Rick Siri Knows

Having your gutters cleaned might not feature high on your list of home maintenance priorities, but regular upkeep is essential. Gutters are designed to collect and guide rainwater off the roof, down into the drain and away from the building thus preventing potential structural damage. Clogged or damaged gutters can result in expensive repairs so, although they are out of sight they should never be out of mind!

Why do gutters get blocked?

This can be a combination of fallen leaves, moss, twigs, and other debris that can build up over time. Leaves get blown onto the roof, traveling down into the gutters. When wet, leaves can stick to gutter walls and floors, and the flow of rainwater becomes lodged in corners and downpipes.

Over time leaves will breakdown turning into a fertile compost, the perfect breeding ground for seeds, moss, and weeds that have been blown onto the roof or dropped by birds. If left unchecked these invasive weeds can overtake your gutters, blocking the natural flow of water, plugging the downpipe leading to rainwater build-up, and possible overflow. It is critical that gutters are in good health for the winter to ensure water is free-flowing to prevent damage by snow and ice build-up.

Can blocked gutters cause property damage?

Clogged gutters can lead to costly property damage if they are not dealt with promptly. Rainwater damage can lead to issues such as rotting fascia boards, water damage to walls, windows, ceilings, insulation, and even foundation damage. If left unchecked water can permeate through to the internal walls causing damp and mold spores. Regardless of whether you have cast iron, pressed steel, or plastic gutters it is essential that these are maintained and regularly checked to ensure water is free-flowing and clear of debris.

How do I get my gutters cleaned?

There are many known gutter cleaning methods, most of them involves the use of a ladder. However, there is a better and safer way. That is using a telescopic spray wand which will extend the reach of your pressure washer up to 18 feet. This attachment wand will allow you to clean your gutters and other high spots of your house without having to use a ladder.

How often should I get my gutters cleaned?

How often you need your gutters cleaned depends very much on your property's surroundings, weather factors, and age of the building. Properties surrounded by overhanging trees, especially pine trees, or with moss growth should be checked frequently, especially after bad weather to ensure gutters are free from fallen debris.

Pressure washing, involves using a high-velocity water spray to clean dirt and residue from the exterior of a house. This type of cleaning is a particularly important preparatory step before painting or re-painting your house. A clean surface allows new paint to last longer. You can use pressure-washing equipment on most types of housing material once you learn how to pressure wash a house.

1. Choose a pressure washer that is best for the job. Different housing materials can withstand various water pressures. The size, or spray power, ranges from 1,200 to 3,000 PSI pressure washer pounds per square inch (psi).

Softer housing materials, such as painted soft-grain wood and aluminum, require a 1,200 to 1,500 psi model to prevent pressure damage. You may need a wide spray nozzle to disperse water pressure for even more vulnerable materials, like stucco.

Stronger non-painted surfaces, such as vinyl, clean better with a more powerful 2,500 to 3,000 psi model. These models work the fastest.

Select a pressure washer that has a detergent dispenser if you plan to use a cleaning solution.

2. Protect you house's exterior fixtures, like lights, landscaping shrubs and plants, from harmful water pressure. Cover with drop cloths or plastic covering and secure with duct tape.

3. Manually scrub any visible mildew from the surface you are power washing with a brush.

4. Mix the cleaning solution and fill the pressure washer's detergent dispenser. Combine approximately 1 pound (.455 kilograms) of a non-phosphate concentrated cleaner for every 4 gallons (15.4 liters) of washing water.

5. Connect a garden hose hooked to your water supply to the pressure washer. When you are ready, turn on the water.

6. Test how to pressure wash a house by holding the pressure washer nozzle with both hands about 3 feet (121.92 centimeters) from the wall. Move it in closer until you feel the spray is strong enough to remove dirt but not strong enough to cause damage.

7. Start at the top of the house and move down. Spray roof overhangs, under-hangs and gutters at an approximate 45-degree angle. Move the spray steadily from side to side. To easily reach the high spots of your house, like your gutters and soffits, it is best to use a telescopic wand, this will extend the reach of your pressure washer up to 18 feet.

8. Rinse from the top down with plain water from a garden hose. Allow house siding to dry at least 2 days before painting.

Pressure washing is known as a strenuous task. Especially for newbies, that’s why most people choose to hire a professional to do it. However there are some tips and tricks to make pressure washing easier than it seems. Here are some of it:

Prepare the area before you pressure wash it. Sweep dirt, dust, and debris away from the surface otherwise, you’re just going to make a mess and it’s going to take longer to clean your driveway.

Take precaution. Treat your pressure washer with respect and common sense, the same as you would any other power tool — because it is potentially just as dangerous. The spray that comes out of the tip of the power washer is so concentrated, it can slice through skin, so keep children and pets away while you are working, and never direct the pressure washer at a person.

Consider the size of the area to be cleaned. For pressure washing large flat surfaces such as your deck, porch, driveway and garage floor, use a pressure washer surface cleaner. This attachment uses a double spinning nozzle design which covers more area than the standard pressure washer nozzle.

Spray at a downward angle. Your home’s exterior siding is designed to protect your home from weather, and weather comes from above, not from below. Work with your home's protective features and direct your sprayer downward. Never spray into seams or cracks in siding where water can become trapped and damage your house.

Checklist for Buying a Pressure Washer

First-time buyers of pressure washers may find the process tedious and confusing. These pointers help buyers know what to do when buying a pressure washer.

Know the Type of the Pressure Washer

As a rule of thumb, a petrol- or propane-powered pressure washer is great for outdoor applications because it offers better mobility than an electric type. An electric pressure washer, on the other hand, is best suited for indoor applications because it does not emit exhaust and runs quieter than its gas-powered counterpart.

Check the Water Supply Requirements of the Pressure Washer

Check if the water supply is enough to match the specification of the machine. Inadequate water supply can cause cavitation damage to the pressure washer. Usually, regular water flow provided locally is adequate, but it is not a bad idea to check.

Choose a Pressure Washer with the Right Parts

Buy a pressure washer with parts that are right for the intended application. As discussed, the type of nozzle determines how water comes out of the pressure washer, and there are cleaning projects that require specific water coverage.

Consider Getting Pressure Washer Attachments

Pressure washer attachments can make a lot of difference when used for a specific job you want to work on. A pressure washer surface cleaner for example, uses double rotating nozzles that makes cleaning flat and large surfaces faster and more even. A telescopic spray wand on the other hand, is a useful pressure washer

Know the Life Expectancy of the Pressure Washer

The pump of a pressure washer has a certain life expectancy. It is always useful to buy a pressure washer that discloses the life expectancy of the pump so buyers know when to expect replacement.

Check the Flow Rate of the Pressure Washer

Do not buy a pressure washer with low water pressure or psi. Because the equipment is to be used in an industrial capacity, it should be able to provide at least 4,000 PSI pressure washer . Although a 2,000 PSI pressure washer is enough for removing grime and grease from decks, sidings, and concrete, only a 4,000 PSI washer is sure to remove stubborn stains and paint, as well as cover large areas when cleaning.

Risks of pressure washing brick

Pressure washing should always be done carefully to avoid unnecessary accidents and damage. Power washing a brick building can be catastrophic if done incorrectly.

Problems can include:

Removal of natural waterproofing.

Brick damage

Removes the brick mortar.

Water that seeps into the walls can cause mold

How To Minimize Damaging Your Brick House

Use the Right Pressure and Nozzle Tip

By taking precautions and using the right pressure washer and nozzle, you may minimize the chances of damaging your brick house. For a wide and softer spray use the white 40-degree nozzle tip and limit the pressure to 1000 psi. If not sure, test the pressure against a small part of the wall hidden behind some shrubs. For higher spots of the brick, use a telescopic wand, this will extend the reach of your pressure washer up to 18 feet.

Examine and Fix the Mortar

Examine the mortar and bricks. The old mortar that’s falling apart needs to be repointed before using a pressure washer. If there are a few cracks and holes, patch and fill a few days before you plan on pressure washing. Give the walls about seven days or longer, depending on the weather, to completely dry.

Cover Surrounding Area

Use standard pressure washer safety procedures. Cover nearby plants and furniture with a tarp to protect against the chemicals and water spray. Remember to close the doors and windows of the house too.

Saturate The Brick Walls

To avoid a permanent lightening the color of the bricks, make sure you saturate the bricks with clean water before applying any soap or detergent. Start at the bottom and working to the top, to maintain even soaking. Using a telescoping wand especially for high houses will speed up this process. If you work from the top down, water will flow down saturating the bottom part of the wall more than the rest of the wall

Use the Correct Soap

Choose a soap or detergent that cleans bricks and steadily apply the detergent washing from the bottom to the top. You can use the same black nozzle or the white nozzle tip. If you use the wrong soap, it could paste the debris to the mortar instead of washing it off.

When rinsing the soap, use low pressure and a spraying angle that exerts a soft spray. Wash the detergent off in the opposite directing as when soaking the brick. Wash it from the top to the bottom in a sweeping movement.

Scrub Tough Stains

Low pressure and plenty of soap is the secret. The brick and mortar are porous and will soak up the water and detergent. Avoid forcing it onto and into the brick with too high pressure.

Be patient, give the soap about 10 minutes to loosen and remove dirt and debris. For tough dirt and stains use a rotary scrub pressure instead of higher pressure. Grass stains around the foundations, tree sap, and moss should be removed with a brush.

Use A Dry Wire Brush

Too much water or the wrong chemicals brings out the minerals in the water and the salt in the brick causing efflorescence. Avoid the temptation to wash it off with higher pressure. The better option is to manually remove efflorescence by scrubbing it with a dry wire brush.

Waterproof The Bricks

Wait until the walls are completely dry before sealing. Use a waterproof sealant for bricks and mortar. Waterproofing keeps the bricks longer clean and prevents water and oil seepage into the walls.

Many people do not value pressure washing as much as they should, and some commonly believed myths are the main reasons people take this for granted. Here are some most believed myths about pressure washing.

Pressure washing has grown to be a very useful strategy for eliminating mildew and mold on concrete surfaces and even stains on a wood or brick patio. Whether such a service could be ideal to clean your walkways or maintain the sparkling image of your building, here are five myths about pressure washing that you should stop believing.

Pressure washing is only necessary when the property is dirty, stained, or moldy

Nothing could be further from the truth. Pressure washing is essentially the forceful removal of hard stains and stubborn elements on the surface—most of which are not visible to the naked eye.

There is no reason to wait until your property is unsightly to conduct power washing; after all, preventing stains is better than waiting for it to accumulate. Pressure washing your property regularly removes and prevent molds and stains and leaves your home or business premises clean and presentable.

Just connect the pressure washer to water and you are set to start cleaning

If it were true that water only at high pressure can remove all kinds of dirt, stains, and other unwanted elements, then you could rely on rain alone to keep your home or office looking clean. In reality, this is not the case.

The truth is that pressure cleaning involves the use of specially-selected detergents with the strength to clean stains and potential mold from a surface. For some types of stains, specific solvents may be used with hot water to successfully clean stubborn stains. Also, using correct pressure washing attachments will help finish the job faster and will avoid causing damage to the area being pressure washed.

Pressure washer surface cleaner attachment. This attachment uses a spinning bar to distribute the high-pressure stream of water over a larger surface area using twin rotating outlets allowing you to get an even clean for large areas. This surface cleaner is helpful for cleaning large expanses of concrete, like a driveway.

Telescopic spray wand. This is an expandable wand that gives you more reach when you need to clean surfaces up high without using a ladder. This Telescopic Spray Wand can extend up to 18 ft. and you can even adjust it by using just the amount of sections you need to give you great accuracy. You can use this telescopic wand to reach your sidings, windows, gutters and more

Pressure washing is simple, in fact you can do it yourself

Yes, you can do it yourself, if you have the right machine, knowledge, and experience to safely and efficiently remove specific types of molds, dirt, and stains. Most people hire the experts to save money and time because of the required experience and knowledge of using the correct equipment safely and effectively.

Everything everywhere can be pressure washed

Although vinyl siding generally requires much less maintenance than other types of siding, it is still important that homeowners take the time to wash it at least once a year. The easiest way to do so is by using a pressure washer, which should allow you to easily reach all areas from the ground especially with the use of a Telescopic Spray Wand. By spending a few hours pressure washing your house once or twice a year, you can go a long way towards ensuring your home’s exterior remains attractive for years to come.  

Pressure washing vinyl siding isn’t difficult, but it does require that you take your time and pay special attention in order to prevent damage. Still, the process should be simple as long as you follow these steps.  

 Inspect Your Siding

The first thing you’ll want to do is do a full inspection of your siding to make sure there are no missing, loose or cracked pieces as these will need to be repaired prior to washing. At the same time, it’s also important to identify where and how the siding overlaps. Finally, make sure that all windows are fully sealed and caulked to prevent water from leaking inside.  

Prepare Your Plants

Before pressure washing, you’ll first want to thoroughly water and then cover all nearby plants. This will hopefully help to prevent the washing detergent from harming the plants. You’ll also want to make sure to trim any branches out of the way if they will interfere with your washing.  

Start Off with Soap

You’ll generally need to use specialty pressure-washer soap to fully clean the siding but it’s always important to test a small area to make sure it won’t damage or discolor the siding. After pouring the soap into the reservoir, gently spray a small section of siding using the soap nozzle

Make sure to only ever spray at a downwards angle and watch out so you don’t spray into the overlaps. This should help prevent water from getting trapped behind the siding and potentially causing mold or other damage. To reach the high spots of your siding, use a Telescopic Spray Wand, this attachment extends the reach of your pressure washer by 18 feet.  

Lather, Rinse and Repeat

When using the soap, it’s important to never spray too large of an area at a time as you never want to let the soap dry. Therefore, you’ll need to regularly switch back and forth between soap and plain water. Due to the small size of the reservoir, often you can just wait until you run out of soap, and then use this as an opportunity to make the switch and start rinsing.  

Clean and Dry

You’ll need to repeat this process again and again, working one small section at a time until you’ve finished the entire house. On a big house, this could end up taking you all day, whereas it may only take a few hours on a smaller property. Either way, you should go around and dry off all of the interior and exterior corners of the siding just to make sure that that excess water doesn’t seep behind. While it does take some time, pressure washing your siding is most definitely worth it. In fact, most homeowners don’t even realize just how much dirt and grime is actually on their home until they start cleaning.  

 Pressure washing your home seems very easy simple. It kind of is but many people still find still make mistake. We have listed down the most common pressure washing mistakes and how to fix them.  

Using too much pressure. This is definitely the most common pressure washing mistake. It is also one of the most damaging. I understand you want to get some dirt off the side of your house, but there is no need to stand literally 0.3 centimeters away while blasting water at a little smudge. When you stand too close you can cause permanent damage to your wood, leave etching in your concrete, strip paint, and even crack glass. How to fix this? You just have to stand farther away.  

 Using only water. Another common mistake most homeowners make is not using a chemical aide to help the pressure washing process. By only using water you end up with a bunch of issues. First, you will find that it makes cleaning some areas way more difficult and annoying than it should be. Using just cold water you are trying to break through the barrier of dirt and get the entire surface clean at the same time. A lot of the times this doesn’t work, causing people to just blast the surface with more pressure.  

 If you only use water, and are spraying an area that has mold, all this will do is spread mold spores around that will continue to grow once everything is done drying. Without a chemical aide, you will not be attacking the main source of your issue. Using a chemical in the pressure washing process is almost always necessary. In your cleaning process, you should start by coating the area to be cleaned with a high quality environmentally friendly washing aide. This helps to break the barrier of mold or dirt so when you start pressure washing, you will get the entire surface clean.  

 Using one nozzle for all jobs. Each pressure washing job should be pressure washed with the correct nozzle or pressure washing attachment. Just like you use different grits of sandpaper when sanding down wood – you need to use different nozzles for different jobs. Here’s 4 steps to follow before you begin pressure washing any surface:  

Use common sense when selecting a nozzle

Start with a wider angle nozzle

Keep your distance to start

Always test on a small area of the surface.

Here are some useful pressure washer attachments and jobs they’re for:  

Pressure washer surface cleaner attachment. Helpful for cleaning large flat surfaces like driveway, patio and garage floor, this attachment uses a spinning bar to distribute the high-pressure stream of water over a larger surface area using twin rotating outlets allowing you to get an even clean for large areas.  

Telescopic spray wand. This is an expandable wand that gives you more reach when you need to clean surfaces up high without using a ladder. This Telescopic Spray Wand can extend up to 18 ft. and you can even adjust it by using just the amount of sections you need to give you great accuracy. You can use this telescopic wand to reach your sidings, windows, gutters and more    

Cleaning out of order. Making this mistake isn’t really as bad as the others. However, pressure washing out of order will take things a whole lot longer. Think about it. If you start out with your driveway and sidewalk, then pressure wash your house or your roof, you will have some residual rinsing to do on your driveway. All of the dirt you clean off your house and roof will land on the ground. Another example would be you cleaning your windows first, then your roof. All the muck from your roof will get all over your freshly cleaned windows. Pressure wash in this order and save yourself some time.  

Roof

House exterior

Porch/Patio Any flat surfaces

To most of people, pressure washing may seem like a noncompulsory task, something that is always overlooked because people think its overkill or sometimes unnecessary. It’s only performed to rid your house, patio, or driveway of unsightly dirt, right?  

 Not exactly. This simple task has many benefits beyond making your home more appealing. It plays a critical role in many important home projects and also protects your personal health and safety.  

Why You Should Pressure Wash  

Pressure washing prepares your area for renovation.  

By pressure washing, you prevent the growth of destructive mold, mildew, moss, and algae that can cause repair issues down the line. A pressure washer can easily erase mold that has grown onto the side of your home or business. Since pressure washing is such an easy solution, there’s no need for you to live with the damage and dinginess these kinds of growths can inflict on your house.  

Pressure washing deep cleans all areas of your home  

Siding, brick, and driveways aren’t the only areas that can benefit from a good power wash. Your patio or deck, any concrete surface, and even your outdoor furniture can profit from this spring cleaning task. You’ll think you have a brand new porch once the task is completed.  

Pressure washing immediately increases the value of your home  

If you’re planning to sell your home soon, pressure washing is an affordable and easy way to impress a potential buyer and boost your curb appeal. By removing that built up layer of dirt and grime with a simple pressure washing, you can drastically increase your home’s value to buyers and realtors. According to the National Association of Realtors, pressure washing can increase the sale price by $10,000 to $15,000.  

Pressure washing protects you and your family’s health  

If you or your loved ones suffer from allergies or you want to make sure your home is as clean as possible, pressure washing can help alleviate many of those problems. By scraping off layers of dust, allergens, and mold, pressure washing gets rid of those irritants and cleans off surfaces so you can reclaim your home and your health.  

 Here are some useful pressure washer attachments  

Pressure washer surface cleaner attachment. This attachment uses a spinning bar to distribute the high-pressure stream of water over a larger surface area using twin rotating outlets allowing you to get an even clean for large areas. This surface cleaner is helpful for cleaning large expanses of concrete, like a driveway.

Cleaning the roof of a house is important because it improves its durability. And if you haven’t cleaned your rooftop in a while, maybe it’s time to pressure wash it for a thorough and effective cleanup. You can always power wash your tiled roof, but it can be risky for a roof having shingles, asphalt shingles in particular.  

 Pressure-washing can rupture the protective grit that the shingles are coated with, affecting their durability to a great extent. However, if unwanted stuff such as algae, moss or mold on your rooftop is fully grown up, the only effective way to clean your roof is to pressure wash. So, when you pressure-wash it is best to follow these guidelines to make sure you don’t damage it. Here’s how:  

 Use the Right Wand and Cleaning Solution  

 Connect a telescopic spray wand to your pressure washer. Using this wand will help you reach your roof without using a ladder. A telescopic wand extends the reach of your pressure washer up to 18 feet.  Fill your pressure washer with a cleaning solution depending upon what (mold, algae or moss) you want to remove from the rooftop. For example if it is algae you are trying to remove, you’ll have to use a cleaning solution specially compounded to clean algae.  

 Keep the Pressure Minimum  

 Once ready and positioned, turn the pressure-washer on. Set it on the lowest point and hold the wand upright, allowing too much of pressure in the beginning to scatter. Point the washer toward the shingles in such a way that the water falls on them only and doesn’t disturb the seal. It is important to be highly careful here because water flowing towards the shingle edges will exert pressure and untie them. Also, doing so will prepare a wet and moist environment for algae to grow quickly.  

 Clean the Roof in Segments  

 Don’t try to spread the flow of water on the entire roof at once. Instead, clean the roof in segments. You can begin to wash the roof towards the bottom from the top first and then side to side. Divide the roof into segments in such a way that you need not to change your position too frequently and the pressure of water can easily reach all of them. Leave the portion of the roof where you’ve positioned the ladder for the last.  

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 Pressure washing has been a common method of removing tough dirt and grime from hard surfaces for a considerable amount of time. It involves spraying water at incredibly high speeds, thereby creating enough pressure to remove stubborn dirt. This method is usually only used to clean hard surfaces that can withstand the pressure of the water; soft materials may tear or break. Since this method involves a lot more technique and expertise than can be perceived by most, there are several misconceptions about pressure washing.  

 1. Pressure washing is a simple process  

 This couldn’t be farther from the truth. As mentioned before, pressure washing requires a lot more technical expertise than one would think. The equipment used in power washing is not easy to use, and since the water is flowing at an extremely high speed, the user needs to have the strength and knowledge to use it. Improper or clumsy usage of the hose could lead to unnecessary injury and expenses. Everything about a washer, right from the pressure of the water to the kind of nozzle, has to be decided on by an expert in the field.  

 2. All hard surfaces can be pressure washed  

 Power washing, as indicated in the name itself, involves a lot of power or pressure. There are several surfaces that are actually not for this particular kind of cleaning. For instance, certain kinds of wood could get damaged by the pressure, or could absorb the water thereby destroying it in a completely different way. All surfaces must be checked before using power washers on them, to see if they are compatible with the process or not. Using the wrong kind of washer for a surface could potentially end up damaging it instead of cleaning.  

 3. Pressure washers use nothing but water  

 There is specific kind of detergent is used with pressure washers which is powerful enough to remove tough stains from the surfaces it cleans. In very specific cases, washers use specific solvents with hot water to remove those stains that cannot be removed even with regular power washing. If it were true that high pressure water would be enough to remove stains then the rains would’ve been enough to keep our buildings looking clean, right?  

 4. Pressure washing is only necessary in extremely bad cases  

 There is no reason to wait for a building to have ten different layers of grime on it before you pressure wash. Even if there is one single hard stain in a surface that cannot be removed by regular washing can be pressure washed right away. The purpose of pressure washing isn’t to restore old or dirty buildings, it is to clean tough surfaces.  

 5. Pressure washing can be a DIY project  

 If a person has the knowledge and experience to know exactly which machine to use and how to use it efficiently enough to remove tough stains and not damage anything else, there is no reason not to go ahead. There are some useful pressure washing attachments that will make your DIY cleaning faster, such as the following:  

Pressure washer surface cleaner attachment. This attachment uses a spinning bar to distribute the high-pressure stream of water over a larger surface area using twin rotating outlets allowing you to get an even clean for large areas. This surface cleaner is helpful for cleaning large expanses of concrete, like a driveway.  

Telescopic spray wand. This is an expandable wand that gives you more reach when you need to clean surfaces up high without using a ladder. This Telescopic Spray Wand can extend up to 18 ft. and you can even adjust it by using just the amount of sections you need to give you great accuracy. You can use this telescopic wand to reach your sidings, windows, gutters and more    

 6. All pressure washers are the same, so the cheapest should be fine

Pressure washers are not all the same. There are several elements involved in power cleaning, and a lower price could influence some or all of these elements, thereby influencing the quality of the wash. Money is important, but if you want to get a good quality wash, it is best to spend a little. In the long run, it’s better to spend on cleaning now rather than on repairs later.  

After a long hard winter, clean siding is a quick and affordable way to brighten up your house exterior. Just make sure that you choose an appropriate cleaning method that won’t harm your siding, yet will get rid of dirt and stains.  

 Follow these tips to clean siding successfully and keep it looking good longer.  To pressure wash or not to pressure wash? There is a great debate over whether you can safely clean siding with a pressure washer. So what’s the answer?

Yes, it is very possible to pressure wash siding without doing damage IF you keep three points in mind:  

 1. Use correct pressure. A pressure washer is great for hard surfaces like asphalt but dangerous to softer items such as window screens. Wood and vinyl siding fall somewhere in the middle, meaning that power washing can be great - when done at low pressure (1,300-1,500 PSI), with a wide tip on the pressure wand and very carefully. 2. Avoid potential water damage. If the pressure washer is handled incorrectly, a strong stream of water may be directed under the siding, which is very bad news. 3. Don’t put yourself at risk. Consider the height of your home. It is dangerous for you, as an amateur, to attempt to maneuver a pressure washer while perched on a ladder. A telescoping wand with a support belt can help you pressure wash higher spots.  

A Telescopic Spray Wand extends the range of your pressure washer by up to 18 feet. Allowing you to reach those spots that you couldn’t reach before. Reach your sidings, windows, gutters and more! Clean areas you could never reach before!        

Pressure Washing is the process of cleaning with the help of high-pressure water spray. Pressure Washing is used to remove dust, paint, grime and dust from exteriors and interiors. Pressure washing is one of the best way to keep your exterior in good condition. The jets of water clear out every nook and corner, leaving the building looking way cleaner than before! But it should be done in a proper way. We need to follow a particular process to clean the surface. If done incorrectly, it can also quickly gouge your surfaces, leaving irreparable damages to your home or deck.

Make sure to repair damaged areas first.

Always Use the correct attachments and materials for the job.

Try to do Pressure Washing on the day when it is low wind and no rain.

Close all the windows and doors before pressure cleaning.

Below listed are the benefits of pressure washing

Pressure washing is an easy process to clean the residential and commercial area. You need not to use any scrub to unsettle any debris.

Pressure Washing saves time like it doesn’t require any time-consuming ladder work. What you need to do is use the appropriate attachment for any cleaning.

It is an Eco-friendly method, your house is cleaned just with the pressure of water.

Here are some useful pressure washing attachments for DIY pressure washing:  

Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner. Flat surfaces such as brick and concrete are best pressure washed with the use of a pressure washer surface cleaner attachment. A pressure washer surface cleaner gets cleaning jobs done up to 4X faster than the usual spray nozzles thanks to the even surface pressure washing! The splash-free skirt keeps you dry while you clean and you won’t experience any streaking problems due to its ability to keep nozzles at a fixed height from the surface.    

DIY Home Exterior Maintenance

 Your home exterior adds a lot of value to your home entirely. Neglecting maintain it can cost you dollars and an eye sore not only to you but also to your neighbors and people that pass by your house.  

 Here are some DIY's in maintaining your home exterior:  

Clean your gutters. Removing debris isn't only a fall chore in some yards; many trees such as black locust, oaks and maples drop litter in spring and summer. If you’re acrophobic and can’t stand climbing heights, it would be best to use a Telescopic Wand, it comes with a gutter cleaning attachment which allows you to clean your gutter while on the ground.    

Wash off dirt and debris build up on your house siding.  Some pressure washers come with an assortment of color-coded spray tips. Each one has a different spray, from the high-pressure pinpoint spray to a wider, low-pressure spray. Siding can be cleaned with a low-pressure spray tip. Pressure-washing is also useful for removing algae stains from fencing. For dirt and molds stuck on high spots of home, you can use a Telescopic Spray Wand

Clean your deck. Pressure-wash your deck with a surface cleaner, spreads the water pressure using twin rotating outlets allowing you to get an even clean for flat areas like your deck. Then apply a wood preservative to help prevent water damage and discoloration.

 Wash off oil and grime on your driveway. Pressure-wash the driveway with a surface cleaner as well. Then to help prevent future stains, apply a waterproof sealer. Using an extender pole on a paint-roller handle, start in the middle of the driveway and roll the sealer to all edges of the concrete. Allow 24 hours before parking on surface.    

Pressure washing can be a messy job—and dangerous if it isn’t done correctly—so it’s important to take the time to adequately prepare. Pressure washers can cause a lot of damage if you don’t know what you’re doing, so it’s important to do a little research before getting started  

 Here are some safety tips to follow as a beginner:  

For any pressure washing job, be sure to wear eye protection and hearing protection. Pressure washers are loud, and the high pressure of the water means that debris and water will spray back toward you.

Until you gain confidence with the pressure washer, hold the wand securely with both hands so that it won’t fly out of your grip.

Keep the spray tip approximately 18 inches away from the surface you’re cleaning to minimize the risk of damage.  

 Here are some useful pressure washing attachments for DIY pressure washing:  

Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner. Flat surfaces such as brick and concrete are best pressure washed with the use of a pressure washer surface cleaner attachment. A pressure washer surface cleaner gets cleaning jobs done up to 4X faster than the usual spray nozzles thanks to the even surface pressure washing! The splash-free skirt keeps you dry while you clean and you won’t experience any streaking problems due to its ability to keep nozzles at a fixed height from the surface.    

CAN A PRESSURE WASHER DAMAGE CONCRETE?  

Concrete is great outdoor materials because of their sturdiness and longevity. With proper maintenance they can last a long time. However, improper or aggressive cleaning can actually damage them and decrease their lifespan.  Also it can be easily damaged because of the following factors:

Quality – The better the quality of concrete, the less likely it is to be damaged by pressure washing. This is because it ends up absorbing more water as it contains many tiny holes. This can really damage the concrete. It may be a good idea to consult an expert about the quality of the concrete before commencing pressure washing.  

 Age – It is a bad idea to use a pressure cleaner on concrete that is less than a year old. Why? Concrete would not have had time to bond completely. Besides, it would not really need any pressure washing if you have laid the concrete within 1 year or so.  

 How well you use the pressure washer– If you don’t operate the unit in the right manner, you may end up causing damage. Applying too much pressure while cleaning can damage the surface. You need to use the nozzle that sprays the water uniformly, rather than focusing at one spot.  

 How frequently you use the washer- You think more washing is always good. Wrong? If you decide to wash concrete every now and then, you will end up damaging it. When you get a new pressure washer, you would be well advised to take your time removing years of accumulated dirt and grime. However, once you are done with pressure cleaning, you don’t need to indulge in such heavy duty washing for a few months. You can’t be pressure cleaning for a lark every other week. You will wreck the concrete.

HOW TO AVOID DAMAGING CONCRETE WHEN PRESSURE WASHING?

 With proper technique, you can clean most brick and concrete surfaces fairly quickly. Aside from the regular nozzles used for pressure washers, it is best to use a Pressure Wash Surface Cleaner attachment in cleaning flat surfaces such as brick and concrete.      

 A pressure washer surface attachment gets cleaning jobs done up to 4X faster than the usual spray nozzles. The splash-free skirt keeps you dry while you clean and you won’t experience any streaking problems due to its ability to keep nozzles at a fixed height from the surface.  It’ even cleaning also helps avoid causing damage because it evens out the water pressure.

 Starting at one end of the hardscape, hold the tip about 12" from the surface and use an even and consistent sweeping motion. This will help prevent damage to the surface as well as minimize streaking Keep the spray at a slight angle to direct the cleaning across the surface of the brick or concrete and prevent the force from degrading the surface. As you move across the area, try to direct the run off to a pervious area .

  Cleaning large, flat surfaces such as brick and concrete doesn't have to take long! With a Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner, you can clean patios, walls, walkways, driveways and more quickly and easily!    

A telescopic wand is an essential pressure washer attachment that is essential in pressure washing large spray heights and distances. A telescopic spray wand is a more practical alternative to ladders and scaffoldings in most cases because it reduces the fall risk and makes the job easier.  

A pressure washer telescoping wand becomes a primary alternative for cleaning hard to reach areas, and ladders and scaffolding are only used once the major part of cleaning is completed, for final touches and inspection purposes. Thus, a ladder and scaffolding complement this pressure washer attachment in completing a very specific power washing job.  

 Another important aspect of a telescopic spray wand is that it provides a safer alternative in cases where the cleaning activity exposes us to certain risks. This is a better and safer alternative to ladders and scaffoldings as it gives us the opportunity to avoid going to places where we might expose ourselves to certain harmful elements.  

Notes and Precautions in using a Telescopic Wand

 The telescopic wands of power washers are essential in cleaning areas which are difficult to reach without the use of ladders or scaffoldings. This attachment is composed of sections that are attached together to reach specific heights for cleaning.

The setup of the telescoping wand is dependent on the rated pressure of the power washer and the size of the hose. Extension of length translates to a reduction in the pressure of the water. One setup maintains a higher PSI by incorporating fiberglass in the construction, however, the fiberglass and the added volume of water adds weight to the equipment.

A telescopic wand involves control of the unit while doing a task. The added weight means that you have to familiarize yourself with the proper handling of the equipment. This is particularly important when doing some cleaning jobs involving windows and other breakable materials.

One can actually use the force created by the spray against the surface to gain better control. However, you have to determine how close you have to get from the surface being cleaned as you might have difficulty maintaining control if you get too close.

Using a telescopic wand can make the cleaning job easier but it requires a lot of practice before one develops the skill required to handle and control this pressure washer attachment.  

Choosing the Best Telescopic Wand

 A good telescoping wand must be sturdy and made of strong material, but at the same time light enough for better handling and control.  

 It must also be able to fit most of the standard pressure washer trigger guns. An ideal telescoping wand must have flexibility and that it can be used for metal, brick, concrete walls and other types of surfaces. It must also be able to reach a height of about three stories and still maintain complete control of the entire assembly at all times.  

 The telescopic wand should be applicable for both domestic uses and industrial requirements. It should also allow the attachment of other accessories, like pressure washer brushes, duct cleaners and gutter cleaner extension.  

Telescopic Wand from Bestcargurus

 The telescopic spray wand from Bestcargurus extends the range of your pressure washer by up to 18 feet. Allowing you to reach those spots that you couldn’t reach before.  

 It comes with a harness belt providing better control and comfort during use, also lessening strain and weight on the one using the wand.  

 You can put different spray nozzles or cleaners on a spray wand like a gutter cleaner to give you more cleaning options.  

 It's compatible with most electric and gas powered pressure washers. It also comes with 5 different spray nozzles to give you more options for range.  

 You can easily connect it to most pressure washer hoses since it uses the standard ⅜ Quick Connector. Just plug, twist and spray away!  

 With its ergonomic harness belt and reliable spray wand, you can do professional-grade gutter cleaning on your own!