Pressure washing is often the most common strategy for removing dirt and gunk from the exterior of your home. The pressure of the water is very effective towards dirt build up and can even get into the areas of your home that are often difficult to clean, such as deep crevasses and other small spaces. However, those “benefits” provided by pressure washing are often the cause of long-lasting damage to a home. These lesser-known disadvantages have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars to homes across the country. Therefore, we’ve compiled the Top Five reasons why pressure washing is damaging your home.
#5 It’s An Excellent Way To Grow Mold
We recently spoke about the “advantages” of pressure washing being able to reach small spaces in order to remove dirt. However, it is this that often plants the seeds of mold within a home’s walls. The reason for this is because when painters are prepping to either re-touch a home or entirely re-paint it, they will often pressure wash the exterior. Once finished, the house will look dry, but in reality, much of the water is now stuck in between the exterior walls without enough to make it evaporate. The walls are then re-painted and essentially trapping the water within the wall, which can lead to the growth of mold.
#4 Distance Can Damage A home
Most pressure washers often have a pressure rate of 1500 psi, though this is not strong enough to damage a wall, the fact is that this is only true if used within the recommended distance. This means if you stand a little too close, then, there is a strong probability that you will damage the exterior of your home. Anyone who owns a wood-frame home should be cautious and look for gentler cleaning solutions.
#3 The Dangers of Spreading Lead Paint
It is well known by now that lead paint has been deemed to be very hazardous to a person’s health. Therefore, many homeowners are opting into using high-pressure washers to remove the lead from their home. Although this might seem like a good idea, the fact is that the pressure of the water will no doubt break the lead into little pieces and distribute them across your yard. This can be potentially dangerous if you own pets as the lead paint will no doubt settle itself into the soil.
#2 Water Damage In Your Attic
Pressure washing your roof is often not the best idea. Why? Shouldn’t a home’s roof be able to withstand water? The fact of the matter is that although a home’s roof can withstand heavy rain, it is not built to withstand high-pressure water shooting directly at it. Doing this will allow water to run into the inside your home and into the attic in which it may see its way into your ceiling and down towards your hardwood floor or carpet.
#1 Damaging Your Windows
Although it is widely known not to point any pressure washer towards your windows, breaking them is not the only way that they could be damaged. Damage to a window comes from homeowners wanting to attempt to get every inch of their home clean. This often means pressure washing very close to a window that may not break it but could damage a window’s seal. The deterioration of the seal can cause damages such as rotting and the eventual need to replace the whole frame.
Pressure washing is incredibly effective and can be very useful as a means to quickly clean the exterior of your home. However, doing it incorrectly can significantly damage your home costing you thousands of dollars. Our recommendation is always to hire a professional to oversee the work in a safe yet effective manner.
