You might not have the ability to see the dirt and grimy buildup on the exterior of the house, but believe me, it is there. This accumulation of dirt isn’t a reflection on your cleaning or perhaps home maintenance abilities – it is just part of your house being exposed to the elements.
But it does not mean that you’ve to sit idly by as years of grime dull the gorgeous house of yours. Rather, make use of a pressure washer to remove the dirt and bring your home’s exterior back to life. Sounds easy enough, right?
Well, pressure washers can cause a great deal of damage if you do not understand what you are doing, so you must do a bit of research before getting started. If you have never made use of a pressure washer, you have come to the right spot. Until a few years ago, I had not used one either, and to be absolutely honest, I was a bit intimidated by them.
I would not go and so far as to say I am a pro now, but I have learned a lot, and I feel a lot more confident in my pressure washing abilities. Ready to start on your own personal project? Continue reading for a simple guide to pressure washing and the best tips based on first-hand experience.
Click here to contact the best pressure washing services
Electric Pressure Washer or perhaps gas?
Pressure washers work by using a pump to increase the pressure of water moving through the attached hose. The pump can be powered by gasoline or perhaps by electricity, and there are actually cons and pros to both.
My husband and I decided on a gas-powered pressure washer since they usually provide higher PSI (pounds of pressure per square inch GPM and) (gallons of water per minute) than an electric version. The additional power means that we can clean surfaces much quicker.
Your needs and circumstances might differ from mine, nonetheless, so use the info below to help guide the choice yours.
Gas pressure washers
Pro: Gas-powered pressure washers can produce an array of GPM and PSI levels, which means they clean more quickly and more efficiently than electric models.
Pro: Gas pressure washers are actually cordless, so if you are not near a power outlet, you will still have the ability to work.
Con: Gasoline engines – even small ones – require consistent maintenance. You will need to regularly change the oil in your gas pressure washer and ensure you use the correct fuel additives in case you intend to keep the machine for a prolonged time.
Con: Gasoline engines are louder compared to electric engines, and they do produce emissions. You can’t use a gas-powered pressure washer indoors or perhaps in covered spaces.
Electric pressure washers Pro: Electric pressure washers don’t produce harmful emissions – in case you’d to, you can use one indoors (though you will want hearing protection and a dependable method to get rid of the water).
Pro: An electric engine means you do not have to be concerned about other maintenance and oil changes tasks.
Con: An electric pressure washer can’t produce the power of a gas-powered model. Should you have to clean a large or perhaps filthy area, an electric pressure washer will take a lot longer to finish the job (and you might not see the results you hoped for).
Con: Because they need a power outlet, electric pressure washers aren’t as lightweight as gasoline versions.
What is Size Pressure Washer actually Best?
Whether or not you choose a gas or perhaps electric pressure washer, you’ll also have to create a decision about the dimensions of the engine. Like every other engine-powered machine, the dimensions of the engine determine the total power of the device. A little engine won’t have the ability to create the water pressure or perhaps the gallon-per-minute output of a bigger engine.
Generally speaking, pressure washer engines are actually categorized 4 ways:
Light duty
Medium duty
Heavy duty
Professional or extra-heavy-duty Light-duty pressure washers produce water pressure levels under 2,000 PSI. In case you plan to clean the occasional outdoor household item or perhaps a small deck or perhaps patio, a light-duty electric pressure washer is perfectly sufficient.
A medium-duty pressure washer is exactly what you will need if you would love to clean your home’s siding, driveway, or perhaps fencing in addition to smaller jobs around the house. A pressure washer of this size produces water pressure levels between 2,000 and 2,800 PSI.
Knowing you will be cleaning large areas of concrete or even needing to reach a second story, a heavy-duty pressure washer may be the best bet of yours. Heavy-duty pressure washers reach pressure levels of between 2,900 and 3,300 PSI.
Planning to do a great deal of pressure washing? Have you been preparing your home’s exterior for a repainting job? In that case, consider investing in a professional-grade pressure washer. The extra-heavy-duty engine of this kind of pressure washer is actually designed to deal with many work hours and produce water pressure levels of 3,300 PSI and higher.
Regardless of which pressure washer you choose, remember to take the GPM measurement into account, also.
Which Nozzle is actually Best for the Job?
While the scale of the pressure washer’s engine determines the machine’s overall power, the nozzle you choose determines the water stream’s direction. This angle is actually important since it affects what the water stream can do – a narrow-angle spray is much more effective than a large angle spray.
Red: A red tip is actually probably the narrowest angle – zero degrees. This tip creates a water stream that can do a great deal of damage, so be cautious if you have to use it. Do not use a red-tipped nozzle up close to any surface.
Yellow: The yellow tip creates a spray with a 15-degree angle. Reach for this nozzle when you have to pressure wash concrete around the home yours.
Green: A green tip produces a 25-degree spray which works well for all-purpose household pressure washing. This’s the nozzle to use whether it is time to clean the automobile of yours or perhaps clean mildew built up on your patio furniture or perhaps deck.
White: Perhaps the most user-friendly nozzle, a white tip produces a 40-degree spray. Use the white tip in case you are embarking on an exterior home cleaning adventure. A white-tipped nozzle is ideal for siding and windows.
Black: Producing a spray angle of sixty-five degrees, a black nozzle is actually probably the gentlest. In reality, this spray is very light that it will not get rid of stains or perhaps dirt; instead, use this nozzle when you have to create a wet surface.
For even more efficient cleaning, consider using an attachment created, especially for the job you have to complete. Here are a few popular pressure washer attachments:
Surface cleaner: This attachment uses a spinning bar to distribute the high-pressure stream of water over a bigger surface area than a single spray alone. This attachment is actually ideal for cleaning large expanses of concrete, such as a driveway.
Rotary nozzle: Also called a turbo nozzle, a rotary tip produces a spinning zero-degree water stream. This nozzle is particularly helpful for removing difficult stains and grimy buildup.
Pressure washing broom: Like a surface cleaner attachment, a pressure washing broom divides a single water jet into 2 or perhaps 3 for more energy and a larger cleaning area.
Expandable wand: An expandable wand will give you much more reach when you have to surfaces that are clean up high without using a ladder.
Soap/detergent reservoir: A soap/detergent reservoir attaches to the pressure washer and adds cleaning solution into the water jet. You’ll want to make use of the right nozzle for this job – a water stream that is too strong will force soap into the surface, which may result in damage.
Click here for contact pressure washing St Louis
