Guarantee and liability insurance

A good house washing company will give you a guarantee cover. That is, if you unsatisfied with the service or find some remnants of grime and algae, then you are entitled to demand a pressure wash again for the premises. This is one of the main traits of a contractor who is confident about his work. Confident contractors also offer liability covers. If in the process of using high pressure jets of water, any damage is caused to the property, they will reimburse the repair cost. No contractor will take a risk on his profits unless he has good reason to do so. So, in your search for a good cleaning service, look out for guarantees.

Request to investigate the cleaning premises

The right price for a cleaning work and the kind of equipments and materials required can be fixed only after a thorough investigation of the premises that is to be cleaned. The amount of dirt, grime and algae, among others, decide the pressure of water, chemicals and disinfectants that are to be employed. When you talk to the contractor, see if he would like to visit the place before starting work. Ultimately, it is not the contractor, but his workers who will do the actual cleaning. So, a good contractor will not pinch pennies in training his staff. The worker’s knowledge should be upgraded regularly. The workers of a good pressure washing contractor are very professional and hard working.

Comprehensiveness of the service

A good contractor will give you a comprehensive service. He will look into each and every aspect of the premises. The bathrooms and toilets need more attention. If your roof is tiled, then there will be a lot of dirt deposited in the gaps of the tiles that should be cleaned. Drive-thrus, garages and patios are to be included in the cleaning service. Since cooking is done in the kitchen, there is sure to be a lot of oiliness or grease on the kitchen surfaces. If you have a chimney or a fireplace, then they need special cleaning. When you choose a contractor, check if he is covering all these things. His service should be all-inclusive.

It will help if you can get reviews about the pressure washing service. You can check the internet or local newspapers, who publish such reviews. You hire a cleaning service so that you can be hassle free, save time and money. So, go through the character of the house washing service before choosing one.

Pressure washing units can either be purchased or rented. However, in both cases, you have to read the instructions manual clearly to determine the mode of operations. These are referred to as standard operating procedures associated with the usage of power washers. When wrongly handled, they could turn disastrous and cause adequate damage to property and / or person. Some of the critical parameters are covered in the latter half of this article.

Safety procedures to follow while handling pressure washing machines

The output of water from a power washer is at least 50 times higher than that of a garden hose. It makes use of either a gasoline powered or an electric motor for the purpose of conversion into very high pressures. Cleaning becomes effective and the higher the power of the equipment, the greater should be the care you need to take. Goggles and ear plugs are complete essentials while using the equipment. While cleaning higher surfaces, you might use a scaffold platform or ladder. This could prove dangerous especially if you are a first timer simply because you could be unaware of the force that the equipment is likely to exert. It could throw you off guard.

Most equipments have locks on the gun’s handle. Secure the lock before you change the tip. Do not point gun on pets or people. It is important to turn on water before you turn the machine on. Otherwise, it can cause sufficient damage to the machine. Be careful while working around electrical outlets and power lines.

Power washing and general surface cleaning

Never use pressure cleaners to power wash an entire building. Scraping dirty areas, steam cleaning and spot cleaning are safer and preferred to washing the complete structure.

Any solid substance should be removed from the area prior to cleaning. Use a filter bag to remove all solids that are suspended from the wash water.

In the absence of detergents and chemicals while cleaning, you could possibly direct the wash water to a nearby vegetated area. Wash water must be disposed appropriately not to create erosion of any kind.

Wash waters discharged from pressure washers should not be diverted to state waters through any medium and this is not an authorized act.

Assembly of parts must be done only after strictly following the instructions available in the manual. Tips come in five different types. Each of them responsible for different cleaning operations. Read through the manual carefully before assembling the machine.

Instructions on the procedure of usage on various surfaces must be determined before you make use of pressure washing equipment. Make sure to adhere to these before you handle your cleaning task.

High pressure cleaning is required at homes as well as the roads, driveways, garages and various commercial set ups. Cleaning with the help of this mechanism makes the premises spotlessly clean and can therefore have positive effects on your image. To educate ourselves a little more on the subject of these pressure cleaners, we need to know about the various categories which they can be classified into. Below is a list of pressure washing units available?

Classification on the basis of fuel: If we consider the difference in fuels as a means of classification, then we can have three broad divisions of high pressure cleaning namely: 1) Electric pressure washers, 2) Gas powered cold water pressure washer and 3) Gas powered hot water pressure washer.

In the first case, the electric pressure washing units are used mainly for domestic cleaning of the walls and the driveways. They require less power which is close to that of 2000 psi. They are affordable and cost mush less than the other two kinds of washers. Gas powered cold pressure water cleaners on the other hand can be used for domestic cleaning as well as in industrial organizations like shipyards. As far as the gas powered hot water pressure washer I concerned, it is used for the removal of stubborn and sticky oil stains which just refuse to depart under normal circumstances. This is the most expensive of the three due to its strength and efficiency.

Classification on the basis of the pumps: In this segment there are two types of pumps, namely: 1) Direct drive pressure washer pump and 2) Belt driven pressure washer pump.

A direct drive pressure washer pump is very compact due to the fact that it is built within the units as a part of the components. The price is not much and hence can be considered to be very pocket friendly. The only negative characteristic of this kind of high pressure cleaning machine is that it gets heated too soon and vibrates a lot. Too much of the heat and vibration can lead to the wear and tear of the equipment and thereby damage the engine. Its life span is less than the belt driven high pressure washer pump.

The belt driven pressure washer pump runs on a more complicated mechanism. The pump here is located away from the motor of the belt. It produces fewer amounts of heat and vibration as compared to the direct drive pressure washer pump and also has a better life lifespan.

The information provided above will hopefully enable you to decide wisely on the kind of pressure washer you need.

Pressure cleaning units release water at high pressure to remove substances ranging from dirt to grease off various surfaces. Pressure washing can be used with different pressure levels for removing different deposits. For removing grease a washer with a high pressure level has to be used as grease adheres to the surface and is difficult to get rid off. To make the task even easier a hot water pressure washer should be used. But if the grease deposit is really very tough then you should go for a steam pressure washer.

Methods of Pressure Cleaning Grease

1. Degreasing with a Steam Pressure Cleaner: This is a very simple process. The combined power of steam and high pressure created by the machine is enough to remove most grease deposits. To get the maximum benefits out of a steam pressure washer the nozzle should be held as close to the surface as possible. Steam pressure cleaners are generally used in industrial and commercial establishments.

2. Degreasing with Hot Water Cleaner: For domestic use a hot water pressure cleaning unit is ideal for removing grease. A hot water cleaner can be used in the following ways:

o    Pour a bottle of coke, baking soda, detergent or a degreaser like Benzene on the grease spot and leave it overnight. The next morning, wash off the area with hot water released at high pressure. This should remove the grease.

o   For very tough grease marks you can use muriatic acid. This is a very strong chemical, so be very careful while using it. Put on proper protective clothing and follow the instructions diligently. Pour the acid on the spot, leave it for some time so that it soaks in and wash it off thoroughly. For this use hot water at very high pressure. This is one of the more effective ways of pressure cleaning grease.

3. Pressure Washing with Green Chemicals: Cold water is normally not used to remove grease. This is because cold water stiffens the grease and it becomes very hard to remove it even with water at very high pressure. But by using green chemicals you can remove grease spots even with cold water. The chemical should be put into the pressure washing unit to form a solution with the water and the spot washed with either cold or hot water at very high pressure. The green chemical solution penetrates into the grease and changes the structure of the molecules in such a way that the altered molecules repel each other and the sticky quality of grease gets eliminated. These chemicals make pressure cleaning very easy and increase the efficiency of pressure cleaners. Moreover, this process is economical and is an environment friendly way to remove stubborn grease stains.

Pressure cleaning is by far the best way to keep your entire household clean and is especially effective in removing tough oil and grease stains.

Equipment and preparation

The only equipment required for pressure washing your vinyl sidings is a power cleaner with the proper grading. This you can either buy from a reputed dealer or better still you can hire one from the many companies that lend these cleaners. Once you have obtained the machine go to a home improvement store and get a detergent and also chemicals if necessary for your pressure cleaning. The next step would be to remove all potted plants and cover up those that you cannot remove in the vicinity of the sidings. Ensure that all electric bulbs and shades are also removed and fixtures that cannot be removed are properly covered.

Precautions

Almost all pressure washers have hot water generating facilities. For pressure washing vinyl sidings you should be very careful to keep the temperature below 120°F. If the water released by the machine gets too hot it will buckle and warp the vinyl sidings and you will be in real trouble. So be very careful to keep the temperature in check. Maintaining proper pressure is also very important in pressure cleaning vinyl sidings. To check the pressure, direct the nozzle at a spot on your wall and adjust the pressure so that it is enough to clean the sidings and does not warp or break them. Start at a very low pressure and gradually increase it to the required level. Keep a watch out to see that water is not trapped between the siding boards by spraying it very evenly.

Washing

Fix the proper nozzle and set the water pressure on the power washer to minimum. Wet the sidings you are preparing to clean. Take a hard brush and scrub the excessively dirty areas. Next, put the detergent and chemicals into the dispenser in the cleaner and begin the actual process of pressure cleaning. Set the pressure at the required level and start washing away all the dirt and grime for the sidings. Stand a few feet away from the sidings when you use the power cleaner. Ensure that the entire area is washed evenly. To get rid of debris that might have collected between the siding boards, increase the water pressure slightly and concentrate the spray on the required area. Finally, shut out the detergent dispenser, set the pressure at a very low level and rinse the entire area thoroughly. Make sure that there is no detergent or chemical residue on the sidings.

In case you are planning on giving the vinyl sidings a fresh coat of paint, follow the above steps and after you complete pressure cleaning leave the sidings uncovered for some time before you start painting.

Buying a pressure cleaner

When you want to clean your home on your own, your first step would be to purchase a pressure cleaning device. You have to check on their insurance proof so that you do not have the shoulder the liabilities of damages which can be caused to your property as well as injuries which might befall upon you.

Before buying a product it is very important to get some customer reviews so that you can be sure of the reliability of the product in question. The internet can provide you with such customer reviews but you need to also find out their sources. Reviews from reliable sources can be obviously counted upon.

The handling of the pressure washing machines needs a lot of attention as well as precaution. Highly pressurized water is used to clean up the dirt and grime from the objects. For this what you need to keep in mind is that the water supply needs to be adequate at the source so that the pump can draw enough water to create that pressure near the nozzle. The water pressure is powerful enough to strip flesh from the bones. Therefore extreme care needs to be taken so that there are no accidents.

There are some machines which are operated with the help of gas. There are specific instructions which need to be followed in terms of the fuel mixing. If the mixture of oil and gas goes wrong somewhere, it could result in the damage of the engine altogether.

Hiring a Pressure Cleaning Sydney contractor

The most advantageous feature of hiring a pressure washing contractor is that you wash your hands of all the headache relate to the machine as well as the cleaning. The contractor is a professional who is experienced and commands a certain amount of skill at what he does. He handles the machine with care and will make sure that your home, car or paver is spotlessly clean. The contractor will know the exact mixtures of oil and gas required for the performance of the machine. You will be totally at peace when the contractor takes over because he knows his job well and can abide by the safety measures so that damage to your property as well as accidents can be averted.

Hiring the services of a contractor is definitely a wise decision. This way you can enjoy the results without having to worry about the various complications which might be associated with the procedure.

High powered cleaners

The conventional garden hose at best has pressure to the range of 40 pounds per square inch or in short, psi. The pressure cleaners come with hoses fitted with nozzle that gushes out water up to 800 psi to even 3500 psi to be used in cleaning from surfaces various kinds of foreign bodies including oil and grease. Thus any permanent stain or grease could be easily removed by merely blasting water in high velocity on the surface to be cleaned.

Basic safety tips

The harmless looking pressure cleaners however are not so tame, as they cause severe damages to property and person if used carelessly. In the pressure washing manual the safety precautions are given in bold red letters precisely for this reason. Since the water gushes out at great speed much like a bullet from a gun, the manuals request you to always hold the spray pointing downwards, to avoid unnecessary injuries. The manuals also exhort you to use protective gears like gloves and face masks before resorting to cleaning with the pressure sprays.

Safeguarding kids and pets

The ease of use of the pressure washing unit and easy availability of low-end models in capacities ranging about 800 psi has resulted in many households using it for cleaning the garage and the roofs. They are cautioned to keep away from the site of cleaning children and pets in order to avoid accidental injuries to them. This is to avoid the possibilities of injuries caused by the splinters from the weak surfaces of cleaning.

Chemical burns

The solvent used in the pressure cleaners are in majority of cases are plain water or hot water in case you wish to clear dense oily or grease stains from the floors. But in few cases mild chemicals are also used to clean the roof-tops to hasten the process of cleaning. But here again you should be very careful in not getting hurt by the chemicals splashing on your eyes and skin from the surface area as the result of the chemicals ejecting out of the nozzle at high speeds.

Electric and fire accidents

The pressure washers are offered in models that are operated by gas and electricity. Again in either case, adequate precaution has to be taken to avoid electric shocks and fire accidents by improper and careless handling of the device.

Hence as perils of carelessly handling the pressure cleaners even for the start-up models of lower capacities are significantly high, it is suggested that you do not handle the other superior versions and leave the task to trained men from the pressure cleaning services. This way you could ensure that you do not injure the eyes or any other parts of the body.

Three basic methods can be used for concrete cleaning — water washing, pressure washing and steam cleaning.

Water washing: Water washing simply implies to flushing dirt from the concrete surface by using bucket or garden hose. In this method—since the water pressure would not be high enough to perform a thorough cleaning—you might be required to scrub the surface with stiff-bristled brush or broom to loosen stubborn deposits. This method is time consuming and is not advisable for cleaning a large area.

Pressure washing: Pressure washing is the most popular among the three because of its time efficiency and thoroughness. Most professionals prefer this method because of its reliability. In this method electric or petrol driven pumps are used to increase the water pressure high enough to force-break the bond between dirt and concrete. With this method there is no need for scrubbing by brush and, therefore, saves time and energy. One man using pressure washing method can do the job of five men with the other two methods. The equipments come with water pressure of about 1000kPa for domestic models and about 1400kPa to 1800kPa for larger commercial models. It also comes with fan nozzles which allow you to adjust the width of contact to your preference and thereby allowing a thorough, best possible concrete cleaning job.

Steam cleaning: Steam cleaning is the third method of cleaning concrete. This method use high temperature steam to melt stubborn substances like chewing gum and grease. It is efficient in cleaning sticky substances but the process is painfully slow and, therefore, most professionals do not subscribe to this method.

With all the above three methods you will also be required to use certain chemicals and detergents. Initially, you can try using household detergents and soaps. If the dirt is too thick for household detergents you can go for specific chemicals that are available in the market for concrete cleaning. These chemicals are highly alkaline solutions, some are sodium-based and some are acidic. Use caution while applying chemicals because some of the chemicals (diluted hydrochloric acid, chlorine bleach, etc.) can be hazardous to your health. If there is colored design on the concrete use caution while applying acidic chemicals because acid can burn the color and disfigure the design.

If you want a sparkling clean driveway it is advisable that you hire professional cleaners. It will not cost you a fortune if you hire pressure cleaning companies because pressure cleaning takes less time and labor when compared with steam cleaning or water washing. The job is fast and efficient. Another reason for hiring a professional is that you might not know the step-one about using the various chemicals and you might end up harming yourself and your property.

A sparkling-clean driveway would surely add grandeur to your house. So, promise yourself to keep your driveway and sidewalk clean (now that you have learned a lot about concrete cleaning), and prepare yourself for the extra flow of visitors.

Now what is high pressure cleaning? By high pressure cleaning we refer to the combined use of water and pressure to clean exterior surfaces. Water is released at very high pressure to literally blast off dirt and debris embedded on the buildings and other surfaces. You can use this type of cleaning method for brick cleaning, patio cleaning, driveway cleaning and garage cleaning. Cleaning pavers, sidewalks, walkways, decks, fences, boundary walls, and vehicles is all made possible and easy with pressure washing. Brick, concrete, sandstone, wood, tiles – all these materials can be cleaned easily and magnificently with the pressure cleaning method.

You will find several pressure cleaning machines available in the market, ranging from domestic to commercial and having different pressure measurements. Pressure is measured in pounds per square inch or psi in short. You can also find a whole range of accessories to compliment your machine.

Some general cleaning tips include:

- Before you decide to call in the pressure cleaning professionals, you need to check the water restrictions of your area. In some states pressure washing is considered illegal!

- Make sure that the property is cleaned with a long handled broom, to sweep away any loose stones, dead twigs, etc. These objects can become airborne with the force of the water and strike a person causing bodily injury.

- Always make sure to repair any broken window panes and fix loose boards. You wouldn’t want the additional expense of water damaged furniture and fittings.

- You need to clear the area of all electrical wires and connections to avoid short circuits and electrical shocks.

- Clear all your furniture and accessories from each room, moving them to the far side. Cover with plastic sheets for additional protection.

- Holding the pressure washer too close to the surface can peel off the paint, a safe distance should be maintained at all times.
- The use of chemicals speeds up the pressure cleaning process and removes stains instantly. When using detergents or other cleaning agents make sure they are of the biodegradable kind and environmentally friendly as well.

- Using excessive pressure is not always necessarily the best method of pressure cleaning nor is it the quickest. Excessive force only serves to damage surfaces. Pressure of 2500 psi is more than sufficient to clean most surfaces.

Pressure cleaning can also be used for cleaning gutters. No more climbing on the ladders and hanging precariously onto the gutter edges while trying to clean it with one hand!

Thus, these are some of the main tips to be considered when using the pressure cleaning method to spruce up your home.