Pressure Washing Do's And Don'ts For First-Time Users
Are you interested in getting a pressure washer to clean up around your home? If so, it helps to know the following tips for first-time users that are getting into the wonderful world of pressure washing.
Do: Use The Right Nozzle For Soap
While a pressure washer has a container to use for soap, many people don't realize that there is a specific nozzle that should be used when applying soap. The black nozzle is designed to spray water at the lowest pressure setting and will be more effective at applying a layer of soap to whatever you are cleaning. If you use a high-pressure nozzle, you may simply be wasting soap since it is going to spray right off the surface and not be effective.
Don't: Run The Pressure Washer Without Water
If something happens where the water cuts off that was flowing to your pressure washer, make sure you turn the machine off immediately. A pressure washer is designed to use water to cool it down while it is operating, and having no water run through it can cause some serious damage to the machine.
Do: Spray Farther Away From The Item At First
It is possible to cause a lot of damage to an item when cleaning with a power washer. That is why you always want to start off farther away from the object and move close to it. This gives you control over the amount of pressure that hits the surface. For example, if you are power washing a wood deck, starting too close can seriously damage the wood. For painted items, starting too close can cause the paint to chip off the surface.
Don't: Spray Upward On Vinyl Siding Or Roofing Material
Your vinyl siding and roofing material are installed in a manner where each piece overlays on top of the other. This allows rainwater to flow down the surface and not get underneath it. If you use a power washer, always spray in a downward motion so that you are not accidentally spraying water underneath the material. A pressure washer is powerful enough to lift the material off the surface and allow water to get underneath it.
Do: Use The Lightest Pressure On Windows
You always want to be gentle when washing windows since there is a risk of breaking the seal. This means starting off with the black nozzle and starting far away from the window. The last thing you want to have happen is to break that seal and cause moisture to get trapped between your double-pane glass.