Pressure Cleaning Your Home Can Save You Money

Either getting your house pressure cleaned by a pro, or doing it yourself, pressure cleaning your house will save you money. When most people think of home improvements to help save money, they think of getting beter insulation, maybe replacing and upgrading to newer appliances or getting new windows. While these are all wonderful ideas, pressure cleaning can help save on your energy bill too, and it will also save you money in the long run as well.
First, Giving your house a good pressure cleaning will improve your insulation and make your home more energy effecient because it will improve your homes overall upkeep. Houses that are not regulary maintained start to deteriate after time, which will result in worse insulation. When you have your house pressure cleaned, they will usually remove harmful deterants that have a negative effect on your roof shingles and siding. Getting (or doing it yourself) your house pressure cleaned will help keep your energy bill nice and low.
Another bonus of a good pressure cleaning is extending the life of your siding and roofing. It is common for mold to build up on your roof shingles or in the siding of your home. Not only is that a safety issue, but mold will eat away at your house. I don’t know if you have ever had to re-shingle your roof, but I can tell you that it aint cheap, and forget trying to replace the siding on your house. This tip alone will save you literally thousands in the long run!
Also, if you are thinking that something on your house is in need of repair or replacement, you might be suprised with what a good pressure claning might do. You might be able to forget that deck refinishing or repainting the house. Just keep on your outside things and you may not need to drop a ton of money on something unnessesary.
The last thing you have to determine is whether or not to do it yourself or to hire some professionals. The benefits of doing it yourself is saving money. And that really is about where the benefits stop. Unless you have some experience, I would recommend hiring a local professional to do it. This will save you time, which is a pretty important thing, but it will also make sure the job gets done right, which will save you money in the long run.

Hiring A Power Washer To Clean The Outside Of Your Home

If you are looking for a quick and thorough way to clean your house’s exterior, consider pressure washing. Pressure washing is best left in the hands of a professional. However, a pressure washing job done incorrectly or by an unqalified pressure washing contractor can cause damage to your home or property. The damage can be costly. Outlined below are ideas to guide you in your search for a quality pressure washing contractor. Additional advice is provided as well on how to deal with the contractor of your choice when the cleaning work is in progress, and when it is completed. 1. Equip yourself with a clear understanding of the risks involved in pressure washing and how to minimize these risks. Taking the time to educate yourself thus will enable you to distinguish between the mediocre outworker from the quality contractor. 2. Arrange to meet the contractor in such a way that they evaluate the site to be worked on together with you. Establishing clear communications at this point will help limit the possibility of errors in the estimating process. 3. Consult. A sound pressure washing contractor will welcome the opportunity to examine your site, ask questions and note any potential areas of concern. These contractors will pay attention to your needs and decide what type of service you need and expect. In addition, they will also go over with you the advantages and limitations of the service that they provide. As you meet with different contractors, be sure to question them on the specifications of the service, exact procedures, outcome and potential for damage. You will then be able to get a clearer picture of the service and decide which contractor to award the job. 4. Request for an outline of the cleaning procedure. This summary of work steps that may come with the estimate or as a separate sheet should prove to be a helpful tool for comparing the different pressure washing services you consult with. 5. Question Equipment Status. Does the pressure washing contractor own the equipment or are they rented? Contractors that either own or lease their equipment are typically more reliable and committed to their pressure washing business. Contractors who rent equipment may be an indication that they are not as reliable. Most pressure washers that are for real will be outfitted with apparatus that have at least the following specifications: -11 to 15 horsepower (HP) -3000-4000 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure, and -three to six gallons per minute (GPM) of water flow. A rating of 2000 PSI and two GPM is residential-, rather than industrial-grade equipment. 6. Ask providers to give you a demonstration. Not many providers will accede to this request, as it often requires much time and effort to undertake. It does not mean you should never ask, though. Often, the provider will respond by asking the client to be there during setup instead. During this time, do not think twice to inform the contractor of any qualms you may have about the work to be performed. 7. See that the estimates are formalized in writing. This record should protect both you and the service provider you are hiring. A written estimate provides clarity to the desired service, details expected results, and itemizes cost of labor and materials. 8. Obtain References. Obtaining references is important. Make sure that referrals are for pressure washing projects and not for other contracted services such as deck cleaning or vinyl siding cleaning. Make sure to use the references once the contractor has provided them to you. Ask questions in regards to the quality of the work such as project outcomes, workmanship and professionalism. 9. Guarantee and Financing Policies. Read over the financing or billing policies and customer guarantee or satisfaction papers. Make sure that you understand policies in regards to payment schedules and deposits. What type of satisfaction and guarantee does the contractor offer on the finished project? 10. Coverage. Make certain that the contractor has liability coverage. Professional pressure washing contractors will have coverage for their customers and themselves. Liability insurance should cover potential on-site mishaps, injury or property damage. 11. On-Site Inspection. During the pressure washing project, be present on-site to inspect the work and keep an eye on the work being done. You should be available to talk with the contractor should any problems arise. To sum up: Educate yourself about pressure washing and how it is done. Ask questions and get references for each pressure washing contractor. Do a thorough cost comparison of the project, materials and labor and use commonsense. Eliminate potentially poor quality pressure washing contractors. A qualified professional will be more than happy to help you through the entire selection process and provide you with the necessary information you need to make an informed decision.

Tips for Pressure Washing Your Home

The elements can wreak havoc on the exterior of your home and diminish its appearance. When you are preparing for spring cleaning, don’t forget about getting out the pressure washer and giving the siding on your home a good cleaning. This will not only restore its appearance, but removing minerals, dirt, debris, mildew, and pollutants protects it from the harmful affects that elements can cause to siding, helping it to last longer.

Personal safety and protecting siding and other items from damage should always be a main concern when using pressure washers. Your pressure washer came with a users guide, read it thoroughly before using the pressure washer to learn how to use it safely.

Small twigs and branches, rocks and small objects can become sharp, dangerous, and airborne projectiles when hit by a pressure washer and cause serious injuries. These should be removed beforehand to prevent accidents and serious injuries.

You should be properly clothed whenever using a pressure washer. This includes shoes with rubber soles to prevent slipping on wet surfaces, and a long sleeved shirt and jeans or slacks to protect the body should any debris strike you. Safety glasses to protect your eyes are a must when using a pressure washer a well.

Never point the nozzle of the pressure washer at your face or at others. If your pressure washer becomes clogged, keep it pointed away from you as you try to dislodge whatever is causing it to be clogged. If you cannot unclog it, turn your pressure washer off before inspecting the nozzle and hose for obstructions and removing them.

Children and pets should never be in the same area in which a pressure washer is being used due to the risk of serious injury that a pressure washer presents. The pressure of the water can cause burn like injuries and even remove layers of skin. The full pressure of the water hitting someone in the eye can cause serious eye injury and even damage that cannot be repaired and blindness. Children should be taught to stay away from pressure washers and to never play with them. A pressure washer should be stored where children cannot get to them and turn them on and risk hurting themselves with.

You should never stand on a ladder or makeshift platform to clean a two story home or tall building on your property with a pressure washer. Not only can the ladder or platform become slippery when wet, the ground underneath can become unstable due to the added moisture and cause an unexpected shifting of the ladder that could cause you to lose your balance and fall. Buy extension wands for your pressure washer to extend your reach to clean higher areas.

The force of the pressure propelling water from your pressure washer can also cause you to lose your balance. The pressure is controlled by the nozzle, open it gradually, letting yourself become adjusted and sure of your footing before opening it further and increasing the amount of pressure being released.

You need to protect your property from damage that can be caused by the high pressure of a pressure washer. Inspect your siding for loose or damaged panels before using a pressure washer to clean it. Panels that are loose, bent, or torn can be ripped off by a pressure washer causing further damage to your siding and increasing the cost of repairs. Always maintain a distance of 6 to 8 inches from siding and other objects you are cleaning with a pressure washer to prevent causing damage to them.

Storm windows should be removed prior to cleaning your siding because they can become loose and fall off and break during cleaning. The pressure washers recommended for washing your home with are not ideal for washing storm windows with, even when well secured. The higher pressure can take the paint of window trim and cause the wood to splinter. Use a smaller pressure washer to clean storm windows and similar small objects.

It is a good idea to clear your gutters of debris before cleaning your siding so that the debris is not blown out by the pressure washer and create a disgusting mess scattered on the ground below for you to have to pick up. Worse still, the debris could fall on you and hurt you. Dirt sprayed on your siding from your gutters will turn to mud and cause you to have to clean your siding twice.

If you live in an area where mildew buildup on your siding is common, you may need to use cleaners specifically made for mildew removal with your pressure washer. Check your user’s guide to ensure that a specific cleaner is safe to use with your specific model of pressure washer. Many pressure washers can be used with certain detergents that provide even more cleaning power for a lasting clean.

How to Pressure Wash/clean the Exterior of Your Home

How To Pressure Wash/Clean The Exterior of Your HomeWhether your home exterior is covered with bricks, stones, hardi plank, wood or vinyl siding, at some point it will require maintenance of some kind.   And it will also require a good cleaning at some point as well. It really doesn’t matter if your home is relatively new or not, you can be sure that it will be ready for a good cleaning sooner or later. . . and probably sooner than later. And when that time arrive you will be faced with a choice, either to hire a professional pressure washer/ pressure cleaning contractor, or you can think about doing it yourself. To be quite frank with you, the price of hiring a contract cleaner to professionally wash the exterior of your home has never been lower than now and with winter just around the corner prices may continue to fall. But for the brave heart who feels that a dollar saved. . . is a dollar saved! This article is for you. I’m going to walk you through a step by step guide to pressure washing/cleaning the exterior of your home. It’s really not a difficult thing to do but you must be ever vigilant and by all means pay total attention to what you are doing. It is definitely within most homeowners’ ability to pressure wash/clean the exterior of their home, however, danger lurks around every corner; so you must devote complete attention to the task you’re performing. I have been pressure washing/cleaning homes, buildings and even some industrial plants since 1984 and I have gained some valuable knowledge along the way and I’m going to share with you in this article. So come aboard and let’s go. TAKING INVENTORY OF THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOMEBefore you begin actually pressure washing/cleaning the exterior of your home take a few moments to walk around your home to see if there are any missing boards, broken windows, insulation that needs replacing, to avoid spraying water into your home. Water damage can prove to be catastrophic even at low pressure spraying (1000-1500 psi), not to mention pressure washers that can produce water pressure up to 3000 psi (pounds per square inch). So before you begin make sure every thing is in place and there are not any openings that could be a passage way for water to enter into your home. Protect all plants and green life from water damage and especially from any chemicals that you might be using as well. Not to sound a bit silly, but be sure that all the pets are out of harms way and in a safe, dry and secure place until you finish the job. . . and of course the kids and any one else that might be in the vicinity. Safety is always the most important thing when you are pressure washing the exterior of your home. Although pressure washing your house can be a fun experience when it is done safely and properly, but by the same token when done unsafely and improperly, a pressure washer can become a lethal weapon that can maim and destroy life, so please be extremely careful when operationg one. Learn More

Why Your House Painter Might not be the One to Pressure Wash Your Home Before Repainting

Why your house painter might not be the one to pressure wash your home before repainting. Ok. It seems logical that the people who are going to paint your house would know how to clean it properly with a power washer. But in many instances, this is really not the case. Why? Many painters and painting companies see cleaning the house before painting as grunt work and beneath them. Worse, many see washing the house as simply a way to make quick money, rather than making a surface as clean as possible to ensure peeling and de-bonding of the paint doesn’t happen. You, as the owner of the house might see getting your home washed before painting as just an expense you didn’t want to have to pay. But remember, if your home is not prepared properly for paint you could be on the hook for a new paint job much sooner than you expect. Thats why you should ask questions of your painter to see what they plan to do,and if they are using a professional power washing service to get the job done right. Rinsing and cleaning are two different things. What do they do with moss and algae? How do they make sure that moisture doesn’t get up under siding and cause rot and mildew? Do they use high or low pressure washing methods and why? If you are not satisfied with their answers, it may be time for a second opinion from someone who specializes in cleaning exterior siding and pre paint preparation. If the surface is not all clean, there could be problems. The professional knows the issues and recognizes that not all surfaces can be washed the same way. With the proper homework, you’ll have a beautiful, new looking house with a finish that will last a long time. And in the long run, that’s a big money saver!

Things to Protect while Pressure Washing Your Home!

Pressure washing, popularly called power washing is a wonderful way to clean your house exterior, sideways, walkways, patios, fences, decks and prepare them for new paints or refinishing. The power washing refers to spraying of water in most cases mixed with detergents with high velocity to clean the dirt, chalk like residue, grime, deteriorating paint from surface, and others. Pressure washing is the first and best method to ensure that the coating of new paint will last longer in your home. It is a great way to give thorough cleaning and prepare it for refinishing or repainting. Spraying water at high speeds does the job. But while power washing your home you must take care of certain areas. You should know where you should not use the power jet spray of water to clean the dirt or other such materials. It can be used on siding materials, like wood, vinyl, metals, masonry; but you cannot use it on hardboard or other such materials which need protection from moisture like stucco. Such materials easily get degraded and defaced by water and its high speed impact. If you feel that the previous paint of your home has higher amount of lead and it dates back to some decades ago, then you should be very careful with pressure washing. It is better if your hand over the job to some experience and safer hands than doing it yourself. Leave this job and better engage in some other washing. The professional will take care of it. Safety Operating of Pressure Washing Machine or AppliancesPressure washing is not a child’s play you should be careful with it and appliances while you use it to remove dirt and clean your home. You should always use the equipment with both hands, and never use it on a ladder. Always keeps someone professional or expert in pressure washing nearby when you use the equipment to handle emergency situations. Point the nozzle at least three feet away from the wall and then move closer; don’t spray water on windows panels, the glasses may break with force and come hurling at you to hurt you. Also keep the direction of the nozzle in right direction to avoid spilling and unnecessary push of water under a siding. And more than that the nozzle should never be pointed at anyone when open because the high speed of water and detergents can create trouble for the one who faces it. Don’t jet water at electrical equipments, or naked electric wires. Always wear spectacles or glasses while you use pressure washing equipment. Always keep in mind the following to protect certain things in your home while you use pressure washing:Protect lighting fixture, plants, lamps and any breakable objects around you from pressure washing. Remove obstacles with hands that come on your way and temporarily remove outdoor furniture from edifice. Always clean from top to down and maintain 45 degree angle of water spray. Always dispose of the remaining water with detergents and chemicals properly. Connect the garden hose to the pressure washer. If the apparatus has a detergent dispenser, pour in cleaning solution, preferably a mixture of TSP and water. Proceed with the cleaning from the top down. Wield the wand at a 45 degree angle, and direct the water jet at overhangs, soffits, downspouts and gutters. Then “spray brush” sidings with a steady, side-to-side sweeping motion. The nozzle should be around two feet away from the wall surface, but you can fine-tune this distance by moving slightly backward or forward to obtain optimal cleaning action. As much as possible, aim the spout slightly downward to avoid blasting water up beneath horizontal lap joints of sidings. When cleaning areas around windows, hold the wand in such a way that the water streams at an angle away from windows so water doesn’t get through unsealed in-between spaces surrounding the frame. With a garden hose, rinse the cleaning solution off the sidings with clear water, again working from the top down. If you intend to apply a fresh coat of paint, give the sidings no less than two days to dry up completely.