner with soft, equal strokes.
• If you've never done any pressure washing before, it's best to do so in a safe area first.
• It takes time to become used to how this same equipment handles, so you definitely don't want to make your first cut in the midst of your house's exterior.
• Please test in an inconspicuous location to make sure the nozzle tips and pressure won't etch or damage the surface.
• If you want to keep the bleach (or other cleansers) from adhering to the plants and flowers around the areas you wish to clean, it's a good idea to water them first.
• Take out everything that could break from your desk.
• Painter's tape can be used to seal off any exposed electrical outlets outside and prevent water and debris from getting in.
• First, use the least amount of pressure possible, and work up from there.
• Psi is the unit of measurement for a pressure washer's strength (PSI).
• Many do-it-yourself cleaning services have the capability to generate pressures of 3,000-4,000 PSI, which can cause surface damage.
• Start with pressure at 100 psi and work your way up.
• Use gentle cleaning products to disinfect.
• The most effective method of pressure washing requires low pressure and the use of mild detergents.
• You should clean something by starting several yards away and moving slowly and carefully in until you're within a foot or two of it.
• When washing a fence, porch, or clapboard, it is best to start at the ground and work your way up.
• The next step is to start rinsing at the top and work your way down.
• Use broad, up-and-away strokes if you don't want to leave behind any smudges or smears.
• To avoid leaving marks, keep your swing or the spray of both the water moving.
• If you want to know how something looks after you've cleaned it, flip it over and have a look.
• Make sure your neighbour's pet isn't outdoors before you start pressure cleaning the fence.
• Invest in a sturdy pair of shoes that won't slip.
• Soap and water might potentially form a slippery coating on hard flooring.
• Don't try to clean your roof while you're in the air.