How to Pressure Wash a House – Power Wash Guide

house_and_driveway Just as the interiors of your house need maintenance, the exteriors can also collect grime, dirt, mildew, and other residue especially if you live close to a busy highway or industrial area. Pressure cleaning is an excellent method of cleaning your house and increasing its curb appeal. Although, a very simple task and quick to complete, you need to use the appropriate tools, detergents, and other power wash equipment. Read ahead to find out everything you need to know to power wash a house, the precautions you must take, and the correct techniques to use so that you get great results without possibly damaging the siding.

Pressuring Cleaning Explained

Pressure cleaning, also known as power washing is a technique by which water at high speed is directed at the sides of a house or any other structure. Using either hot or cold water, the power washer dislodges the dirt and grime, effectively washing it away. If you choose to use soap or detergent, it can be added to the water for more effective cleaning. You’ll need a gas-powered or electric-powered machine to power the hoses with different nozzles and tips for various surfaces. You must also choose the right kind of detergent that is effective on the kind of dirt you’re dealing with, but is also eco-friendly and will not damage the environment when it runs down the drains.

Types of Pressure Washers Needed

Since the entire surface of the house including the roof is a large area, you’ll need a washer that can give you a water flow with high velocity also called gallons per minute or GPM. You’ll also need it to be able to exert enough force so that the dirt and grime is removed quickly. Experts recommend that you opt for a gas-powered machine that can give at least 2.3 GPM with a minimum of 2,600 PSI to 3,100 PSI or pounds per square inch.

By multiplying the GPM by the PSI, you can arrive at the effectiveness of the power washer, which is denoted as cleaning units. Accordingly, an electric pressure washer may give you 2,400 cleaning units while a gasoline pressure washer may work at 6,210 cleaning units.

While you can opt for less powerful washers, they may take longer to get the job done. Even so, if the dirt and grime is not too severe, you can consider hosing it down with a garden hose. When choosing a power washer, see if you can get a machine that carries the detergent tank on board, and can add to the convenience levels. Since different kinds of surfaces can withstand only a limited amount of pressure, you can make the necessary adjustments by changing the nozzles and tips.

Matching PSI Levels to Surfaces

Choose your PSI levels according to the kind of surfaces you’re cleaning so you don’t damage them with the force of the water. If you’re not sure about the power washer to choose, talk to the experts at the store where you’re buying the equipment you need.

Soft-grain wood, hybrid materials, and aluminum – 1,200 to 1,500 PSI. In addition, you can use a nozzle with a wide spray to minimize the possibility of damage.
Non-painted vinyl – 2,500 to 3,000 PSI.
Stucco, delicate wood shingles, and brick – Regular garden hose.

Nozzle Choice for Cleaning Different Surfaces

When you go shopping for the equipment you need, you’ll find that there are seven types of nozzles available and you can distinguish the angle by their color.

0° Red Tip Nozzle gives you a sharp blast on a small area. It is useful for cleaning caked mud and rust.
15° Yellow Tip Nozzle is ideal for removing old paint from the house sides before giving it a fresh coat of paint. It’s great for cleaning 4x4s too.
25° Green Tip Nozzle sprays a wide sheet of water and is perfect for cleaning houses, patios, driveways, boats, patio furniture, and so on.
40° White Tip Nozzle releases a gentle spray that is ideal for using on windows and blinds.
Soaping Black Tip Nozzle sprays over a wide area and has a larger outlet for dispensing soap and detergent.
Turbo/Rotary Nozzle covers the same area as a 25° Green Tip Nozzle but also gives a rotating motion with a cone shaped jet that sprays at speeds of 3,000 rpm.
Adjustable/Variable Nozzle is very useful for adjusting the speed as you work on different areas and surfaces.

Tools Needed

Aside from the power washer, hoses, and nozzles, you’ll need other items to help with your pressure cleaning. driveway_pressure_wash

Surface cleaners spread the pressure jet over a wider area and are useful for cleaning decks, driveways, and garage floors.
Available in different varieties, you need wands to clean higher surfaces like the second story of the house. Since safety measures don’t allow you to use ladders, you need wands to reach all surfaces. Choose from telescopic wands that can be extended, steel wands that are more sturdy, or long wands with quick connect. You can also opt for wands that allow you to adjust the pressure as you work.
Rotating scrub brushes help loosen the dirt so that the pressure cleaning is more effective.
Water filters make sure that the water is free of dirt and debris.
Foamers can be attached to the end of your spray gun and convert the detergent into foam.
Brooms combine a surface cleaner and a rotating scrub brush in one neat gadget. They typically emit three sprays to make cleaning easy.

Detergent Options

While hot water being a natural emulsifier works very well to remove almost all kinds of dirt and grime, sometimes, you’ll need soaps and detergents to clean tough dirt, black mold, mildew, and other such residue. Check with the supplies store for the appropriate detergent depending on the kind of surfaces you’re going to clean. Also, choose detergents that are compatible with your pressure washer. You might also want to opt for detergents that are eco-friendly and not likely to cause damage when they run down drains. Professional cleaning companies can order detergent in its concentrated form and dilute it according to the the surface. However, you must always follow the manufacturer’s directions when mixing cleaning solutions.

Prepping the House

Before you get started, there are a few prepping steps that you must take to prevent damage to delicate fixtures and for protection from electrocution.

Always pick a warm day to work when it’s not too sunny or windy. The sun and wind tend to dry out the soap quickly before it has a chance to work on the surface properly.
If you have ivy, roses, or any other clinging plants growing along the side of the house, cover them with a plastic sheet and refrain from spraying on them.
Trim any plants growing too close to the house sides so you can get at the mildew behind them. You’ll also want to protect the plants that can get damaged by the high speed of the power washer.
Any light fixtures you have around the house should be covered with plastic bags.
Check all sidings made of vinyl, fiber cement, wood, and stucco for cracks, breaks, and other damage. Repair them carefully or the water and detergent can get into it the crevices and cause lasting damage.
Wet bricks and stone, and repair joints before using soap or detergent.
Check the power distribution board if it is outside the house. Turn off all electricity and cover the board and any outlets including air conditioning machinery with plastic sheets or tape them up so water cannot get into them.
Close all windows and doors and check if they shut properly. If not, you can tape the cracks.
Make sure pets are locked up and there are no kids around. The pressure of the power washer is strong enough to cut through skin.
Clear the area of patio and garden furniture, toys, garden ornaments or any other items.
Check the house for any lead paint. Removing lead paint needs the special skills of a qualified professional because it can be dangerous if ingested or inhaled.
Also, check the house for asbestos sheets. Protect yourself from inhaling the fibers if you see sheets.

Getting Started with the Pressure Cleaning

Here are the steps you can take when pressure cleaning the house.

Before starting with the power cleaning, try cleaning a small inconspicuous corner to check for possible damage.
Aim at the surface from a distance of 3 feet and turn on the hose. Check if the pressure is appropriate and cleans the siding without damaging it. You can move closer until you’re spraying from a distance of a foot. Depending on how effective the cleaning is, you can choose a stronger nozzle.
Hose down the garden areas with a regular garden hose to protect plants from damage from the detergent.
Choosing the appropriately angled nozzles, spray at a steady place in even strokes parallel to the ground. Never spray on one spot continuously.
Spray at a downward angle to match the siding slant. Keep in mind that the siding is angled to protect your house from rain and snow.
When using detergent, begin spraying at ground level and work your way upwards. That’s because the dislodged dirt running down the wall can cause streaking.
After soaping the wall, allow the detergent to work by giving it 5 to 10 minutes.
Begin rinsing from top to bottom, again using horizontal even strokes.
If you’re dealing with a two-storey house, use extension wands to reach the higher surfaces.
When cleaning overhangs, gutters, and underhands, use a 45° angle.
Never spray directly on fragile surfaces like glass.
If you see any cracks and breaks or seams, never spray on them.
Give the house time to dry.

Safety Precautions and Concerns

Pressure cleaning involves the use of streams of water at high velocity that can cause injury to you and damage to the surfaces you’re working on. It is very essential that you follow the basic safety precautions.

Make sure you wear safety glasses to keep your eyes protected.
Wear closed, sturdy shoes preferably, leather. Flip-flops are a definite no-no.
Wear gloves so you can get a better grip on the hose and nozzle.
Choose platform vehicles, scaffolding, or extension wands to reach the upper stories of houses. Never use ladders because the kickback of the power washer can knock you to the ground.
Keep an eye out for power lines running around the property.
Never aim the pressure washer at a person.
Change nozzles only after turning off the pressure washer.
Keep in mind that pressure cleaning can erode the mortar from between bricks. It can also erode stucco finish and soft-grain woods, so you must clean them with care.
Check the house for hardboard siding. Do not use pressure cleaning on it.
Follow all safety instructions provided by the manufacturer carefully.
Keep children and pets away from the worksite.
Make sure to place the pressure washer on a flat surface for use and take care when handling it after completing the job. It can become hot.
Use the safety latches as added precautions.
Take care not to overfill the gas tank.
Turn on the water source before turning on the pressure washer or you risk damaging it.
After turning off the power washer, squeeze the spray gun trigger to release the extra pressure remaining in the spray gun.

Pressure cleaning a house is an excellent method of adding to the adding value to the property. It is also highly useful for preparing the surfaces of a house and readying it for a fresh coat of paint. By cleaning off mold, algae, mildew, and other such residue, it is possible to protect the house from the need for extensive repairs. Follow the recommended steps and the safety instructions; and you can clean a house with impressive results.

References:

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6. Gaskill, Laura. “How to Wash Your House.”Houzz. 17 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Aug. 2016.

7.“Here’s Everything You Ought To Know About The 7 Pressure Washer Nozzles.”Pressure Washr. n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2016.

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