| Its getting close to spring and your house and | | | | significantly higher, ranging from $2,000 to more |
| driveway looks dirty.Your siding and concrete | | | | than $10,000. |
| have a bright green tinge to them that didn't | | | | These have all the power you'd need to tackle |
| come with the house.... | | | | any job and will last a long time if cared for. |
| Like many, you've wondered whether to go to | | | | Now, lets tackle the second part of the question. |
| your local hardware store and buy your own | | | | Does the investment justify the purchase? |
| powerwasher. The question is, do home pressure | | | | Lets ask ourselves a few questions. |
| washers actually do the job and can they get the | | | | 1. What am I using a pressure washer for, and |
| parts of your home, driveway, and other | | | | how often will I use it? |
| concrete and asphalt clean enough to justify the | | | | If you are, like my neighbor, simply wanting a |
| purchase? | | | | small machine that will reduce his cost of car |
| Here's my unequivocal answer... Maybe yes and | | | | washes, then option #2 above is a good choice. |
| maybe no. | | | | You may also be able to do small jobs on your |
| I'm not a politician, so why the non-answer? Well, | | | | home, such as siding and rinsing off your wood or |
| it not only depends on the machine, but it | | | | concrete deck. |
| depends on your skills, and whether your | | | | Warning! Make sure you know what you are doing |
| investment justifies the cost. | | | | before attempting cleaning your siding or other |
| So lets start with the first part of the question: | | | | building envelopes. Accidentally forcing pressurized |
| Will pressure washing machines you can get locally | | | | water underneath your siding can cause mold and |
| do the job? The kind of machine and its ratings | | | | mildew, rotting your home from the inside out |
| help determine what they can and cannot do. | | | | and potentially causing health issues. |
| Types of Machines Available: | | | | 2. What would it cost to hire a professional to do |
| 1. The cute little electric zappo 1000 for a hundred | | | | that job? How long would it take me and what's |
| bucks or less. My advise is, unless you want to | | | | my time worth? |
| spend hours doing a job you could be done with in | | | | If you like the work and have the time, many |
| minutes, forget these little, wash with not much | | | | around the home jobs are do-able. Just be sure |
| more than hose pressure machines. Yes, they're | | | | you're going to actually do them. Check your local |
| electric and don't burn gasoline, but they're pretty | | | | buy-sell and see how many people have "nearly |
| much useless, even if all you want to do is wash | | | | new" and "never used" pressure washers for sale. |
| your car. | | | | One project I don't recommend, is deep cleaning |
| 2. 1200-1500 psi gas powered home machines, in | | | | your driveway. This is a very time consuming |
| the $200 + range, and designed for small jobs. | | | | process, requires a good, powerful machine and |
| These typically come equipped with a small | | | | the ability to not get bored easily! If you go too |
| assortment of nozzles, a 15 to 20 foot hose with | | | | fast, you will have the privilege of having the |
| couplers and sometimes, a soap injection setup. | | | | neighborhood's first zebra striped entrance or |
| These units usually have enough pressure to | | | | driveway. Old, dirty and mossy covered concrete |
| wash siding, and clean up a lot of home jobs, but | | | | and asphalt is something you should leave for the |
| are not really suitable for deep cleaning driveways | | | | professional pressure washing company. |
| or concrete pads. With the right chemicals and | | | | So, to answer the question, is it worth doing your |
| soaps, you can do a decent job of cleaning off | | | | own pressure washing around the home. It |
| your deck and siding. | | | | depends on what you want to do, how much |
| 3. So-called "commercial pressure washers". These | | | | time you have, your skill level and how much |
| are not true commercial grade and would not | | | | money you are able to spend versus the cost of |
| stand up to the daily use required in a commercial | | | | professional help. |
| powerwash business, but can handle larger jobs at | | | | Small jobs are ideal do it yourself projects, and |
| home,requiring more pressure and more volume. | | | | usually too small to hire out on a cost efficient |
| These range from say, 1800 to 3000 psi and are | | | | basis. But big jobs like driveways are probably not |
| accordingly more expensive. | | | | a good bet. If you do decide to buy your own |
| At the 3,000 psi end, they can be effective on | | | | machine, getthe best one you can afford. It will |
| driveways as well as siding and decks.At the low | | | | allow you to do a better, faster job and expand |
| end, these machines are more suitable for | | | | what you are able to do. |
| exteriors and vehicles. | | | | Hire the professionals for the bigger or the combo |
| 4. True commercial quality mchines. These | | | | jobs, like doing your driveway, sidewalks, deck |
| pressure washers usually require a gas or diesel | | | | and perhaps de mossing and algae removal from |
| motor capable of producing 11 to 16 horsepower | | | | walls and sheltered areas. The pros can get it |
| so they can drive the big, large volume and high | | | | done faster and better and most can either |
| pressure pumps. They are usually 3000 psi and | | | | supply or recommend materials to make cleaning |
| above and where, on a small machine, may | | | | lastlonger and eliminate the mold. |
| produce a gallon a minute of water at their rated | | | | Here's to spring and a great looking house and |
| pressure, the big ones, can push out 3 to 5 to | | | | driveway! |
| even 11 gallons a minute! And the price is | | | | |