If you’re getting ready to pressure wash your home or office, make sure you don’t fall prey to these common pressure washing mistakes so that you can clean your property safely and effectively. Pressure washing, also called high pressure cleaning, is an important part of maintaining a clean exterior, but it’s easy to do things wrong if you aren’t careful. Here are the five most common pressure washing mistakes you should avoid.
1. Improper Surface Preparation
The biggest pressure washing mistake that you can make is attempting to power wash a surface that hasn’t been properly prepared. This can cause serious damage and premature wear on your equipment. To prevent premature wear, be sure to take off all loose materials with a scraper or by sanding first. If you aren’t using chemicals, scrubbing with warm water works as well.
2. Choosing an Inadequate Nozzle or Wrong Setting
High pressure nozzles come in various shapes and sizes. In general, you’ll want to choose a nozzle that is appropriate for what you’re cleaning – if you are cleaning a particularly dirty surface, choose a higher number; if your application calls for soap or detergent, adjust your nozzle to accommodate. Not choosing an adequate nozzle for the job can lead to erosion of surfaces, so it’s important to know what you’re working with. If you have questions about which nozzle or setting will work best for your needs, ask a professional pressure cleaning service. They will be able to recommend what type of nozzle and/or pressure level is appropriate for your needs.
3. Ignoring Safety Precautions
Pressure washers are powerful machines. In fact, they’re capable of blasting through caked-on dirt and grime without a problem. However, you’ll have to learn how to use them safely in order to avoid injury. Never point it at yourself or anyone else. (Pressure washers can cause blindness.) Also be sure that you’re working on flat ground and wearing protective gear like boots, gloves, and goggles when you start up your pressure washer. It’s important to read all safety precautions before operating a pressure washer—and following them!
4. Not Protecting Surfaces During Pressure Washing
Sure, a pressure washer can clean pretty much anything, but that doesn’t mean you should use it on everything. Metal surfaces and wooden furniture are two common items that should always be protected with proper covers. Also, avoid using your pressure washer to clean walls or even concrete sidewalks—these jobs are best left to commercial cleaning services and their specialized equipment. Remember: If you wouldn’t wipe your shoes on something or put a glass down on it, don’t blast it with water!
5. Not Following Manufacturer’s Recommendations
Following the manufacturer’s recommendations is not just about protecting your investment. It can also keep you from making expensive repairs down the road, which will help to ensure you enjoy your pressure washer for years to come. If you need to replace certain parts, consider buying from a manufacturer who offers replacement parts. This can help save money in addition to reducing environmental waste since you won’t be replacing any worn out items with new ones.
Conclusion
When it comes to pressure washing, sometimes a few simple mistakes can make all of the difference in getting your home or office back to looking beautiful. And if you make one of these five common pressure washing mistakes, chances are you’ll spend more time, money and energy than necessary for what should be a clean and easy process. So remember: when in doubt about how to do pressure washing right, contact an expert. They’ll know what you’re doing wrong before it even happens!
