A garden hose is fine for rinsing dirt off your car, but to truly get the outside of your home or business clean, you need something stronger – like a pressure washer.
In addition to improving curb appeal, regular pressure washing makes your home or business safer by reducing slips and falls on moss-covered walkways. Here are 12 reasons to consider adding it to your maintenance plan:
It Removes Dirt and Grime
In addition to restoring the beauty of exterior surfaces, pressure washing helps improve the overall curb appeal of your building. Dirty surfaces are often the first thing visitors, customers and passersby notice, and they can give the impression of neglect or poor maintenance. Professional pressure washing services are effective at removing oil, grease, mildew, mold, and other substances from outdoor surfaces such as driveways, patios, decks, siding, and parking lots.
Unlike manual scrubbing, which can damage certain materials, pressure washing quickly and effectively removes buildup from all types of surfaces including brick, concrete, masonry, and wood. Depending on the surface material, different detergents and pressure levels may be used. For example, oil and grease stains are best removed with detergents that are specifically designed to dissolve them. In contrast, fungicidal chemicals are typically used for eradicating mildew and mold growth, as they kill them rather than just dislodging their outer shells.
Additionally, depending on the surface material, pressure washers can be adjusted to apply a specific amount of water pressure or PSI. This factor is important because too much PSI can damage surfaces and cause them to become dull or damaged rather than clean. As such, it’s recommended to use a professional service that can adjust the PSI to match your needs. In addition, professional cleaning services are trained to minimize the environmental impact of pressure washing by using eco-friendly cleaning products and methods that limit water waste.
It Prevents Damage
Dirt, mold, mildew, and other contaminants build up on exterior surfaces, slowly deteriorating them. Over time, this can cause significant structural damage, especially when moisture is trapped against walls. Pressure washing eliminates these harmful substances, extending the lifespan of surfaces while preventing expensive repair costs.
Regularly cleaning surfaces helps prevent the degradation of materials like wood, concrete, and brick. It also preserves paint and other protective coatings. Without regular cleaning, pollutants can erode surfaces and leave them looking dull. The corrosive effects of dirt, grime, and pollutants are compounded by other elements, such as moss and algae, which grow in damp environments and can lead to surface discoloration and damage.
While regular rinsing can help maintain some surfaces, the majority of surfaces require a thorough cleaning using high-powered jets of water. While it is possible to do this yourself, the best way to ensure you don’t damage your property is by hiring a professional who has the necessary equipment and experience to use the right water pressure and nozzles for the job.
For example, vinyl siding and other soft materials can be damaged by high-pressure jets, so they need to be washed using gentle psi and chemical cleaners that won’t damage them. Additionally, the proper technique must be used when cleaning areas above sensitive vegetation. It’s important to start low and work your way up, using a sprayer with different nozzles to find the right combination of pressure and volume to effectively clean the surface without damaging it.
It Reduces Allergies
Allergens like pollen, dust, mold, mildew, animal dander, and other debris accumulate on outdoor surfaces around your home. Over time, wind and rain blow these allergens into the air, where they can trigger itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing, and other allergy symptoms in people with sensitive immune systems.
Pressure washing reduces allergy-triggering materials by thoroughly cleaning surfaces where they gather. The force of the water blasts away dirt and debris, and also dislodges mold spores, pollen grains and other allergens from surfaces such as siding, driveways, decks and patios.
Mold and mildew spores grow faster on surfaces exposed to humid climates, and they can cause health problems when inhaled. Pressure washing helps eliminate these fungi by washing away the dirt on the surfaces they thrive on. The process also prevents them from spreading to other parts of the property, making your home safe and healthy.
Allergies are more than just annoying; they can be dangerous to the health of your family. Many homeowners seek relief from allergy symptoms with medications and indoor air purifiers, but few realize that the problem could be caused by their outdoor spaces. By regularly cleaning surfaces around the house, pressure washing minimizes the amount of allergens that make it into the home, which can drastically reduce allergy symptoms. This makes it a key part of any healthy home maintenance strategy.
It Saves You Money
Pressure washing is far more than a quick rinse with the garden hose. Professional cleaning solutions and equipment, coupled with years of experience in the field, help to restore a building’s surfaces to their original glory. This is done without the risk of causing damage that inexperienced DIYers often do. They blast away dirt, mold, mildew, moss, and lichens before they can damage the surface underneath. This prevents the need for costly repairs and replacements and can also prolong the life of the materials involved.
Having your home, driveways, sidewalks and decks regularly pressure washed can save you money on expensive cleaning products that are likely to sit in the garage gathering dust until they’re needed again. It can also reduce the risk of slipping and falling, making your property safer for you and your family.
Pressure washing can even help you save on your energy costs. Over time, dirt and other substances build up on the exterior of your home, obstructing sunlight and increasing your heating costs. Pressure washing eliminates these contaminants, allowing natural light to flow freely through your windows and into your living spaces. This simple act can significantly lower your energy bills. It’s true what they say: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is especially true with your home.