4 Pressure Washing Vinyl Siding Problems You Should Be Aware Of
Pressure washing is getting more and more popular, and that’s due to its extreme versatility and effective result on different types of surfaces. But we often hear questions from people wondering about pressure washing vinyl siding problems.
According to specialists, pressure washing on vinyl siding is safe. You just need to know precisely how to use the machine and what steps to follow while cleaning. Pressure washing can harm vinyl sidings when handled improperly. If you cannot utilize it properly, it can quickly lead to siding damage.
Thus, our guide is the right place for you if you are thinking of pressure washing your Vinyl sidings. Today we will discuss everything you need to know about this.
Why is Pressure Wash Used to Clean Vinyl Siding?
The siding is one of the most typical places where dirt gathers on a home. As a result, it can deteriorate your home’s appearance and impair its natural appeal.
Because professional pressure washing is adaptable and can wash many areas, it is beneficial for a home’s outer walls and other locations like vinyl siding. The force and pressure from the water jet remove all the tough stains and dirt from the sidings very easily.
However, if pressure washers are not used properly, they can cause damage to your siding, which we will discuss below.
What are the Pressure Washing Vinyl Siding Problems
Pressure washing is highly versatile and can be used to clean many exterior areas, including siding, bricks, concrete, and many more. It uses high-pressure water jets to get rid of all dirt and stains. So, you can also clean your Vinyl sidings; however, it can cause damage to Vinyl Sidings if not used properly.
Down below, we will discuss all the problems that this can cause.
Stripped Painting
Even though the pressure washer is just a highly powerful stream of water, it can still strip off paint from sidings. When you continuously hold the nozzle of the washer in one pinpoint direction, it can strip off the paint from the surfaces.
Many people often use pressure washing to remove paint from the sidings before repainting them. So, you can understand how powerful the pressure can be.
Cracks in the Siding
Cracks and scratches are other problems caused by pressure washing vinyl siding. Despite being sturdy and robust, vinyl can still be bent, scratched, cracked, and damaged.
So, when pressure washing, it can spray water at a pressure of 3300 PSI, which is fairly intense. This heavy and intense water pressure can easily crack or bend not just the vinyl but also materials like aluminum and concrete.
Water gets seeped through inside
Because of the increased pressure, this becomes simpler for water to pass through into the structure of your building below the siding, which might lead to water accumulation in your sidewalls or even ceilings.
The worst aspect is that this infiltrating water into the house’s internal areas runs the danger of causing major damage to the structure of your house. Along with that, it can also cause mold growth.
Damage windows
The vinyl siding sometimes has windows on it, and the wrong use of a pressure washer can damage these windows too. The water spray can break glasses throughout the area when it is directed at vinyl siding. Additionally, the window panes themselves might be damaged.
Things to Consider to Avoid Damage While Pressure Washing Vinyl Siding
We have already discussed how inappropriate pressure can damage the vinyl siding. Now we will look at the exact reasons causing this damage and how you can avoid them for a better result.
Spraying Distance
Having some space between the spray gun’s wand and the surface is crucial. Spit back and even damage to the vinyl siding you are working on can result from being too near to the surface you will be cleaning.
Solution: For siding, try to maintain a distance of at least 3 feet, but hold the nozzle 4 inches away from the surface.
Nozzle Type
All power washing machines come with a few different types of nozzles. For not using the appropriate nozzle for the surface can cause damage to the surface.
Solution: For cleaning vinyl siding or similar surfaces, you should use the yellow 15-degree nozzle is the ideal option.
Pressure level
An excessive pressure level may harm the material you are washing. Generally speaking, a higher pressure level can cause more damage if not used correctly.
Solution: Begin with a low-pressure level for vinyl siding, such as 1,300 to 1,600 PSI, then raise it as required to get rid of tough debris and filth.
Spray Time
Spray time is another crucial factor while pressure washing Vinyl surfaces. Too much time spent focusing on pressurized water in one place might harm the area.
Solution: Keep moving the spray wand to make sure that one specific area doesn’t get full pressure for a long time.
Tips: Starting small is best, and gradually making your way up. Avoid starting with the greatest pressure level. Using the pressure washer with the right amount of pressure can perfectly clean your vinyl siding and make it look new in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Vinyl siding tends to get quite dirty, collecting all types of dirt, filth, and molds. So, it is important to clean them at least once a year. However, if your house is beside the main road where there is a lot of traffic, then you should clean the siding 2/3 times a year.
For cleaning your siding, pressure washers are easy to use and absolutely secure. In order to prevent water from damaging the outside or penetrating underneath your siding, it’s important to reduce water pressure.
Yes. Pressure washing vinyl siding requires detergent since it will make the process easier. Without it, you run the danger of harming your home’s siding since it will take more water pressure to get the debris and filth off.
Conclusion
Cleaning dirty vinyl siding can seem to be laborious work, and to ease the extra effort; you can use a pressure washer. However, we have a common misconception that this is harmful to the siding. But, in reality, it is absolutely safe, considering you know how to do it properly.
Pressure washing vinyl siding problems like cracks and strip-off paints are very common. So, to avoid any damage, you must be very careful while doing this. Follow everything we have discussed so far in this guide, and your work should be much easier.
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