How Often Should You Pressure Wash Your Home?
Pressure washing is a quick fix after your house starts looking drab and dated. Within just a couple of hours, your house can be returned to its beautiful appearance by nothing more than high pressure water.
You can rent power washing equipment at many home improvement stores, or you can hire a Naperville pressure washing service. It can be a little more costly upfront, but you won’t have to deal with bringing back rented equipment or run the risk of damaging your house because of lack of training or experience.
However, power washing can damage your home just as fast as it can beautify it. The pressurized water is powerful enough to break windows, damage siding and destroy shingles. Therefore, you really have to be careful about how often you power wash your house and who you hire to do it.
Is it Time to Pressure Wash Your Home?
The question of how often to pressure wash your home is one that depends heavily on where your house is and weather factors based on that location.
Most professionals recommend having your house pressure washed once a year or, at least every 2 years.
Any pressure washing technician that tells you that more frequent cleanings are needed is just trying to squeeze more money out of you. However, it’s your home, and if you love the way it looks shortly after a cleaning, you can power wash your house multiple times a year.
By simply touching the wood or siding of your house, you will be able to tell if it’s time for a cleaning. The presence of dirt, mud and grime can stain your house permanently if it isn’t washed off periodically, so you could have to deviate from a set schedule if you notice excess buildup between cleanings.
Power washing can be harmful, but not doing it enough will leave your house looking lackluster far more than it should. It’s important to note that building materials, particularly vinyl siding, are very resistant to stains, mold and mildew. These types of materials help to protect your house between power washings.
Why Pressure Washing is the Preferred Method
Pressure washing is safer than scrubbing the exterior of your house because you don’t have to climb a ladder with a brush and a bucket while dragging a garden hose. Power washing can be accomplished from the ground in almost all residential situations.
Mold and mildew are organic organisms that can eat away at home exterior surfaces and make their way into your house. They are not very easy to get rid of, yet it is extremely easy for them to grow into colonies on your home, particularly on the north side of a home where it usually doesn’t get much direct sunlight or wind as other sides of your house.
Plus, power washing removes more dirt and grime than manual hand scrubbing.
Factors that Affect Your Home’s Exterior
All of the below factors can negatively impact the appearance. All are factors that have to be considered before you decide to call a local pressure washer or think about doing the job on your own.
CLIMATE
Factors like humidity and weather can create a perfect environment for mold and mildew. If your home is in an area that is rainy, you might also have wind and rain splashing mud on the exterior of your house.
ENVIRONMENT
Pollen, pollution and mold can be more of a problem in some areas than in others. Having a home in a rural area or near an unpaved road will factor into what types of environmental factors affect your house more.
HOME CONDITION
If you do decide to have your house pressure washed, it could be a smart idea to have damaged siding repaired so the high water pressure doesn’t do more damage. Power washing can also worsen a peeling paint issue.
EXTERIOR FINISH
The methods used for pressure washing are unique to your home’s exterior (brick, siding or wood) and the section of the home. For example, for roof cleaning, a pressure washing company will use soft washing opposed to power washing to protect the shingles. And, the expected results can vary widely.
When to Pressure Wash Your Home
Choosing the correct time to have your house pressure washed is just as important as choosing how often the service has to be completed. There are times throughout the year when power washing would be an ultimate waste of time and money. Other times, however, a professional pressure washing could help you in more ways than just appearance.
WEATHER
Do not waste your money on professional power washing during a rainy time of year. You’ll just end up with muddy splatter and mildew at the end of the season regardless. Winter, as an example, isn’t the best time. Pressure washing is most impactful near the end of a season, whether it’s spring, summer, fall or winter.
BEFORE/AFTER HOME PROJECTS
Don’t have your house pressure washed while you are having other projects done on your house. Rock, brick or siding could not be sealed into place during a renovation or repair like it would normally be, so you run the risk of damaging the area, prolonging the other project and trapping water under building materials.
BEFORE SELLING
Pressure washing is a great way to increase your home’s curb appeal. It’s the easiest answer for all your home’s exterior surfaces, including sidewalks, porches, driveways, patio furniture and wood and composite decks.
SUNNY DAYS
Choose a sunny day, but not one that is very hot. This is the best condition for the surfaces to dry fast without baking cleaning products onto your home’s surfaces.
If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, there could be rules about how often you have your house power washed or if you can do it on your own or if you have to hire a professional. You might only be under HOA rules concerning how your house appears, but it’s really up to you to have it looking good.
Power washing is one of the quickest and most effective methods to clean your entire home. As long as it’s done the right way, it is safe for most home surfaces and can remove months of built up dirt and stains.