The Curb Appeal of Pressure Washing Your Home

Spring is here, along with a dusting of pollen coating your cars, driveway, and the exterior of your house. As the temperatures rise and you spend more time outside, you may also notice additional signs of dirt or mildew on your siding, stucco, or shingles. Scrubbing the outside of your home can turn into an arduous task. To limit the amount of elbow grease, consider the possibility of pressure washing the exterior of your home.

Homeowners can hire a professional home pressure washing service or use a pressure washing machine to clean the outside walls. Those planning to sell their home this year will benefit from making the exterior of their home look as appealing as possible.

What is Pressure Washing?

Pressure washing refers to cleaning surfaces such as sidewalks, patios, or siding, using a machine designed to spray a strong stream of water that dispels mold or dirt. With pressure washing, you may not need additional cleaning detergents or chemicals because the water’s force removes surface debris.

Pressure Washing vs. Power Washing

You may also hear home maintenance experts talk about power washing. Although some may use the terms interchangeably, pressure washing differs from power washing. Generally, a power washer uses heated water, greater force, and a special detergent to tackle the toughest cleaning jobs. Pressure washers do not heat water and may rely only on the force of the water to clean, without the use of soaps of chemicals.

While you can pressure wash the exterior of your home with little specialized equipment other than a pressure washing machine, power washing, if necessary, typically calls for a trained professional. The stronger force of power washing has a greater potential to damage softer exterior surfaces. Power washing works better on harder surfaces, such as concrete. However, if you notice staining on the outside of your home, or other debris that pressure washing does not remove, you may want to discuss power washing or using a detergent with a contractor.

Why Pressure Wash Your House?

When recommended, pressure washing helps a home look its best. The force of the water removes more dirt than a typical garden hose and decreases the time it takes to clean the home. Not only will pressure washing improve the overall aesthetics of your exterior, but it can also help free your home of dirt and allergens, such as pollen and mold. Pressure washing only uses water; you can clean responsibly without harsh detergents or chemicals.

Potential home sellers can benefit from pressure washing their homes. As part of their efforts to make their home positively stand out, sellers can consider adding pressure washing to their list of to-dos.

Some of the top reasons to consider pressure washing include the following:

Improved Appearance and Curb Appeal

If you’re considering selling this spring, you’ll want to do everything possible to improve the outside of your home. Potential homebuyers may drive or walk by your home and rely on a visual exterior inspection before scheduling a tour. Therefore, you’ll want to focus on renovations and maintenance to improve the outside view and make a positive first impression.

Prevents Long-Term Damage

In addition to an improved appearance, pressure washing can also prevent damage to your home from mold or dirt buildup. This relatively inexpensive maintenance task doesn’t take a lot of time or effort. Even if you need to rent a pressure washing machine or hire a professional, this task should easily fit into your annual home maintenance budget.

Removes Allergens

Pressure washing cleans away pollen, dust, and mold, which can trigger allergies in some individuals. Those living in areas with strong seasonal allergens can pressure wash their homes to alleviate their symptoms.

Cleans a Home Before Exterior Painting

If your home exterior requires periodic repainting, pressure washing helps prepare the surface and ensure you’re not covering dirt and mold. Those who own older homes should not pressure wash the exterior, as they could expose lead-based paint and create a safety hazard. Homeowners should consult a professional if they worry about lead-based paint.

How to Pressure Wash a House

Before you haul your pressure washing machine out of storage or drive to your local home improvement store to pay for a rental, you should understand the basics of pressure washing to help you decide whether or not your home needs this type of maintenance.

Always Check the Recommended Maintenance Instructions

Incorrectly using a pressure washer can damage your home. Homeowners should research the appropriate machine to use based on the material of their home. Common materials such as siding, brick, or stucco may call for different cleaning techniques. For some exterior home products, manufacturers recommend another cleaning routine that does not involve high-pressure water.

Determine the Optimal Amount of Water Pressure

Manufacturers recommend using a water pressure measurement of pounds per square inch (psi). Using a higher psi could damage your siding or stucco and cause more harm than good. For some exterior products, such as fiber cement, manufacturers recommend using low-pressure and delicately washing the home’s exterior.

Check your Equipment

Other than a pressure washing machine, you’ll need a water supply, like an outdoor spigot, and a hose to feed water into the machine. You may also need an extension wand to aim the water up to the higher levels of your home. You should never use a ladder to pressure wash because the force of water coming from the machine could potentially knock you off balance.

Understand How to Safely Operate a Pressure Washing Machine

Follow safety precautions for pressure washing. Aim carefully, as coming in contact with the extreme pressure of the water can cause injuries. If your pressure washer runs on electricity, make sure you can safely plug it in so that the cord will not get wet. Keep gas-powered machines outside, in an open area. Also, keep two feet on the ground when pressure washing and use an extension wand to reach higher levels of your home.

Clear your Work Area

Remove loose objects, such as patio furniture and flower pots, from the area which could move or suffer damage from the water. Cover bushes and other landscaping close to the home to protect them from the strong spray.

Don’t Rush

Power washing saves you time over manual cleaning, but you don’t want to rush through the job. When you begin to wash, work slowly, in small sections. Test a small area first, using a low-pressure setting, to ensure you achieve the desired results. If you need to increase pressure, do so in small increments. Pay attention to where you spray, avoiding windows or other fragile exterior fixtures, such as lighting.

Going the Professional Route

Rather than spending several hours or more pressure washing outside your home, you can call a professional pressure wash house cleaning service. A trained professional can pressure wash more efficiently, saving you time. Professionals may also have access to specialized detergents or environmentally-friendly products to clean your home. Experienced pressure washing companies will also use the right pressure to get your house as clean as possible. If you’re considering the cost of renting and transporting a pressure washing machine, calling a professional to complete the job might not cost much more. Additionally, if you’re preparing to put your house on the market, you might want to hire a professional pressure washing service and spend the time you save staging or cleaning other areas of the home.

What’s the Cost of Pressure Washing?

The relatively low cost of pressure washing generally provides a high level of benefit, especially if you want to list your property for sale and need to attract a buyer. According to Fixr, the average cost of pressure washing a house ranges from $500 to $900, with the national average coming in at $700 for a 2,000-square-foot home with vinyl siding. Comparatively, daily rentals range from $30 to $160, depending on the type of machine, gas versus electric. You may also need to pay extra to rent an extension wand to reach higher levels of the home. If you rent a pressure washer, consider how to transport it between the rental center and your home.

Conclusion

If you want to improve the appearance of your home, or you’ve noticed some patches of mold or dirt on your siding, include exterior home maintenance tasks such as pressure washing as part of your spring cleaning routine. For potential sellers, a clean, freshly washed exterior could make your house stand out. When recommended, pressure washing can boost your home’s appearance by removing dirt and grime, giving you a sparkling, refreshed exterior.