Things You Should Never Pressure Wash

Shahbaz Ahmed Sunday, December 26, 2021 Content Leave a comment

Pressure washing, also known as power washing, is a cleaning method that involves using pressurized water to remove loose paint, mold, grime, chewing gum, and much more from concrete, vehicles, and buildings. Where it is a great way to make your home or other property look clean, not every material is safe for pressure washing.

Therefore, it is best to hire professional help such as Royal Wash company to get such tasks done. Expert pressure washing cleaners are better skilled at handling professional equipment. Moreover, they also know their way around the delicacies of each surface.

This article will give you a general idea of which surfaces you should not pressure clean.

Stained Wood

Stained or polished wood should never be washed with pressure. The reason is pretty obvious:

Wood is naturally hydrophobic.
Wood polish is at risk of fading due to the heat.
The polish can come off due to high pressure.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingle is a type of wall and roof shingle used for waterproofing. It would be best if you did not pressure wash asphalt shingle because:

The pressure can knock off asphalt shingles from your roof. Thus, you’ll end up doing more harm than good.
The pressure of the water can damage asphalt shingles, which may compromise its waterproofing ability.

On the other hand, a professional has the required skills to effectively clean your roof without causing any damage whatsoever.

AC Unit

You can clean your AC unit with a number of things, but a pressure washer should never be on the list. Here’s why you should never pressure wash your AC unit:

The water pressure can damage or destroy its metal fins, negatively affecting the AC’s airflow.
There is a high chance water will seep into your AC unit. Hence, messing up the entire electric setup or circuit.
The water may damage your AC’s coils. This can end up triggering an entire system breakdown.

ACs are expensive appliances. However, they are even expensive to maintain. Therefore, it is better to prevent any fault from occurring. Because once it does occur, you’ll spend the rest of your time getting it fixed.

Windows

There is an exception for this surface, as you can pressure wash windows. But you have to be very careful with the procedure. If the pressure is too much, there is a good chance your window will break. Flying glass can cause serious harm to surrounding people or being.

However, you can take two measures to make sure that your glass is safe:

Make sure the pressure is not too high and in accordance with the glass’s thickness.
Use the pressure washer at a 45-degree angle to lessen blunt force trauma.

Living beings

In case you have not figured it out yet, you can not pressure wash living beings, i.e., pets, humans, and plants. It may seem tempting to use your car cleaner on your washing partner. But doing so can cause serious injury to the victim. Pressure cleaners can:

Penetrate skin on contact and cause nerve damage.
The pressure of water can seriously injure the eyes. In a worst-case scenario, the victim may lose their eyesight due to retinal damage.

Moreover, you are liable for any PSI injuries. This means that you can be sued in court for any damage to the plaintiff.

Conclusion

Pressure washing is a quick way to get rid of a lot of stubborn grime and dirt. However, it can be hazardous if not used properly, like everything else. This article narrates some surfaces that are particularly vulnerable to pressure washing.