Your Guide to Pressure Washing in the Winter
As the song goes, the weather outside is frightful. So, you might wonder, is winter a good idea to power wash a house and deck?
Pressure washing in the winter might seem unusual considering the kinds of outdoor conditions that might be present. Not all winter days involve snow and freezing rain, though.
If you’re careful and follow these seven tips, you can still get ready for winter and get home pressure washing completed. Read on to learn more about these pressure-washing tips.
1. Consider Water Temperature
Whether you’re power washing a home or outside feature in the winter, you’ll need to adjust the water temperature.
It makes sense that if you power wash in the winter with cold water, it will just freeze on the surface.
The key adjustment for winter power washing is to adjust the water temperature to warm or hot water. To do this, you will need to use a pressure washer that can handle the work with hot water.
2. Wait for Sunshine
When is it too cold to pressure wash? That depends on many factors, including the amount of sunshine in your pressure washing area.
If you’re going to pressure wash a home in the winter, then make every effort to do it when there’s sunshine.
Even if the sun doesn’t feel like it would keep you warm, the sun on the water helps to speed up the drying process so ice doesn’t form.
3. Be Sure to De-Ice
When you have pressure washing done in the winter, you need to consider where the water will go once it hits the surface.
In warm weather, the ground quickly soaks up the water. If the ground is frozen, the water will run.
You want to be sure to hire a professional who will also de-ice all surfaces so you don’t end up with a driveway and sidewalk covered in a layer of dangerous ice.
4. Protect Equipment
One important thing for the person who is doing the pressure washing to remember is to protect the equipment.
The pressure washer needs to stay in a warm and dry location. If it gets too cold, the water in the equipment could freeze, causing significant damage to it.
5. Protect Yourself from the Conditions
Not only do you need to protect the equipment, but you also need to protect yourself while pressure washing.
Hypothermia can happen quickly in sub-zero temperatures, especially around the water.
Dress in layers and have a waterproof outer layer. Make sure your hands and face are covered, too.
6. Use Indoor Fittings
Most outdoor fittings are drained in the wintertime, so pipes don’t freeze. You’ll want to connect to indoor fittings for a water source to avoid causing a burst pipe outside.
7. Know Your Chemicals
If your job needs any form of chemicals as part of the cleaning, then they need to know how the chemicals will react to the colder temperatures.
It may be necessary to use more of chemicals to have them work effectively. You should also read the manufacturer’s information to know whether the chemical is cold-weather safe.
Tips for Pressure Washing in the Winter
Power washing in the winter doesn’t need to stop just because the season changes. You can still get the job done with careful planning and the right professionals.
If you’re looking for an expert who can assist you with your pressure washing in winter, we can help. Contact Optimal Power Washing today to get a free estimate and to discuss your pressure washing needs.
