A pressure washer is a beneficial tool that requires skill and experience. As their names imply, they aren’t like ordinary garden hoses; they work at extremely high pressure (some work at even 6000 psi) with a Max. Water flow of greater than 10 GPM for some of them. Pressure washers come in handy for removing dirt, dust, mold, and paint off nearly any surface and aren’t less than a blessing if properly used, but if used improperly, they can wreak havoc!
5 Things you should never pressure wash
Many people cause damage to their properties because of poor knowledge regarding pressure washing. Due to high-pressure operation, pressure washing should be avoided for some vulnerable surfaces. Following are some of the things that one should never pressure wash:
Air conditioners:
When dust accumulates in the condenser coils of an air conditioner, the air-drawing and room-cooling efficiency of the air conditioner unit is decreased. Metal fins inside the AC can catch mold and mildew. Also, dust and dirt can form between the metallic AC plates. With all these things that render your Air conditioning unit inefficient, one is inclined to pressure wash the unit to clean it up. But DON’T! The extreme pressure of the flowing water from the Pressure washer can break the fragile fins, hamper airflow, thus reducing the AC unit’s life span.
Windows:
Pressure washing windows to clean them? Terrible idea! One wrong move and you are there with a bunch of glass pieces all over. High-pressure water, inappropriate spray patterns, and wrong spray angle (head-on) classify pressure washing windows as highly dangerous.
How to wash your windows, then? You can clean them at home with a solution of hot water and distilled vinegar. Dampen the window using the solution you made and then wash it using a sponge.
Asphalt Shingles
Do you see colonies of algae and moss on your asphalt shingle? Or is it the streaking and discoloration of your roof that is convincing you to pressure wash your asphalt shingle? Either way, never pressure wash the asphalt shingle! There are better ways out to try. Pressure washing can destroy the protective coating, and if an improper angle is used, it can cause water damage.
Use caustic cleaners to erase the algae and moss from your asphalt shingle; use a garden water hose to wash the roof.
Wood Siding
It is possible to pressure wash wood siding. Rather it is an effective method to clean dirt and even remove paint from the wood siding, but it is an enormous risk! If an incorrect pressure or spray pattern is used, you can shred the wood. Electrical insulation and wiring can be instantly damaged if the high-pressure water reaches under the wood siding. Use a garden hose to wash wood siding.
Lead Paint
Another surface that you should not pressure wash is lead paint because it can cause more harm than good. Pressure washing can damage, crack, and lay the paint bare, spreading particles into the surrounding air. Lead paint is extremely toxic and hazardous; fortunately, there has been a decline in its use. Always avoid pressure washing surfaces covered with lead paint. Lead paint strippers are available in the market that can easily remove lead paint with less effort.
Conclusion
The desire to use your pressure washer whenever there is any dust, dirt, staining, discoloration, or mold on a surface is inevitable. Still, it must be remembered that not all surfaces welcome your pressure washer! In such cases, it is recommended to first seek help from a professional or use pressure-washer alternatives straightaway.
