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Tag: pressure washing tips

Essential High Pressure Cleaning Safety Tips

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High pressure cleaning is one of the best ways to clean large areas quickly and efficiently. Pressure washing machines work in a simple way. However, the risks associated with pressure washing machines can be catastrophic including death. But, thankfully, pressure cleaning injuries are 100% preventable.

So, today, in this article, we’ve put together the essential high pressure cleaning safety tips to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. Let’s have a look at them!

1. Read The Manual of Pressure Washing Machine

Knowing how the high pressure cleaning machine works and how to use it is the first step in the proper pressure washing operation. So, take your time to read the user manual of the machine from front to the back, before you start using the pressure washer. The user manual should contain everything you need to know about the machine like machine operational instructions, technical specifications, safety warnings and precautions.

2. Clear The Cleaning Area

Before you start your high pressure cleaning process, clear any obstructions and possible tripping hazards from the cleaning area. This step will help you to reduce the chances of accidents such as slips and falls. Establish a safety perimeter around the cleaning area where you’re going to do the high pressure cleaning, make sure that no person (especially children) or animal is able to enter the area. If possible, have someone to keep watch while you’re doing the pressure wash. So, when your watcher sees someone approaching, they can alert you, which gives you the time to turn off the pressure washer.

3. Make Sure to Wear Safety Gears

Most of the high pressure cleaning related accidents can be prevented if you wore protective gear. We might have even seen friends or co-workers using a pressure washing machine while wearing sandals or shorts, which is not right. So, here are a few of the basic safety gears a pressure washer operator should wear:

  • Safety Goggles – The highly pressurised water can dislodge debris that can shoot off and hit you or somebody else. Therefore, it’s important that you wear eye protecting safety goggles that protect your eyes from flying debris. If you don’t have safety goggles, you can wear shatter-proof sunglasses.
  • Hearing Protection – Some high pressure cleaning machines can be incredibly loud, especially the gas-powered models. Constant exposure to these kinds of sounds can adversely affect your hearing. So, make sure to wear hearing protection gear such as earmuffs or earbuds to protect your hearing from the high decibels.
  • Work Gloves – One of the most common injuries associated with pressure washing is when the hand accidentally gets hit by the water jet. Wearing sturdy work gloves help you protect your hands from injuries, and also improve your grip, so, the chances of you accidentally letting go of the pressure washer gun will be reduced.
  • Long Pants – Just as protecting your eyes from the debris, you also need to protect your legs from the same hazards. The flying debris could pierce your skin. So, wearing long pants protects your legs from flying debris as well as from accidental contact with the jet.
  • Steel-Toed Boots – Always, make sure to wear closed shoes or steel-toed boots when you are doing high pressure cleaning. The water spray from a pressure washer is powerful enough to cut through rubber and leather shoes. So, protect your toes with steel-toed boots.

Conclusion

These simple but effective high pressure cleaning safety tips will keep you out of harm. There is just no need to put yourself at risk on a Sunday while pressure washing your house. And, also you can always hire a professional high pressure cleaning service provider for your pressure washing requirements.

5 Tips to Pressure Wash a House

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Any type of exterior gets dirty and dingy over time, but pressure washing, also known as high-pressure cleaning, can quickly restore your home to its former beauty. Learn how to pressure wash your house with these five tips.

1. Choose a Pressure Washer

Depending on the exterior of your house, you may need to use a certain type of pressure washer. For example, Vinyl siding can withstand a powerful gas pressure washer (2,500-3,000 psi), and Aluminum, stucco or soft-grain wood homes will do better with a less powerful pressure washer (about 1,200-1,500 psi). When choosing a pressure washer, also determine whether you need any accessories such as pressure washer extension wands or pressure washer telescoping wands, which are helpful when pressure cleaning two-story homes or hard-to-reach areas.

2. Prepare the Place and Put on Safety Gear

Once you choose the pressure washing machine, it’s time to prepare the cleaning place and put on your safety gear. Before you begin, remove or cover things like light fixtures and air conditioner compressors to protect them from damage. Use a plastic covering over shrubs and garden plants. Secure the tarps in place with duct tape, and note the location of windows and electrical outlets to ensure you avoid them while doing the high-pressure cleaning. Also, do not stand on a ladder when using a pressure washer. The pressure could cause you to lose your balance as well as never drive water directly into gaps or cracks in your home’s exterior. Besides, keep your pressure washer wand at least 6 feet away from electrical wires and never spray water into outlets. More importantly, never point a pressure washer at other people or pets and be sure to wear the proper protective gear, when pressure washing a house.

3. Set Up the Pressure Cleaner

Take the following steps to set up the pressure washer: Use a 5-gallon water bucket, mix water and a cleaning detergent with a mildewcide, attach your pressure washer to your garden hose, choose the pressure washer nozzle you plan to use and attach it to your sprayer, Take a step back about 3 feet from your home and test the pressure washer against the house and finally, adjust your stance and spray until you feel the pressure is strong enough to remove dirt without damaging your home’s exterior.

4. Do the Cleaning From the Bottom Up

Now that your cleaning solution is mixed and you’ve tested your pressure washer, it’s time to begin the high-pressure cleaning. Using the cleaning solution, start pressure washing at the bottom of the house and work your way up. Washing from the top down can cause water and suds to run down the side of the house, And, When spraying roof overhangs and gutters, always maintain a 45-degree angle. Also, do not pressure wash your home if it’s been painted with lead paint.

5. Finish the Cleaning and Let Dry

Once you have done the high-pressure cleaning of your home, turn off the pressure washer and disconnect it from the garden hose. You can check the manual for the proper steps for storing the pressure washer, such as draining liquid from the pump when the pressure washing is finished, and removing all tarps, drop cloths and duct tape. Also, if you plan to paint after the high-pressure cleaning, allow the home’s exterior to completely dry. This typically takes about two days.

Conclusion

Learning how to pressure wash your house is a good way to keep your house looking its best, especially if you want to prepare your house for a fresh coat of paint. You can also hire professional high-pressure cleaning service providers for your house’s pressure washing requirements.

Why you should consider pressure washing services for your home

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Why you should consider Pressure Washing Services for your home

Remember the look and feel of your home when you first moved in? The spotless driveway. Squeaky clean exterior. Are you ready to reinstate that original glory? Our pressure wash service might be the simple answer to all your cleaning needs. Read on to find out how our pressure wash services can help to make your home beautiful again.

Benefits of Pressure Washing

Cleaning out the dirt, algae, and grime can prolong the life of the exterior surfaces in your home. Dirt particles, sand and moss, can cause damage to concrete, wooden deck and sidings in the long term. Our pressure wash service can ensure that these surfaces stay in peak condition.

Pressure washing Brisbane area properties is one way to effectively remove mould, organic debris, and years of built-up dirt. This can not only make certain your home front looks good, but it can also increase the value of your property. Let’s look at the other benefits of professional pressure washing Australia and why you should hire an expert to do the job.

  • Pressure washing can get rid of mold and mildew, making your home hygienic, and therefore protecting the health of your loved ones.
  • It can prevent deterioration of your external surfaces, which can prevent the need for repairs keeping your property in good shape.
  • Unlike an inexperienced individual, a professional pressure washer with commercial equipment can prevent property damage.
  • Pressure washing is the perfect way to go if you are preparing an area for painting. It can clear away any old paint and gunk dangling from the surface and create a smooth surface that can enhance the paint job’s efficiency.
  • Last but not least, it enhances the curb appeal of your property. Therefore, if you are planning to sell your house, you can get the best value in the market.

Why You Should Hire a Professional Pressure Wash Service

The first thing that might come to your mind is, “I can do it myself.” There’s no doubt you can do it yourself, but you might not have the commercial equipment, the experience and the expertise to ‘DIY’ a pressure washing project.

Furthermore, it can be dangerous to attempt to use industrial pressure washing equipment without knowledge and experience. Therefore, it’s ideal to allow an expert to handle the project to prevent unnecessary accidents. All you have to do is get on your browser and search for ‘pressure wash service near me,’ and make that phone call.

Finally, hiring a professional can save you plenty of time and money which you can invest in more important things.

Hiring Aspen Services For Your Pressure Washing Task: How It Works

Step 1: Call our hotline at 1300 461 926 and describe your requirement.

Step 2: A professional from our team will choose a convenient time that suits you and come in for an inspection.

Step 3: The cost of pressure wash services can vary depending on your requirement and the surface that requires pressure washing. Our professionals from Aspen Services will explain the procedure that is required to provide the best outcome and give a clear price quote.

Step 4: We will discuss a date and a time convenient for you and send one of our experts to take care of the pressure washing project.

Pressure Washing FAQs

How often should you power wash your house?

As we highlighted above, pressure washing a home has several benefits. It might get you wondering why people don’t pressure wash their homes every week. The answer is simple. When you pressure wash too often than necessary, it can damage the paint or the external surfaces. On the other hand, if you neglect to pressure wash your home as often as required, the environmental factors can lead to long-term deterioration resulting in the requirement of heavy repairs.

So how often should you pressure wash your house? There are a few straightforward situations which call for a power wash.

  1. As a part of routine maintenance
    Generally speaking, most professionals advise that you clean your home every six to twelve months (or one to two times a year). Regular power washing will help you keep your home’s exterior beautiful while preventing the growth of mold or mildew.
  2. When you plan to sell the house
    Another great time to use a pressure wash service for your property is when you plan to sell it. After all, the value and marketability of your property are significantly influenced by its curb appeal. Of course, you could live in your house for a long time before you consider selling it. Therefore, even while you should give it a thorough cleaning before selling it, this shouldn’t be the only time you use power washing.
  3. Painting the house
    Using a pressure washer surface cleaner on your house can assist get rid of any old, flaking, or chipping paint so that a fresh coat will adhere to the surface better. Therefore, it’s important to power wash your home exterior properly before applying paint to your house.

How long does it take to power wash a house?

Pressure washing a house can take anything from 30 minutes to 3 hours or longer. Furthermore, it depends on the size of the property. For instance, a 2,500-square-foot home with one story may take around an hour.

Can you damage concrete by power washing?

In the hands of an inexperienced person, pressure washing can damage the concrete surface. The most common causes of pressure washing damage include using the incorrect nozzle, using too much pressure, spraying too near to a concrete surface, and keeping the nozzle stationary for an extended period of time.

However, when you hire a professional to do the job, you can rest easy knowing that your concrete driveway or patio is in safe hands.

If you feel your property needs pressure washing, get in touch with Aspen Services today. We have years of experience in pressure cleaning. So, you can count on us to get rid of algae, dust, mold, and mildew off the surfaces of your home. If you require a shower repair or you are thinking of restoring your bathroom, check out our article How to Save Money and Restore Your Bathroom With The Best Shower Repairs in Brisbane.

Pressure washing tips for absolute beginners

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Most Essential Tips on Pressure Washing Every Beginner Should Know

Are you ready to get rid of the dirt and grime and reinstate the kerb appeal of your home front? We are here to guide you on how to bring the outside of your home back to life with the right tools and techniques.

The correct tips on pressure washing can save you precious time. So, check out our pressure wash tips below, finish the job faster, and indulge in more entertaining activities than outdoor cleaning for hours and hours.

Tips On Pressure Washing For A Successful Clean

Before you attempt to hose down all of the dusty and dirty surfaces in sight, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.

Tip 1: Use The Right Nozzle

Pressure washers come with various nozzle tips. Each of them is meant to handle a specific type of cleaning task. You can use a rotating nozzle to power wash most of the areas. However, when it comes to tasks like removing tough stains on a concrete surface, you need a concentrated stream of water. You need high-pressure hosing in such instances, and using the direct stream of water is ideal. But, you need to be extra cautious when you use it. Unless you are aware of the do’s and don’ts of pressure washing, it causes serious injury to you or the other areas of the property.

Tip 2: Don’t Start Closer; Always Start Away From the Surface

It is always advisable to start pressure washing, maintaining a comfortable distance from the surface. If you start too close, you can blow a hole through an exterior siding or take the paint off the surface.

Therefore, in the beginning, keep a safe distance. At least keep a few feet apart between the surface and the tip of the nozzle of your pressure washer. You can start moving towards the surface when you are completely certain that the pressure washer is cleaning and agitating the surface without causing damage to the area in focus.

Tip 3: Do Not Pressure Wash On Top of a Wooden Roof

Never pressure wash a wooden roof if the wood beneath your feet is getting wet. The minute the wood gets wet, it turns into a ‘slip n slide.’ If you slide down and fall off the roof, you can sustain severe or life-threatening injuries depending on the height you fall off. So, when it comes to a wooden roof, we do not recommend ever getting the wood on the roof wet while you are standing on it.

Tip 4: Learn the Correct Technique for Using A Pressure Washer

The biggest advantages of a pressure washer are its speed and strength. However, underestimating the power of this tool and using it in an incorrect way can be dangerous. Therefore, adhere to the right techniques recommended by professionals.

The easiest way to start a pressure washer is to grab and pull the trigger, hold the trigger, and then pull the pressure washer. If you do not hold the trigger down, a lot of pressure tends to build up behind the pump. That makes it hard to pull and start your pressure washer. So, squeeze the trigger, and start your pressure washer to get it going. Afterwards, release your pressure washer, and the pressure will build up appropriately without too much force.

Another handy little tip is to always put your nozzle on the tip of the pressure washer before you pull the trigger. Squeezing the trigger without a nozzle could damage the tip, and you will require to fix the damage before attempting to restart the pressure washing job.

Getting a pressure washing job done is a piece of cake if you can accurately comprehend these pressure washing tips. Now let’s take a look at how to pressure wash a surface efficiently.

How Do You Pressure Wash Effectively?

After setting your pressure washer as per the instructions on the manuel, always refer back to the tips we have highlighted above. Go from top to bottom on vertical surfaces, so the dirt collects at the bottom, and you can clean it all off in the end.

If you are unsure of how to pressure wash without causing damage to the surfaces of your household, you can get the help of a professional pressure washing service like Aspen Services.

What Should You Not Do With a Pressure Washer?

There are a few common mistakes you want to avoid while pressure washing.

1. Forgetting to angle the pressure washer

When you approach the surface to be cleaned at an angle, it helps to lift up the dirt off the surface. On the contrary, if you spray directly, you can drive the dirt deeper under the surface.

2. Forgetting to wear safety gear

Putting your safety first is vital when you use a high-power tool like the pressure washer. A narrow stream of water at extremely high pressure can slice through skin and flesh. Therefore, always wear covered shoes and be attentive when using the pressure washer.

3. Using the wrong nozzle

The size of the nozzle plays an accurate role in the strength of the water pressure coming out of the pressure washer. Using the wrong nozzle on the wrong surface can easily cause damage to your property.

How Do You Pressure Wash Fast?

Using a rotating pressure washer nozzle is a surefire way to enhance the efficiency of pressure washing cleaning. However, this might not be suitable for every type of pressure washing job. So, hiring a professional is the fastest way to get a pressure washing project over with. Best high pressure cleaners have years and years of experience under their belt. Therefore, they are quite capable of getting a pressure cleaning job done faster than an inexperienced ‘DIYer.’

We hope our tips for pressure washing come in handy. Stay tuned to this space to learn tips for pressure washing a house. We will also discuss how to pressure wash roof tiles and other different types of surfaces.

If you are looking for tips for pressure washing driveway, check out our blog, How to Clean A Concrete Driveway.