Once you’ve decided to pressure wash your house, there are a few things you need to know to make sure that the end result is what you want. You’ll also need to know how to get the job done safely. Here are some valuable tips to keep in mind.
Protect Your Eyes
It’s very important that your eyes are protected throughout the entire power washing process. If you’ve ever seen professional pressure washers clean the exterior of a building, you’ll notice that they are wearing goggles or other protective eye gear. If you don’t have goggles, you can wear sunglasses that have been rated for safety to avoid damage to your eyes.
Don’t Use a Ladder
Using a ladder while pressure washing can increase the risk of injury. The force from the wand could cause you to lose your balance if you’re standing on a ladder rung. Professional pressure washers don’t use ladders because of the safety risk, so take note of this when doing the job yourself. Extension wands are you best bet, but if there are hard to reach places on the exterior of your building, you may want to hire a professional, since additional equipment like an elevated platform vehicle or scaffolding may be necessary.
Check For Power Lines
Check to see whether the power lines for your home are along the edge of the house or connected above the ground. If the power lines are around the home, don’t attach the extension wand to the pressure washer and put the wand on the power line, since this could result in electrocution.
Make Sure the Area Is Clean
Make sure the area that you’re pressure cleaning is clear. If there are bikes or toys in the lawn, remove them before you get started. If there are plants decorating the base of your home, move these out of the way so that you can pressure wash this area thoroughly.
Check for Lead Paint
In 1978, lead paint was banned for use on houses. However, there are still some homes that have exteriors treated with lead paint. If you think the outside of your home has been painted with lead paint, follow the proper codes for your city to get rid of it. Have a professional take care of this for you, since lead paint is very dangerous if ingested, and is particularly harmful to children and pets.
Asbestos
Asbestos is still legal in the United States for certain purposes. Breathing in the fibres of asbestos is dangerous, and these fibres can be released from old or damaged asbestos surfaces. It’s not likely that your home’s exterior has asbestos, but if the home was built before 1970 and you have concrete panels that are damaged, have your home tested for asbestos. If asbestos is detected, get it professionally removed, and hire a pressure washing service to get your home looking like new.
Be Careful of Water and Electricity
Before you start pressure washing, turn the power off at the distribution board for all your outdoor outlets. This is especially important if the outlets don’t have waterproof covers. If you leave the electricity on and water gets on them, the electricity system for your home could be damaged.