Experts agree that spring or fall is the best time to pressure or power wash your house. The goal is to avoid cleaning when the temperature is too cold or hot. The best practice is to ensure that you pressure wash your home once per year between March and November when the temperatures are not extreme.
The Time of Day
If necessary, you can pressure wash in the morning or at dusk. You should not pressure wash at night for your safety. You might not be able to see twigs or other debris laying around, causing you to trip and fall.
Pressure washing is an effective way to clean your home using a high-powered stream of water that strips away dust, grime, and dirt. In many cases, the best time to pressure wash the home and clean dirt off the outside is on a sunny and mild day. When it's sunny, the weather gives the home a chance to dry thoroughly.
Over the years, it is normal for patio slabs to become dirty, gather moss and lose their shine. To maintain the look of your patio, it should be jet washed at least once a year. This is help cut down the accumulation of algae, dirt and mildew built up (and keep it looking brand-new!).
Rain keeps the drying time manageable for high pressure washing. On a 35oC day, if you pour a bucket of water on your driveway, it's going to evaporate quite quickly. On a cloudy day, this water is going to take a much longer time to evaporate.
In short, yes. While there are safety precautions you must take, power washing in a light to medium rain can speed up and enhance the power washing process. Here are the two main reasons why: Rain allows power washing detergents to sit on exterior surfaces without drying.
It depends on what you're cleaning. Cold water is recommended for high volume low pressure applications to knock away caked on mud and debris or when stripping away paint. For all other applications Hot water will allow for faster cleaning and reduce the amount of detergent required.
Most homes should be power washed a minimum of once a year. Power Washing your siding will actually extend the life of it so it won't need repairs and you won't need to replace it as often. It also makes your home look as good as new when it's tidy and clean on the exterior.
For regular maintenance and light household cleaning jobs, a light-duty pressure washer will do. These feature PSI ranging from 1500 to 1900 and would be enough to get rid of dirt and mild stains. This is the safest pressure washer PSI rating for all surfaces, but it isn't ideal for getting rid of tough stains.
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.
So for people who have a very active lifestyle or sweat at work, he recommends showering at night. Those who tend to sweat at night should shower in the morning, he says. “The point is to remove sweat, bacteria, and pollutants from the skin,” he says.
Less Rinse Time
Pressure washing while it's raining can help rinse the soap off, particularly during heavy rain. Because the cleaning soaps will be diluted, there is less chance that the surface will have soap left behind.
Clean From the Bottom Up
Using the cleaning solution, start power washing at the bottom of the house and work your way up. Working from the top down can cause water and suds to run down the side of the house, making it more likely you'll miss a section.
After pressure washing your fence, let it dry for at least 48 hours. You want to allow enough time for all of the absorbed water to evaporate from the wood so it doesn't get sealed in. Once your fence is fully dry, it's important to paint or seal it so that it doesn't become damaged by the sun and wind.
It's not necessary, but you can absolutely use soap or detergent when pressure washing your house. Washing with a mixture of soap and water will ensure your siding is spotless when you're finished. However, in many cases it is not necessary to use soap and you can still achieve a powerful result without any product.
Yes again! If pressure washer overheating is not rectified, it can cause a number of problems, including: Damage to the machine: Overheating can damage the internal components of the machine and lead to costly repairs. Pressure washers are expensive as it is – you want to protect your investment any way you can.
Pressure washers cause high-pressure water injection, which is extremely dangerous. These injuries many times result in amputation or severe nerve damage. It's very important to wear protective safety gear and follow safety tips when using one of these very powerful tools.
In general, yes. Pressure washing brick is an effective and efficient method of cleaning. However, it is not immune to high-pressure levels. While durable like concrete, brick is unable to withstand constant high pressure.
When pressure washing, you'll want a commercial rain jacket. Make sure the jacket is made of PVC and is 100% waterproof. The jacket should give your arms enough room to move comfortably without sacrificing protection. Key features to look for in a jacket include quality material and durability.
Not only do you have extra time, but the warm weather is also ideal for any kind of work involving water. The job will refresh both you and your home, and you'll reveal cleaner, more attractive walls and windows afterward. Pressure washing in the summer months means your hard work can last longer.
Make no mistake – pressure washing can be a messy job and you're pretty likely to get wet and grimy however much care you take. Don't wear flip-flops or open-toed sandals. Wellies are best, as are waterproof trousers rather than shorts.