Power Washing - Movers.com

Power Washing

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Power washers are very useful tools when it spring cleaning time comes around. Even if you just had a new paint job on your home last year, dirt, algae, and a number of other varieties of grime can dull the exterior. A power washer can make the otherwise time-consuming and labor-intensive work of cleaning your siding much quicker and easier.

Which Power Washer?

Power washers come in a few varieties, using electric or gas power, hot or cold water, different types of water pumps, variations in PSI (pounds per square inch of pressure), and other permutations. For this particular job, you'll likely need a gas-powered unit to generate enough pressure. Cold water washers are perfectly suited to this work; hot water washers are much more expensive, require more complex maintenance, and are, frankly, unnecessary for cleaning your house.

Lastly, you'll want to make sure you can reach a PSI of 2200-3000 with your unit. Anything below that level might not do what you need done; those kinds of units are for smaller, gentler jobs. Beware, however, pressures above 3000. That could actually cause damage to your siding and other parts of your home. Provided you can properly adjust the pressure on whatever unit you have to the range above, you'll have what you need.

TIP: There are many places to rent a power washer, and it is definitely worth it to see if there is someone you can borrow one from. They are expensive items that you will probably only use once a year, unless you need one for work.

How to Power Wash

Before you start spraying everything down, use some kind of cleaning agent in conjunction with the power washer. Either spray it on the siding beforehand with a hand-pump sprayer, or find a cleaner that can be attached to the nozzle on the washer itself. Do not run cleaning products through the unit's machinery; it is bad for the machine. If you have vinyl siding, the process should be a cinch.

Look out for the following potential problem areas and avoid using the machine on them:
  • Loose masonry: The power washer can actually generate enough pressure to blast away damaged concrete and mortar.

  • Aluminum garage doors: Paint will strip right off of these, since it doesn't bond to the metal very well anyway.

  • Fences: The wood used in fences is usually softer and very porous. The pressure washer could do more harm than good, so just wash them by hand.
TIP: Always wear safety goggles when using this machine. It may just be water, but, at that pressure, it might as well have teeth.

Paint Prep

Using a power washer in lieu of scraping paint is not always the best idea. The unit could actually take off more paint than you want, leaving you with even more area to prime than you would have had normally. That being said, your siding should be cleaned before you paint, and the power washer is going to take care of some of the loose paint particles. Just don't leave it all up to the washer; do the bulk of the scraping and sanding by hand. And make sure your house is completely dry before you start painting! It will only be a matter of time before everything starts peeling if you paint on damp wood.

So, a power washer, when used properly, can make a large chunk of your spring cleaning a breeze. Patio furniture, walkways, and concrete floors can be cleaned very simply with this machine, too. Just adjust the pressure accordingly so you don't cause any damage!

Adam Mandelbaum  Posted by Adam Mandelbaum on January 7, 2013

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