It’s very important to pressure wash your property at least once per year. You might even feel like doing this work on your own. However, if you decide to DIY, you’ll need to put pressure washing safety first.That’s because carelessness has no place in your pressure washing project and could result in a serious injury or property damage. Avoid unwanted outcomes by reading our pressure washing safety device below!
We are Pristine Clean Exteriors, the home of Rogers, AR’s pressure washing experts. With hundreds of projects’ worth of experience, and we understand how to do this work the right way.
#1: Always Do Your Research First
Before you leap into the pressure washing process, it’s important that you understand what you’re getting into. Think about it—would you really want to try pressure washing without even the faintest clue of how it works? Of course not, because mishandling pressure washing equipment is a slippery slope that ultimately leads to injury and/or property damage.
Pressure washing uses highly pressurized jets of water to restore exterior surfaces. These jets of water are very powerful, and this is the main risk involved with the work. Spray this water in the wrong place, and it could result in disaster. Fortunately, there are many guides and tutorials for pressure washing that will lead you in the right direction.
After researching the pressure washing process, we recommend doing a few trial runs in a discreet area. That way, if you accidentally damage the surface, it won’t be a big deal.
#2: Wear Protective Equipment
Your safety is important, as we have already established. One of the best ways you can protect yourself during your pressure washing project is by wearing safety gear! There are many sensitive parts of your body, and if they were to be sprayed by pressurized water, they could bruise or bleed. Reduce the risk of taking an ambulance ride by wearing safety gear, including the following items:
- Eye goggles
- Work gloves
- Closed-toe shoes
- Full-length pants
The less skin you have exposed, the less likely you are to hurt yourself. Don’t skip this important part of pressure washing safety—it will save you a lot of trouble!
#3: Remember Basic Trigger Discipline
A part of basic gun safety is never pointing a gun at yourself, even when you’re confident that there are no bullets in the chamber. This simple advice can be equally applied to the pressure washing process. Don’t aim your pressure washing hose at your body because one squeeze could result in a serious injury. Instead, keep the hose pointed at the surfaces that you want to clean. This may take deliberate thought at first, but for a seasoned pressure washing pro, this is second nature.
Additionally, make sure any pets and family members have cleared the area before beginning your work. You don’t want any bystanders to accidentally run through a jet of pressurized water. Ensuring that they stay inside—or at least keep their distance—is a wise decision.
#4: Understand How Much Water Pressure to Use
When pressure washing your surfaces, you need to understand how much water pressure to use. Otherwise, you’ll be in for a world of trouble. For example, if you used too little water pressure when cleaning concrete, you could get disappointing results. On the other hand, if you used too much water pressure to clean vinyl siding, it could become severely warped or damaged.
The only way to avoid these risks is to do your research and figure out how much water pressure to use for the surfaces you need to clean. We have included a basic guide for many of the most common materials below for your reference.
- Asphalt roof shingles: 100–300 PSI, soft washing only
- Wood fencing: 500–1,200 PSI
- Vinyl siding: 500–1,500 PSI, depending on cleaning method
- Brick pavers: 1,500–2,500 PSI
- Concrete driveways: 2,500–3,000 PSI
#5: Don’t Forget Ladder Safety
Sometimes, you will need to pressure wash high surfaces outside your property. However, if those surfaces are out of reach, you will have to use a ladder to reach them. And any project that involves a ladder is a good enough reason to review the basic tenets of ladder safety.
First of all, make sure that your ladder is set up in a steady, flat area. If you begin climbing on your ladder only to find that it is rocking back and forth, get off immediately and readjust its position. Continuing to use an unstable ladder is a winding path that leads to catastrophe.
You also need to remember the rule of three points of contact. You have two arms and two limbs, and three of them need to be on the ladder at all times. This significantly reduces the risk of a fall. Obviously, you don’t want to take a tumble, so keep a firm grasp of the ladder’s rungs and never do anything you aren’t comfortable with!
Avoid All Risks With Our Professionals
Even with all these pressure washing safety guidelines in mind, you might not feel confident about the DIY process. We can’t blame you for that. Pressure washing is an intimidating process for DIYers because there are so many aspects to the work. One wrong move is all it takes to wind up injured or with costly property damage.
The good news is that you don’t have to pressure wash your own property if you don’t want to. Simply reach out to Pristine Clean Exteriors, and we will happily pressure wash your home or business for you. Our fully trained team knows how to do the work right while keeping pressure washing safety as a top priority.
To get started with us, contact us online with more information about your project. We will get back to you as soon as possible with a free cost estimate. Then, if you like our asking price, choose a time and date for your appointment. We can’t wait to restore your property’s beauty!
