What you don’t know will hurt your wallet
When it comes to pressure washing your home, what you don’t know can do more than damage your house—it can lead to expensive repairs that could have been avoided.
Pressure washing isn’t as simple as just pointing a powerful stream of water at an object and rinsing the dirt off. You need to account for
- the integrity of what you’re washing
- the temperature of the water used
- the impact that pressure will have on the object it’s pointed at
We know many people enjoy DIY projects, but we want to take this moment to explain why certain parts of your house should be avoided when pressure washing. Without knowing what to avoid, you could end up paying for costly repairs as a result.
Materials You Shouldn’t Pressure Wash
Here’s a brief guide on what you shouldn’t pressure wash and why.
Wood Siding
You run the risk of damaging the siding by putting dents into it, which you’ll have to repair. Even worse, you could get water underneath the surface, posing a risk to the insulation and the electrical system. You’ll also create a health hazard for yourself and the people you live with if mold starts growing underneath the siding.
Anything Electrical (panels, meters, AC units, outdoor lighting, etc.)
We think this is a no-brainer, but water and electricity don’t mix. We know that A/C units and electrical panels are built for outdoor environments, but pressurized water can get into the cracks of those devices and damage the systems. Do you want to spend thousands of dollars to replace a broken A/C unit? We know we wouldn’t if we were you.
Roofing Shingles
There are ways to safely clean your shingles, but a high-pressure stream of water could damage their integrity. As a result, water could leak into your attic and home, causing damage and raising the risk of mold. We recommend hiring a professional team that has both the experience of cleaning roofs and knows how to do it safely.
Windows
We know you need to clean your windows using more than just household cleaner. A pressurized stream of water, however, can crack your glass and potentially blow the windows out of the frames themselves. As expert window washers, we use professional tools and chemicals to remove the contaminants that household cleaners can’t reach. Even better: we won’t blow your windows down in the process.
Gutters
Like outdoor electrical equipment, gutters are built to withstand storms but not a highly pressurized stream of water. If you pressure wash your gutters, you risk cracking them or the structures that keep them attached to your home. Cracked gutters can’t properly collect debris or keep rainwater from damaging the siding of your home.
Cracking Mortar in Brickwork
The high pressure wash could remove loose mortar in your bricks, damaging the integrity of the structure and leading to repairs. If water gets into cracks in the mortar, then it also can lead to mold growing underneath the bricks. You don’t want to create a health hazard in addition to possible repairs.
Living Things
Someone or something will get hurt. Your plants will almost certainly be killed. Pressure washing is for non-organics only (but garden hoses are fine when you’re having a water fight). Pointing a pressure washing device at a human or animal will cause serious bodily harm and possibly death.
Hire Us To Safely Soft Wash Your Home
Our team can safely soft wash your home, leaving it beautiful and saving you from the cost of future repairs. Interested? Give us a call, and we’ll save you from making a costly headache. Not sure what the difference is between soft washing, pressure washing, and power washing? Find out in this blog!
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