The Basics of Pressure Washing
At Landry’s Painting we do a whole lot more than just paint. In fact, one of the many things we do is offer expert pressure washing services. Whether you need a deck cleaned, a driveway, or even the siding on your house, a pressure washer will make the job quick and clean – as long as you don’t mind getting a little wet!
You could hire the experienced professionals at Landry’s Painting to do the pressure washing for you, but we know that some of you intrepid go-getters out there are going to want to try the job for yourself.
At Landry’s our primary goal is keeping our customers happy, even when we aren’t working directly with them. That’s why we’ve provided this brief article that will help explain some of the basics of pressure washing, so you can do the job right the first time, and avoid all of the headaches and wasted time.
Let’s start with the basics.
Safety First!
Pressure washing is a fairly tame activity as far as construction and cleaning go, but you do still need some safety equipment. That includes:
– Safety Glasses
– Gloves
– Boots
– Hearing Protection
– Waterproof Suit or Pants
This is the basic safety gear that you will want to have for a simple pressure washing job. If you choose to use chemicals or cleaners when washing, then take extra care to avoid getting any in your eyes!
Nozzle Types
There are several different types of nozzles available for most pressure washers. Essentially, these nozzles adjust the spray pattern of the stream. They will make it either wider or more direct, this also affects the power with which the water exits the nozzle.
Gasoline or Electric Washers
These are the two types of pressure washers that are commonly found today. Gasoline washers are the more powerful of the two, and simply require a hose and gas to function. However, the engines require regular maintenance and can break.
Electric washers require a hose and a power cable and are slightly less powerful than gas washers. However, they require almost no maintenance and are easier for beginners to use. That makes this type of washer ideal for those who are doing simple jobs around the house.
The Pressure Washing Essentials
Before you get started pressure washing, take some time to evaluate your setup and run over this quick checklist to make sure you don’t do any damage to the machine, yourself, or anything else.
First, hook the water hose up to the machine. Never start the motor without water running to the machine, this can fry the machine or break the motor!
After hooking up the water, but before turning it on, grab the trigger on the spray wand and make sure that any excess air is released. This prevents excess air from backing up and causing a serious kick when the machine is eventually turned on.
Now you’re ready to get blasting! Simply aim the wand at the surface you want to clean and get started!
If you have any additional questions about pressure washing, or would like to consult the professionals at Landry’s Painting about a pressure washing job, please don’t hesitate to call!
At Landry’s Painting we are proud to offer pressure washing and a wide variety of other services to the good people of the following areas:
– Inland Empire
– Riverside
