How to Pressure Wash a House
Pressure washing is one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to keep your home looking like new. Built-up dirt, grime, mildew and mold can be removed in a fraction of the time it would take to scrub it by hand or just use a garden hose. Learn how to pressure wash a house in this Lowe’s video:
A pressure washer is a way to amp up your garden hose. It has a motor that increases the PSI (pounds per square inch) of the water. Pressure washers can clean houses, decks, patios, driveways, sheds – but not cars.
There are a lot of different options for pressure washers such as electric, cordless, and gas. Look at the PSI rating when choosing a pressure washer – the higher the PSI, the greater the force of the water. A typical garden hose has about 40 PSI, which is not strong enought to do heavy-duty cleaning on your house, but if you hook up the garden hose to a pressure washer, it can easily increase your PSI by over 50 times. Pressure washers also use up 80% less water than a garden hose.
If you are using a gas-powered pressure washer, be careful not to run out of gas as it can cause vapor lock. Also, when it turns, it runs hot, so don’t refuel when it’s hot.
There are two hose nozzles in the front of the pressure washer, one for your input (garden) hose, and a high-powered hose which is connected to the front and also to the wand.
You’ll be putting a tip on the end of the wand. There are several types of tips; each tip has a different purpose, so it’s important to know what each tip does and the type of surface you’ll be working on. You want a tip that will clean without damaging the surface. Test the tips on a section of your exterior to see what works best.
- Pink low-pressure soap detergent tip: Use when applying detergents for cleaning projects.
- White 40-degree tip: Produces a wider fan of water – use on soft surfaces.
- Yellow 15-degree tip: Use for surface prep such as removing dirt, mildew or paint.
- Red zero-degree tip: Use with caution as it delivers a very concentrated stream of water and highest PSI and can damage softer surfaces.
Prep and Safety:
Don’t pressure wash your house if it has lead paint as this can be very hazardous. If your house was painted before 1978 or if you suspect it was painted with lead paint, it’s best to let a professional do an inspection and make recommendations. It’s very important to know what type of house material you’re dealing with as it will impact the way you pressure wash.
Inspect the exterior to identify any issues that need to be addressed. Cut back or pull away any bushes or greens that are up against the house. Look for areas where water could possibly get in, like ducts or outlets, and wrap in plastic or cover with duct tape. When pressure washing, avoid any window casings, any caulking areas, the edges of doors and any exterior utilities.
You will get the same recoil using a pressure washer as you would a nail gun, so make sure you have eye protection, don’t aim at anybody and don’t stand on a ladder. Lastly, make sure you’re wearing safety goggles and old clothes that you don’t mind getting wet.
Cleaning:
If you’re applying cleaner before pressure washing, do in two steps. Start the soap from the bottom up, then do pressure washing from the top down. Use an all-purpose cleaner. Spritz nearby plants with water to ensure they don’t absorb too much cleaner.
Attach the soap tip and add the cleaner. Turn the fuel control on, pull the choke out, and set the ignition switch to on. Give it one pull and wait for it to start, then push the choke back in. Engage the safety on the wand then pull the trigger. Do even back-and-forth strokes from the bottom to the top. Once the cleaner has been applied, switch to a 40-degree tip and rinse off the soap, working your way down.
Tip: An extension wand will allow you to get all the way to the top without using a ladder. In order to swap between the two, turn off the water, drain the wand, remove the tip and attach it to the extension wand. Disconnect the high-pressure hose, put the quick connect onto the end and turn the water back on.
Rust and Vine Mark Removal:
Use a rust remover to remove any rust, and then rinse off. Apply from the bottom up. Let it sit for a while, and then wash it off with a 40-degree tip, going from top to bottom.
Remove any vine or plant debris growing along the house, then use detergent and power wash it off.
