Pressure Washing DIY

Until you gain some experience with pressure washing DIY, homeowners will find it tough to do the job right, its not just about experience, its about the equipment.

Pressure washers are incredibly productive and water-conserving, but like any other outdoor power machines, you have to select the right machine, and use it correctly.

Unless you have a very small house, it’s likely that an electric machine is not powerful enough to do the job. These machines are better suited to cleaning cars and patio ­furniture. Pressure-washer capacity is measured in cleaning units. You may get the best results when pressure washing DIY in conjunction with hand tools.

If mildew is your problem and not too severe, pressure washing alone will do the trick. But if it’s bad, you will need to pre-treat the mildew-stained areas using a pump garden sprayer or similar loaded with a solution of liquid bleach, Jomax mildewcide and water.

Spray it on, scrub, rinse and then pressure wash with a multipurpose ­siding cleaner. It will leave an immaculate, streak-free surface. When using the pressure washer you will get better results washing from the bottom up and rinsing from the top down. Professional contractors who work very fast, often work in teams to wash and rinse from the top down. Since your not a professional, take your time, work safely.

AVOID INJURY When Pressure Washing DIY

Take care Water and Electricity don’t mix; you’re going to get wet when doing pressure washing, and that puts you at risk of receiving an electrical shock from wires and exterior outlets. Always think before taking actions that may be a health risk. Look overhead to check for power lines before placing or extending ladders. Avoid blasting the house’s electrical service entrance cables, electrical meter, exterior outlets and any exterior lights.

Position the ladder on a firm footing at the proper angle (about 75 to 78 degrees). To assess the angle, place the toe of your foot against the ladder base, with your arms straight out, you should be able to rest your hands on the rung in front of you. The most dangerous part of doing power washing yourself, is operating the pressure washer with both hands while standing on the ladder. If you are uncomfortable or feel unstable with ladder work, don’t rick an accident call our professionals.

Try a pressure nozzle with a wider fan pattern before resorting to one with a narrower pattern. Yellow nozzles spray at a fan pattern of 15 degrees, green at 25 degrees, and white at 40 degrees. Reserve the red nozzle (0 degrees) for unusual applications like stripping off hardened mud. Keep the nozzle moving, and hold it the recommended distance from the surface. Finally, avoid blasting water upward at a steep angle under siding. Also, don’t blast directly into corners, under the edge of windows and doors or into dryer or attic vents.

Doing pressure washing DIY can be very difficult, if you get into difficulty or realise it to dangerous call our professionals today. Give us a call 07940 575 999 or contact us.

We do pressure washing services in Burnley, Blackburn, Accrington, Clitheroe, Whalley, Padiham, Great Harwood, Darwen and the surrounding areas of Lancashire.

Written by Bernadette Kyriacou

Tags: power washing DIY