Dirt and grime build up on the exterior part of your home quicker than you expect. It can make your colorful house look dull. But you can get rid of that by using a power washer. Pressure washers can bring back the color of your house but you need to use the machine correctly. These machines can do a lot of damage if you don’t know the basics of how to use them. And so, Silverback Powerwash, LLC is here to provide a detailed guide on the various ways to use a pressure washer like a pro.
Select an appropriate pressure washer
There are two types of pressure washers: gas pressure washer and electric pressure. Gas pressure washers are the best if you want to clean stubborn stains. They are more powerful compared to electric pressure washers. But they require higher maintenance and you will have to spend on fuel to keep the machine going. On the other hand, electric pressure washers don’t produce harmful emissions that gas washers do. Also, you don’t need to invest in fuel. But these machines can’t match the power that gas pressure washers provide.
Size and nozzle type
Pressure washers are available in four types: light-duty, medium-duty, heavy-duty, and extra-heavy-duty or professional duty.
Also, there are three types of nozzle:
•Red – With zero-degree angle.
•Yellow – With 15-degree angle.
•Green – With 25-degree angle.
•White – With 40-degree angle.
•Black – With 65-degree angle.
Red is the most powerful nozzle as it has the narrowest tip. White is the most user-friendly nozzle and is appropriate to clean your home’s exterior.
Steps to follow while pressure washing
Pressure washing may become a messy job if you don’t know how to do it. Here are a few tips that you should always keep in mind while pressure washing.
1. Always wear eye and hearing protection. Pressure washers can become very loud. Moreover, the high pressure from the machine may hit the surface and come back at you. Don’t use the machine without wearing safety gear.
2. You should choose a power washer and nozzle depending on the surface you are about to clean. For example, a wooden deck would require a green-tipped nozzle while you should use a yellow-tipped nozzle to clean concrete pavements.
3. Once you choose the type of nozzle and power washer, focus on the spraying technique. Hold the pipe firmly and move it up and down a surface. Also, keep moving while you spray. Don’t stick to a single place for a long time. It may not provide uniform cleaning. If you think a spot requires a thorough cleaning, you should come back to it in the second round.
4. Don’t stop spraying in the middle of a board if you are cleaning a wooden deck. You should wait only when you reach the top of the deck or its bottom. Make sure you use overlapping strokes. This avoids visible lines of cleaning.
5. No matter what surface you clean, always keep the nozzle at least 18 inches away to minimize any risk of damage.
6. It is best to use a gas-powered pressure washer while cleaning concrete paths. Use a yellow-tipped nozzle as it offers better power to clean accumulated grime on the sides and corners of concrete slabs. Tough stains will require multiple passes to clean properly.
7. You should use soap water for the first round and then warm water for the second, followed by a third round of cold water. This provides thorough cleaning of any surface.
These tips are enough to make you a pro at pressure washing. Make sure you choose the right type of pressure washer and nozzle for every project.