Pressure Washers

Homeowners with wood or vinyl siding know that a season of rain and wind can leave houses looking dingy, dirty and poorly maintained. Decks aren't immune from the effects of weather, either, and nothing looks worse than a weathered deck when it should be the season for entertaining and grilling outside. Owning a pressure washer can mean relatively easy and straightforward clean up of siding and outdoor deck after the cold weather ends, or as part of regular maintenance in warm and desert climates.

Home pressure washers are usually powered, like lawnmowers and snow blowers, by gasoline. Pressure washers are connected to a water source, usually an outdoor spigot with a hose. Once powered up, the pressure washer sprays water at a very high pressure, loosening dirt, grime and anything else marring a deck or house. Some pressure washers come equipped with the ability to use mild detergents with the high pressure water spray. The high velocity spray of water cleans off the grime from most surfaces, but it should not be used with brick and mortar masonry or any type of home that contains porous materials on its exterior. The strength of the water pressure can damage even a wooden deck or siding, so it is important to gauge the correct amount of pressure for the job and use the pressure washer correctly.

Unlike a garden hose, which is mostly powerful when directed in a single stream, the pressure washer should be used in a fan-like spray to reduce pressure on any one point of the material being cleaned. Cleaning graffiti off of concrete and getting a layer of dirt off of a deck will require different levels of water pressure, and most wooden materials cannot withstand pressure of more than 1500 pounds per square inch, or PSI. When in doubt, begin with a lower level of pressure to see how a material reacts, and then increase pressure if and only if necessary.

Pressure washers, while very effective cleaning and maintenance tools, can also be dangerous. The water that comes out of a pressure washer is concentrated with a force strong enough to seriously injure a person if sprayed. It is recommended that anyone operating a pressure washer wear covered shoes because of the risks. Water is sprayed at a high enough pressure to rip skin away from the body, so operations must act with caution. Used correctly and with proper safety precautions, a pressure washer is a terrific addition to the homeowner's arsenal of maintenance tools.