Last updated on December 30th, 2021 | By: Grady Galvez
Eventually, the surface of your patio and terrace becomes dusky and dull. This could be due to dusty weather, debris or other factors. To make your surroundings look clean and tidy, the use of a best electric pressure washer is a great option.
Pressure washers are widely used for cleaning the surface effectively. Since a lot of pressure is involved in the cleaning, you need to know some pressure washer tips and measurements which can ensure a safer working environment and operations. They run on gas and electricity, so minor carelessness could be dangerous when that high pressure is involved.
Let’s see how you can use the power washer safely and effectively.
Pressure Washer Safety Tips You Can’t Miss
As already discussed, high pressure is involved in cleaning while using a pressure washer. So it is important to follow some safety tips while using a heavy-duty most powerful electric power washer to ensure accident-free work.
This is because it can even damage the property or cause bodily inquiry if not used properly. It can pierce holes in the wall, disrobe paint of the car, or even break the windows.
So before beginning the actual procedure of using the pressure washer, understand how you can use it safely:
Read The Manual: It is important to read the manual first before using any machinery or tool. It will help you know how to use the machine, operate it, and other information including the customer services, parts of the machine and its troubleshooting tips. You should ensure the connections are tight. Make everything ready before you finally start cleaning stuff.
Use Protective Gear: Some people think that pressure washer equipment is not exactly the type of tool you should be wearing protective gear with, but they’re wrong. When you’re dealing with such great pressure, anything could strike your eyes, and body part without any warning.
So you should be wearing eye goggles and rubberized shoes. The shoes help in case of any electric shock, and eye goggles are necessary since you’re dealing with pressure.
Also, wear gloves and a full sleeve shirt, so that you can better deal with the grip of the pressure washer hose, and water can’t damage your skin, as it is realized with high pressure. Wear full pants so that no flying debris can hurt you. Cover all your body and then proceed.
Be Careful With Zero Degrees Nozzle: Zero degree nozzle gives the highest pressure and sprouts a very narrow stream of water which can cause grievous injury. And you will rarely need such a high pressure while doing any cleaning task.
Make Your Surroundings Ready: Get all the triggering dangers out of the way by covering the exterior things such as vents and lights and also close the windows. Place all the destructive things at a distance such as wires, furniture, plants, kids, and pets.
Hands-Off: Don’t forget to keep your hands and any other part safe by not getting into the way of water spray. Never spray water pressure at anyone else. Also, don’t let kids use a pressure washer.
Don’t Use Ladders: Don’t try to use ladders while using a pressure washer as it can generate a kickback force. Go for extension wands while cleaning higher areas to defend from a nasty fall. If you are unsure about the way to use a pressure washer, call a professional.
Some Useful Attachments
Surface Cleaner
Use a surface for flat and big surfaces such as sidewalks, patios, and driveways. You need to attach it directly to the spray gun. The spray bar of surface cleaner spins in a cyclic pattern. It glides with the pressure and doesn’t let dirty water end up where you don’t require.
Hose
Pressure washers rush a pump that compresses the water from the hose. It is used to transfer the water from its original supply to a pressure washer. Hose affects the pressure of water coming out of the pressure washer. View more
Wand
It helps to reach the higher or distanced areas such as the upper story of a house and you won’t need a ladder then. Read reviews
Brush
Scrub brushes usually have spinning bristles that help to remove rigid and sticky dirt from cars, roof corners, boats, and more. For a detailed buying guide visit here.
Breaking Down The Standard Procedure On How To Use A Power Washer
For effective cleaning, you should follow the given process to ensure maximum and accurate cleaning.
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Clear The Area: Before starting, you should ensure that nothing comes in the way of cleaning, or you would damage that item, and cause a delay in the work. So, remove the items and place them at a safer place. The cleaning area shouldn’t be having any item.
Begin with removing brittle and fragile items from the space you are going to clean. These things could be furniture, decor items, plants, and other accents.
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Choose The Right Spray Nozzles: It is really important to choose the right spray nozzles because depending upon the operation, a single nozzle can’t be used. For example, there are nozzles, like 65 and 25-degree spread, for cleaning larger areas.
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65 Degree Nozzle: This washer widespread the flow of the water, giving you a large area for cleaning. You can use this washer in driveways and where you need large water spread.
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25 Degree Nozzle: This nozzle has a comparatively smaller widespread area, and you can use it for stubborn dirt and cleaning. You can clean house and grim that can’t be taken away by the above nozzle. It is commonly used for home cleaning.
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0 Degree Blasting Nozzle: This nozzle throws water straight and at very high speed. You can wash your car bottom, and clean the dirty driveways if they’re not cleaning by the above nozzles. Basically, this nozzle is designed for all the hard-core cleaning works. Don’t forget to also check out our guide to the High Pressure Car Cleaning Tools>>>
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Consider Cleanser: Water could help to get rid of the usual dirt. But if there’s a mold or mildew, you would need to use pressure washer soap or detergent for better cleaning. You can ask for a power washer along with its compatible detergent that could be used for the cleansing process. Remember to wear protective eyewear before using any detergent with pressure water.
You can easily wash off the dirt from concrete and brick ways with the help of an alkaline concrete cleaner (Detergent). It really helps in cleaning the dirt effectively. Similarly, you can use car solutions that don’t harm paints to finish the jobs. These solutions attach themselves to the dirt molecules and give the best-cleaned surface without any effort.
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Attach The Garden Hose: Attach your garden hose to the water gateway and connect it with the power washer tightly. Then turn the water on. Ensure that the machine is getting the required GPM supply from the hose. Also, ensure that the hose is free of any chokes and plugs.
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Crank The Pressure Washer: After turning on the water, it would start flowing through the pressure water. Then insert the suitable nozzle tip with the wand after turning on the pump of the pressure washer.
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Test A Small Area: Firstly, test a small area to make sure about the intensity of pressure water. For testing, set the pressure with the least powerful nozzle. Spray and check if it’s not making any damage to the surface.
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Hold Nozzle And Spray: Once you are sure about the right pressure, hold the nozzle and spray it in the dirty area that you want to clean. Stand a few steps back from the space and spray. You can move a step forward to remove stubborn dirt.
To ensure a better cleaning, starting from the highest point down and keep a grid pattern.
Areas To Be Cleaned By A Pressure Washer
Pressure washers are not only used for cleaning house but it could be used for various cleaning purposes. You can use pressure washers for washing vehicles, clean wood decks, window washing, driveway or sidewalks, pool cleaning, chimney sweeping, drain or gutter cleaning, outdoor furniture, boats & mountain bikes, fencing, and more.
“Tips for cleaning different areas with the pressure washer“
Once you are aware of the basic process of cleaning, you can use the pressure washers for most effective cleansing purposes.
Let’s find out the How to Clean Cars, Decks, Vinyl Siding With Power Washer:
Brick And Concrete:
Concrete cleaning needs hard-core pressure and care, so there are things you should follow.
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Firstly, clear the concrete floor completely before using the pressure washer.
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Now attach the gardener hose and 25-degree nozzle to the cleaner and make sure it is ready to use.
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Turn it on and remove the delicate debris, dirt and other things with the nozzle, this will remove the soft-core dirt.
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If the stains are very stubborn, use a rotary nozzle, which does the job effectively by pressuring water in a circular motion.
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It is clean driveway now, for the final rinse, use the 25-degree nozzle and your concrete drive-away is clean.
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Clean concrete driveways once a year.
Vehicles:
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For better cleaning of cars or other vehicles, start by rinsing it with water.
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Then use detergents that are safe for car paints.
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For better results, loose the dirt by plain water, then fill it up by detergents to finally clean the dirt.
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Keep the surface wet at the time to avoid any marks.
Note: Don’t try to spray inside the engine.
Wooden Decks:
For cleansing the wooden decks, you’d need to prepare a detergent that is suitable for wood.
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Keep the want 45° degree angle, at a closer distance from you, and apply the detergent in parts.
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Use a nozzle of 15° to 25° for rinsing.
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For removing the dirt in a better way, move it with the wood grain.
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Don’t clean in direct sunlight. Let it dry for 2 days.
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Wooden decks are required to be clean once a year.
Vinyl Siding:
When you clean vinyl siding, this needs low pressure on a soap nozzle (if using detergent) or adjustable wand.
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Apply detergent from bottom-up to save dirt from running down to dry areas and avoid streaks too.
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Connect a nozzle with higher pressure usually 25° to 40°.
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Rinse the vinyl siding from the bottom up by holding it at 18 inches away.
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Avoid spraying at an upward angle to keep water flowing under the siding.
Note: Cover electric items, lights, doors, and windows with some plastic sheets to avoid any damage.
Using A Pressure Washer With A Water Tank
When you use a pressure washer with a water tank, utmost care is needed to avoid any damages which could be beyond repair.
Using it safely and efficiently is quintessential and can be done in few easy steps.
Cleaning gadgets such as pressure washers enable you to remove dirt or dust from the cars, sidewalks, driveways, house walls, and surfaces, etc.
For removing the stubborn stains and grime a force is applied. Cleaning becomes easy and possible to any extent if you own a complete set of pressure washers.
A good water tank certainly complements the pressure washer’s functioning. For optimal operation proper handling is important.
Ways of appropriate usage:
Step 1-Securing the Pressure Washer to the Water Tank
Firstly, read the manual instructions for the proper set-up of the pressure washer.
Ensure that your water tank is capable enough to deliver the required amount of water per min. which is defined for the pressure washer.
Step 2-Prepare the water tank
After connecting a threader to the water tank fitting, a Teflon tape should be used to secure an inline to the polyvinyl chloride- PVC.
Ball valve and barb connector should be connected properly. For avoiding any damages use pliers for a secure fit.
Step 3- Attach the hose to the tank
A barb connector should be used to connect the garden hose to the water tank. Clamp it securely for avoiding any sort of leakage.
Step 4- Connecting the hose to the pressure washer feed line
All garden hose connections should be tightened up for preventing entry of any air. Ensure that there is no debris from the pressure washer’s inlet filter.
For avoiding any kick back of the washer, ensure to set the spray wand to a low-or no pressure mode.
Step5: Turn it on
Turn on the water tank faucets completely. Squeeze the spray wand trigger to expel air from the washer pump.
Use different types of cleaning nozzles for varied cleaning purposes such as flushing, blasting, detergent spray nozzle etc. The right choice will leave you with bets cleaning results.
Step 6- Pressure Check
Troubleshooting of the pressure washer if enough pressure is not produced by it.
You should check the following:
- If the hose connections are tight
- Setting the spray wand to a low- or no-pressure mode
- Don’t forget to turn the tank’s water faucet
- Adjusting pressure setting of the spray
Ready, steady, and go… start the cleaning the way you want.
Avoid the following for safe cleaning outcomes:
- Avoid using them if you are working with ladders
- People or animals should not be pointed with it to prevent harm of any sort
- When working around any power line maintain adequate distance (at least 6 feet).
- Safety lock on the spray trigger should be used while changing nozzle tips
Pro tip: Maintenance Procedures should be followed to keep the entire pressure washer system in proper working order. For long-lasting and optimal performance store them indoors to prevent any damages.
Additional Pressure Washer Maintenance Tips
Pressure washers need maintenance just like any other mechanical tool on the earth. They are sensitive, but if you maintain them, you can expect heavy-duty work from them.
Have a sneak-peek at some of the important maintenance tips for pressure washer:
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A powerful pressure washer engine needs oil just like your car. Use pressure washer oils that are specially formulated for them.
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Storing them is a huge maintenance tip you need. The place they should be stored in must be dry and dark.
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Make sure that the piping has no water, clear it with pressurized cans. The gas tank should also be empty.
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Buy a longer cord so that you don’t have to move the pressure washer frequently by shutting and starting it up again.
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Lubrication is also required on the accessories, like nozzles, O-rings, and connectors. The pressure can wear them out.
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Know the safety ratings of the parts and accessories of the pressure washer. This will help in making the best out of your accessories.