Pressure Washing Snow: Should You Do it?

Love it or hate it, there’s no question that snow shoveling is a chore. You may wonder if there’s an easier way to remove snow from your property… like pressure washing snow, perhaps. However, while you may think that you can use a pressure washer to blast snow away from your driveway or your roof or whatever else, it’s best to stick to the classics: snowblowers, snow shovels, etc.

Here’s what you need to know about why you shouldn’t be pressure washing snow.

But Won’t Pressure Washing Snow Melt It Away?

And leave you with just needing to salt your driveway so that ice doesn’t form? 

Listen, we get it. Power washers use hot water, and hot water melts snow away. It would make sense if you’re trying to save your back to try to melt the snow away, rather than relying on more arduous methods. If you’re someone who is prone to back pain, you may be especially tempted to give pressure washing snow a shot.

Plus, pressure washers are used to clean exterior surfaces. So, by pressure washing snow, wouldn’t you be left not only with a snow-free driveway, but one that’s freshly cleaned, as well?

However, tempting as the urge to pressure wash snow away may be, it’s actually a terrible idea.

Why Pressure Washing Snow Is A Bad Idea

Trying to pressure wash anything in cold weather can cause all sorts of problems. Here are some of the issues you may run into if you attempt this.

Freezing Water

If you’re trying to use a pressure washer when the temperatures are under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, this can cause the water to freeze. While sure, you can salt your driveway, you can’t exactly salt your rooftop. You don’t want to deal with ice anywhere, as it creates both unsafe walking conditions and may increase the risk of damage to your property, as is the case with ice dams.

As such, instead of having a nice, clean driveway, you may be left with one that’s covered in ice. Far better to stick to the tried and true snow shovels than to risk everyone’s safety by creating more ice.

Your Roof Could Collapse Or Become Otherwise Damaged

Water is heavy. The snow and ice already on your rooftop is heavy enough without you adding even more water to the mix. And pressure waters pump out a lot of water very quickly. While you may assume that the water will just run off of your roof, when there’s snow on your roof, the snow will absorb it first. This greatly increases the weight on your roof, which could cause it to collapse. 

Even if your roof doesn’t collapse, depending on the material that your roof is made of, it may not be able to withstand the highly pressurized water pressure washers use. This could cause damage, especially if the pressure washer is in inexperienced hands, rather than those of a professional (who would not be pressure washing snow off of anyone’s roof anyway).

So, Pressure Washing Snow Is A No… Can You Pressure Wash In The Winter?

In general, if the temperatures drop to freezing, then no, you do not want to be pressure washing anything. This is to avoid freezing water, structural damage, unsafe working conditions, and the like. 

Be very wary of any professional pressure washing companies that claim that you can pressure wash regardless of what the weather is like. A good, trustworthy company will always be honest and upfront with you about when it’s possible to do a good job and when they would need to reschedule in order to ensure a job done right.

Professional, Trustworthy Exterior Cleaning Services In The Boston Area

Above & Beyond Window Cleaning is here to provide your Boston property with the top-tier exterior cleaning services that it needs in order to stay sparkling clean. We pride ourselves on the high quality of our services. We’re always honest and upfront with our clients about when it’s possible to do a good job and when we would need to reschedule due to circumstances, like freezing temperatures, that would do more harm than good.

Contact us today to learn more about our exterior cleaning services and what we can do for you.