What Does Power Wash Mean? We Have Broken Down The Details

If your basement, lawn, porch, and roofs are getting dirty or are filled with algae, you need to clean them. When you are thinking of cleaning them, one of the most effective ways is by power washing. So, what does power wash mean?

Power wash is the process of cleaning exterior areas with pressured water to remove grime, fungus, as well as other impurities. Sometimes power wash is also referred to as pressure wash, even though they are slightly different.

This is just a brief summary of a power wash, and there are a few other things you need to know. So, if you are thinking of cleaning the exterior surface of your house or other areas, keep on reading to learn more.

What is Power Wash

A power washer removes residue and molds from external surfaces using a hot and very heavy-pressure water stream. Because of the water’s high pressure and heat, it is more effective at lifting all the truly trapped objects off of surfaces.

Power washing is a quicker, more efficient approach to cleaning an outside surface than hand cleaning. It can effectively remove common pollutants, including dust, grease, filth, mildew, and fungus, from the exterior. After that, everything is rinsed with a safe yet adequate water pressure level.

However, remember that unskilled power washing can peel areas of their color and cause the siding to develop cracks. Soft wooden boards are often harmed by using the incorrect tip or force.

How Does Power Washing Work

Power washer machines employ a hot, high-pressure, narrow stream of water to remove the filth. The washer is connected to a bigger water supply through a pipe or tank. Then, the motor pushes water through its pipelines with immense pressure and energy.

The fast-moving water strikes the soiled area with tremendous kinetic energy, dislodging debris and dust with a steady stream of small heavy blows.

All the machines come with guns with replaceable nozzles that range from a broad nozzle that works well for drenching big areas in soapy water to a precision nozzle with a small hole that blasts water with just enough force to destroy surfaces. As a result, power washers require extreme caution to use.

Where should you use a Power wash?

As you might have already guessed, a power wash is unsuitable for all types of applications as it can damage many surfaces. So, read below to know more about its proper application zones.

Removing residue from sidewalks

We all know how irritating and bad-looking residue on the outside of your home can be. This is when power wash comes in handy; the most important application of power wash is that it can remove all types of residue, including salt, fungus, and mildew, from patios, outdoor pavements, sidewalks, driveways, and more.

Grease removal from garages

Power washing works by creating pressure with hot water, and this pressurized hot water can be very effective in removing all types of grease as well as chewing gums from the sidewalks and garages.

Clean Siding

You may use a power washer to clean your vinyl siding if it has become dull or stained. Just make sure to reduce the power washer’s psi setting to avoid unintentionally damaging your siding. Using the power washer, you may also wash metal or wood siding at low pressure.

Prevents Weeds and Moss from growing back

Weeds and mosses may be very bothersome, and the major problem is that even if you remove them, they keep returning. Fortunately, power cleaning may be useful. Any weed or moss may be totally killed and removed with minimal effort and water conservation by using hot water and low pressure with the correct detergent.

Remove dirt and stains from fences

As years pass by, fences can become dirty and stained with dust, greases, mildew, and more. A dirty fence will ruin the overall look of your house, and cleaning the fences can be daunting. But you can use power washing here also.

A good pressure wash can take everything off the fence and make them look like new. To prevent schism and other breakages, use a lower washer power on softer wood. However, you may apply greater pressure while cleaning hardwoods and vinyl.

Good Sides of Power Wash

• Very effective for cleaning large and long driveways
• It can be used to clean many different types of surfaces, particularly hard surfaces,
• Saves money by permanently removing weeds and mosses
• Doesn’t waste much water and only uses the required amount.
• For restoration, power washing can prepare surfaces.

Bad Sides of Power Wash

• If not used appropriately, power washers have the strength to hammer cracks in your vinyl siding and windows.
• A high-pressure power wash can also damage exterior wooden decks.

Is Power Wash and Pressure Wash the Same

Generally speaking, power and pressure wash are the same, and they indicate the same type of cleaning applications. However, technically there is a slight difference between these two.

Heat is the primary distinction between power washing and pressure washing. A power washer’s jet wash uses hot water, but a pressure washer doesn’t need any hot water and uses regular cold water.

Moreover, on delicate surfaces like softwoods, masonry, and brick, power washing can be quite unpleasant. While using a pressure washer, you may quickly and safely clean these kinds of soft surfaces.

Things to Consider About Power Washing

Using a power washer to power wash requires some skills and a proper understanding of the machine. So, if you need to use a power washer, these tips below will help you do the work easily without any risks or damage to the surfaces you are working with.

Do not spray continuously in the same position

Keep moving the spray to avoid destroying the material’s actual substance. As if you keep the spray in the same position, it can put extra pressure on the surface.

Use proper cleaning detergents

Power washers come with a tank that can hold detergents; it is important to use good quality detergents to ensure proper cleaning. Also, choose the detergent depending on the surface you are cleaning, as some detergents can cause damage to some surfaces.

Ensure safe distance

As power washers are really powerful, they can cause serious injuries to the user themselves. So, it is best to maintain a safe distance while cleaning; you should keep a distance of at least 4-6 feet while spraying with the nozzle.

Conclusion

Power washing can save a lot of money and effort and make the exterior of your house look new. However, using this machine is not that easy and requires a lot of skill. So, it is important to properly follow the safety precautions before using it.

Today in this guide, we have discussed all the aspects of power wash that you need to know. We believe you already know the meaning of power wash and how it works by now.

Then again, if you cannot use a power washer by yourself, it is always best to consult a professional service provider.