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It can be fun to take on a DIY project, and in many cases, you can save yourself money by doing it yourself rather than by hiring someone to do it for you. As such, many people think they can take on pressure washing themselves to give their home’s exterior a much-needed refresh.
However, there are many different pressure washing mistakes you can make if you don’t have adequate training and expertise. Here are 7 pressure washing mistakes you may make when you try to DIY this chore.
#1. Not Cleaning In Order
You may think to pressure wash the driveway and then work your way up to the more difficult to clean areas. However, this would be a pressure washing mistake to avoid. It’s like cleaning the inside of your home. If you clean the floors first and then dust your furniture, that dust is going to end up on your freshly cleaned floors. No one wants to have to clean the same area twice.
Similarly, if you pressure wash your driveway, then work your way up to your roof, the dirt and grime from higher areas are just going to run down onto your freshly cleaned driveway, making it… not clean anymore. You want to work from the top down in order to prevent this problem.
#2. Using Too Much Pressure
DIYers tend to underestimate just how pressurized the water pressure washers use is. This common pressure washing mistake is what gives pressure washing the bad rep of destroying your siding and stripping the paint from your home. It’s important to ensure that you are using the correct amount of pressure for the given area in order to prevent damage.
For example, while you can pressure wash a driveway, you wouldn’t pressure wash a window – not unless you want to break it. You would soft wash a window instead, which is essentially using a pressure washer at a very low pressure setting. When used correctly, pressure washers can breathe new life into your property. When used incorrectly, they can cause extensive damage.
#3. Pressure Washing Areas That Shouldn’t Be Pressure Washed
We just touched on this in the above point, but another common pressure washing mistake DIYers make is pressure washing areas that should either be soft washed or cleaned in another way. The aforementioned window example is a good one. You also wouldn’t use a pressure washer to clean your plants or blow away debris, as this would both cause harm and simply waste your water.
#4. Not Using Safety Equipment
Another all-too-common pressure washing mistake DIYers make is not using appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment). Again, this stems from the thinking that pressure washers are akin to garden hoses and underestimating just how pressurized the water is. However, you need to use safety equipment in order to protect yourself from the risk of injury.
You want to wear closed-toe shoes, safety glasses, hearing protection, and take other such safety precautions in order to avoid injury.
#5. Not Angling The Spray
When you’re pressure washing, the spray needs to be angled in order to lift the dirt and grime off of the surface. Spraying directly at the surface without angling the spray can end up driving the dirt deeper into it, rather than cleaning it away. This is particularly a problem on porous surfaces, such as concrete.
For particularly tough stains, you may end up needing to move the spray head around in order to get the dirt off.
#6. Using The Wrong Nozzle
Nozzles change the spread and angle of the spray, which impacts the PSI. You want to ensure that you’re using the correct type of nozzle for the surface you’re cleaning. However, since many DIYers haven’t been trained on how to use a pressure washer, this is a pressure washing mistake that can often occur when you try to DIY this job.
#7. Treating A Pressure Washer Like A Garden Hose
The most serious pressure washing mistake you can make is to treat a pressure washer like a garden hose. Pointing a pressure washer at another person or a pet in the mindset that you’re just being fun and spraying them can result in serious injury, due to just how pressurized the water is. This is also why pressure washers can damage property.
It’s crucial to remember that a pressure washer isn’t a hose; it’s a high-powered tool, not to be toyed with.
Professional Pressure Washing Services In And Around Boston
Rather than trying to keep track of all the different pressure washing mistakes to avoid, it’s best to leave pressure washing to the professionals. Above & Beyond Window Cleaning provides professional pressure washing services throughout the Boston area. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help refresh your home or business.
