Should you pressure wash your house?

Do not pressure wash any fixtures housing electricity, even those on the exterior of your home or in your yard. Though built to withstand a rainstorm, pressure washing can force water into cracks and crevice and cause damage and costly repairs.

How many times should you pressure wash your house?

Ultimately, the best way to take good care of your home's exterior is to treat power washing as a part of routine maintenance. As a general rule, most experts recommend that you wash your home every 6 to 12 months (or one to two times a year).

Does pressure washing damage siding?

Power washing over cracks and holes in siding allows water to seep into the home's interior spaces, risking structural damage and eventual mold growth. A professional power washing contractor ensures such openings are covered or patched properly before they begin their work!

What should you not pressure wash a house with?

When should I powerwash my house?

In general, houses should be power washed at least once a year any time between March and November. As it gets later in a calendar year, you'll want to make sure your home is taken care of before the freezing temperatures and winter weather arrive.

How To Pressure Wash Your House Without Damaging It!

What is the difference between power washing and pressure washing?

The main difference with power washing vs. pressure washing is the heat. The jet wash in a power washing machine uses heated water, whereas the water in a pressure washer is not heated.

What should I spray my house with before pressure washing?

Using a 5-gallon water bucket, mix water and a cleaning detergent with mildewcide according to manufacturer's recommendations. Attach your pressure washer to your garden hose. Choose the pressure washer nozzle you plan to use and attach it to your sprayer.

Can you power wash with just water?

Most people would agree that hand washing without soap is not a good idea. The same principle holds true for pressure washing your home. Whether it's your hands or your home, washing without soap takes longer to scrub away stains, requires water delivered at a higher pressure and only removes the surface dirt.

Should roofs be power washed?

NEVER aim your pressure washer up the roof, as it can push water under the shingles. Spraying water under your shingles can both tear off the shingles and force water under them and into your home.

Can you damage concrete by power washing?

The quick answer is yes, power washing can degrade a concrete surface. You can notice visible damage from water pressure at the level at which even light-duty power washers can operate. Therefore, if you aren't careful, you can cause irreversible damage to your driveway or patio.

What happens if you don't power wash your house?

#1 – Power Washing Prevents Damage

If you allow the grime to stay on your surfaces, or the stains to sit for long periods of time, permanent damage can result. Mold damages painted surfaces and concrete coatings like cool concrete if left unchecked for long periods of time.

Can a pressure washer damage your house?

Your house is built to withstand rain and other moisture, and it can even withstand a low PSI with a pressure washer, but when pressure washers are used at full capacity, you may end up with soggy carpet, wet attics, and mold. When done incorrectly, a pressure washer can damage siding, even knocking it loose.

How can I clean the outside of my house without a pressure washer?

Using a garden hose, spray only the section of siding that you're working on with water. Spray using a downward motion to avoid forcing water underneath the siding, where it could cause damage and rot. Using a scrub brush and the TSP/water cleaner, scrub the siding to remove the grime and dirt.

How often should you wash the outside of your house?

Realistically, the frequency in which you should wash your home depends a lot on where you live and your surroundings. Some homeowners may need to wash their home every 6 months, though generally it's recommended to clean the exterior of your home at least once every year.

Should I power wash my vinyl siding?

Power washing vinyl siding requires an extra amount of due diligence to prevent damage to your home. Making sure you power wash your home annually can help prevent serious issues that can develop over time. Do a walk-around of your home's exterior as a way to map out your cleaning process and prevent any damage.

How much psi do I need to pressure wash my house?

For cleaning your house's driveway, you need a pressure washer set to 2,500 to 3,000 psi. For other areas, like the vinyl sidings, decks, or glass, the pressure should not exceed 1,500 psi. For soft materials, like softwood, you should use even lower pressure, around 500 to 600 psi.

Is it OK to pressure wash shingles?

Never, ever under any circumstances pressure wash your roof shingles on your own or pay a company to do so. Sure, it's tempting to want to get any moss, algae, dirt, etc. off of your roofing shingles. But pressure washing your asphalt roof will do more harm than good.

Should you remove moss from roof?

To avoid expensive repairs, moss should be removed from your roof tiles quickly if it is covering a significant area of your roof. Avoid pressure washing your roof to remove moss, as this could cause damage to the tiles and lead to the drenching of your roof interior.

Does cleaning your roof damage it?

Professional Cleaning

Standard, high-pressure washers can damage your roof when you're trying to clean it. It's important to use special equipment that does not harm the shingles and cause them to be torn from the high pressure. Reputable roof cleaning companies will also use a biodegradable cleaning solution.

Can pressure washer damage pipes?

A pressure washer uses only water and won't damage or cut up the pipe like chemicals and mechanical metal blades will.

Can pressure washing damage windows?

Pressure washing is a popular way to clean windows, but can cause major damage if you don't know what you're doing. It can shatter glass all over the place. A pressure washer can strip away mildew and algae, clean away acidic salt used in winter, and remove all kinds of dirt.

Are pressure washers worth it?

Even if owning a pressure washer is technically cost-effective in the long run, the hassle of storing and maintaining one might not be worth the money you save. Owning a pressure washer is kind of like owning a lawnmower—they take up a lot of space, require maintenance, and you have to winterize them.

Can you use bleach to pressure wash a house?

Never Use Bleach with Pressure Washers

Bleach will corrode your pump's seals and essentially render the pressure washer useless. Bleach is a dangerous chemical, and spraying bleach means propelling bleach into the air.