Are you seeking solutions to eliminate winter grime and prepare your home for summer? Now that spring is here, it’s the best time to powerwash your house! KD Power washing uses a high-pressure stream of hot water to remove dirt, grime, mold, and other contaminants from surfaces like driveways, decks, and building exteriors. This method provides a deeper and more thorough cleaning than standard pressure washing, ensuring your property looks its best and is well-maintained.
While power washing and pressure washing are similar in that they both use pressurized water, they differ in their use of heat. Power washing employs hot water heated to a specific temperature to eliminate stubborn stains like grease and gum from patios, walkways, and roads. The combination of pressure and heat makes power washing a powerful cleaning method.
Some common misconceptions are that the runoff water from power washing can contain dirt and grime and that cleaning solutions harm a home’s landscape, which is untrue. When the process is done correctly, it does not cause any disadvantages, and the cleaning solutions are also biodegradable, ensuring that power washing is an eco-friendly cleaning method.
Factors Affecting Power Washing Frequency
Regular power washing keeps your property looking its best, helps prevent damage, and prolongs the life of your surfaces. Understanding the factors that affect power washing frequency can empower you to make informed decisions about when and how often to clean your property.
Key Factors Include:
- Climate and Weather: Weather conditions, such as heavy rain, high humidity, snow, and extreme temperatures, can accelerate dirt accumulation, requiring more frequent cleaning.
- Pollution Levels: Areas with high levels of air pollution can cause exterior surfaces to become dirty faster, necessitating more frequent power washing.
- Accessibility: Due to additional cleaning challenges, difficult-to-reach locations, and multi-story structures can influence how often power washing is needed.
- Maintenance Practices: Regular light cleaning can help prevent heavy grime buildup, potentially reducing the frequency of power washing.
- Visual Appearance: Power washing should be performed when excessive dirt accumulation becomes visible to maintain an appealing exterior.
General Guidelines for Power Washing
Before starting a power washing job, always follow safety procedures, including wearing protective gear, reading the instructions, and applying low pressure to a small area to assess the results. Maintain a safe distance and ensure that humans and animals are kept away during the spraying process. Before cleaning, inspect surfaces for damage. Once you’ve chosen your nozzle, operate at the proper pressure while cleaning one section at a time.
Benefits of Regular Power Washing
Regular power washing helps keep surfaces attractive and durable by eliminating accumulated dirt, mold, mildew, and grime. By clearing these materials, you can protect your surfaces and paint finishes while maintaining appealing exterior design features. Additionally, power washing creates a healthier environment by removing allergens and bacteria from surfaces, contributing to the structural integrity of your home or property.
DIY vs. Professional Power Washing
Opting to perform power washing tasks yourself can be economically beneficial. However, it requires a significant time investment and suitable equipment to achieve successful results. Hiring a professional can provide superior cleaning results, as trained operators handle the equipment, reducing the risk of damaging surfaces. The choice between DIY and professional power washing depends on the project size, complexity, and your preference for convenience.
When should you power wash your property?
Power washing too frequently can damage surfaces by stripping paint, eroding wood, weakening siding, and causing cracks in concrete. It can also lead to water infiltration, which promotes mold growth and structural issues.
Most homeowners benefit from having their houses power-washed annually. For homes located in areas with high humidity, it is advisable to power wash twice a year to prevent mold and mildew buildup. An annual power washing schedule is sufficient for most residential properties.
