Do you have a weekend home maintenance day scheduled, but you’d rather do something else? Before you pencil in “pressure wash the house, deck, patio and driveway” to your agenda, you should consider the following: whether you’re prepared for the job, if you really want to do it yourself, or if working with a pressure washing service is a better bet.
When it’s time to clean the exterior of your home, driveway, deck, or get those other cleaning tasks done, a pressure washing service can take care of it all. But what if you’re on the fence, deciding whether to do the job yourself or hire a pressure washing service to get it done for you?
We understand that there are things to consider, and benefits to both options. First, let’s talk about the do’s and don’ts of going with the do-it-yourself (DIY) method and handling a pressure washing job yourself.
If you have the extra time on your hands, you might decide to take on DIY pressure washing. But before you get out the hose and start to cross off “pressure washing” from your Saturday schedule, let’s go over some important do’s and don’ts of pressure washing.
We talk to plenty of folks who opt for DIY pressure washing, then come to us later with questions or to fix a job that was only half-done. Why?
Pressure washing your home’s siding or taking on another exterior project at your home or business property can have its benefits — if you’re experienced and know exactly what you’re doing, that is.
For those of you who are confident that you have the right equipment, know the right PSI and nozzle settings, and know you’ve prepped the area properly, then great! You might be on your way to an excellent result for shining up your home or business using the DIY method.
If you’re not sure, here are a few things to look out for to make sure you’re ready for the job
Get the Right Equipment
First thing’s first: you need the right pressure washing equipment. Don’t get stuck with the wrong type of pressure washing nozzles or solutions that end up being wrong for the job at hand. Talk about time and money wasted!
So before you buy or rent any supplies, you should understand the requirements of your specific project. Stick to gas-powered pressure washers, the electric ones aren’t recommended due to not being as efficient or powerful as the gas ones. You can simply go to your local hardware store such as Home Depot and rent one there, keep in mind to not focus on the PSI much but more on the GPM (Gallons Per Minute) which is what will allow you to pressure wash your house much quicker. The cleaning solution is what will do most of the cleaning work, you always want to use the least amount of pressure needed to avoid damage.
Prep the Area
A big mistake we see with doing the DIY route is that people don’t properly prep the area before they get to work. First, make sure you test the water flow from your hose. There’s a quick test you can run to assess the water flow. All you need is your hose and a 5-gallon bucket. Go ahead and fill the bucket from your hose and time how long it takes to fill. If you can fill the bucket in under 2 minutes, the water flow passed the test. If it takes longer than 2 minutes, that means you don’t have enough water pressure to run a pressure washer. You’ll need to get to the root of that problem before you can DIY.
Know Your Nozzles
Do you know about the various nozzle tips for your pressure washer and how each of them should be used? If you’re not sure, make sure you learn this before you attempt to use a pressure washer.
There are various nozzle attachments in the following sizes and uses:
- 40-degree. Use this nozzle type for general use, like clearing wood decks and home siding. 40-degree is also good for jobs like washing down patio furniture and vehicles.
- 25-degree. This nozzle is for tougher jobs on stronger surfaces, like brick, concrete, driveways and sidewalks.
- 15-degree. 15-degree nozzles are suitable for jobs like removing paint, mildew or dirt on strong surfaces.
- 0-degree. This nozzle gives you the most concentrated, strongest stream of water. Take caution when using and be certain that your surface or material can handle it as it can cause damage to softer surfaces. 0-degree nozzles are good for removing glue, oil, tar, and for use on hard metals
Know Your Angles
To DIY pressure wash, know what angle you’re aiming for. Your water stream should be perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned. There are nozzles that make this easier, like pivot nozzles and adjustable nozzles that give you flexibility in your angle to target harder to reach areas with ease.
Take Safety Precautions
If you weren’t aware, pressure washers are powerful tools and can prove dangerous to DIY users if they don’t know what they’re doing or don’t take proper safety precautions.
First thing’s first, never aim a pressure washer toward people or pets (nope, neither your neighbors) since the powerful water stream can even cause damage to skin. Make sure you use a firm grip on the handle or wand, since the force from the stream can buck and send the water stream flying in all the wrong directions. It’s a good idea to use safety goggles, too. And start off by standing at least 10 feet from the area to be pressure washed. That brings us to the final tip.
Don't Rush It
Ease into the job. When in doubt, always start slower with less power and at least 10 feet away from the surface. Then, gradually increase pressure and distance toward the surface you’re working with. Don’t rush it!
Professional Pressure Washing Services
If you aren’t quite sure whether you’re ready to DIY, good news: If you’re located in Long Beach or in the Los Angeles area, pressure washing services are here for you.
Besides being much easier than DIY and totally stress-free, a pressure washing service can take care of any of your home or business property cleaning needs, like exterior siding, decks, driveways, and more.
No matter if you’re in need of a full exterior home cleaning or just need your driveway clean, no job is too big or too small. The benefits of going with professional pressure washing services are many, for example:
- Professionals are fitted with the right equipment, know-how, and experience.
- They can assess your specific situation and fit you with the right solution.
- Working with a company local to your area means you get solutions that make the most sense with the climate and weather conditions for your region.
- They’ll know how to handle different materials and go from siding, wood, and asphalt with no problem, and adjust the work accordingly to your needs.
We know your time is valuable. That’s why we do the heavy lifting and worry about the details while you take the day off or get other things done!
If you want to learn more about Prime Power Clean, LLC pressure washing services or want to grab your Free Quote, simply fill out THIS FORM, or just send us a text to 562-250-4266 and we’ll get in touch.
We look forward to serving you!
always available through text
Are you ready to get started? 🙂
We understand that you’re busy, therefore – you don’t have to be at your home or business. You can have piece of mind that your property will be taken care of by professionals
5 Exterior Projects That Instantly Add Value to Your Home
When people think about home remodeling projects that will add
Window Cleaning in Torrance, CA
Our client requested to have their 2-year old home windows
