It’s spring cleaning season, which means it’s also time to evaluate your home’s exterior and decide if it needs a power wash. Pressure washing can improve a home’s appearance, extend its lifespan and help you create a healthier living environment. Here are five telltale signs your house needs pressure washing:
Dirty Siding
First, check the siding. This is often the most obvious sign that your house needs pressure washing. Most people know when their home looks dirty from the street—but a house can look clean and still have mold, mildew, dirt, or other buildups on its siding. You’re probably thinking “So what? It’s just dirt.”
Well-maintained siding acts as a barrier that protects your home from water damage and helps preserve its resale value. But when algae and other contaminants are allowed to build up, these pesky substances can cause dripping water to erode the siding—and even seep inside the cracks between walls and windows, which can lead to wood rot or infestation by all kinds of unwanted guests like termites, bees, wasps, spiders…you get the idea! If any of these problems go unchecked they can cause costly damage over time. So while you may not notice much outward change in your home’s appearance at first glance (aside from it looking dingy), regular pressure washing will help prevent costly repairs down the road.
Persistent Mold or Mildew
Mold and mildew are not good for your home. They’re not good for you, either! If allowed to grow unabated, mold can cause allergies and other health problems. If you want a clean home, power washing will generally be able to remove it.
The better news? Moldings can be prevented! Here’s what you can do: Keep surfaces dry. This is the best way to prevent mold growth. Don’t let damp towels pile up on the bathroom floor—that’s an invitation for mildew growth!
Keep surfaces clean. Regularly wash any cloth or fabric in your home with warm water and detergent; if possible, air-dry them afterward rather than machine drying them, as this will help remove any lingering moisture from them. You can also keep your bathroom clean by using disinfecting wipes on counters after every shower or bathtub use, they’ll help kill bacteria before it has a chance to flourish into anything like black spots of mildew seeping into grout lines between tile floors or tub walls where excess water collects during showers.
Pollen Buildup
If you or a loved one suffers from allergies, pollen buildup outside your home could be aggravating their hay fever. A high-pressure jet of water can blast away the allergens and make way for healthier air quality. The go-to setting for this job is around 1,300 PSI (pounds per square inch). This low pressure will get the job done without damaging your siding.
Dirty Driveways
If you notice areas of dirt and grime building up on your driveway, it’s a sign that your house is due for pressure washing. By cleaning the driveway, a pressure washing service can make your house look new again. Pressure washing also eliminates the need for you to use harmful chemicals to kill weeds and other plants on your driveway. Last but not least, pressure washing can extend the life of your driveway by removing any substances that could lead to cracks or breaks.
Dingy Decks
Decks are a great place to relax and entertain, but they can get dirty over time. Pressure washing is an efficient way to clean them—and it’s important to do so because decks can become slippery when they’re dirty, which could pose a safety risk. The type of deck you have will determine what pressure and nozzle setting you’ll need. Wood needs to be pressure washed with a wide fan tip at low pressure. Anything higher than 1,000 PSI could damage the wood. Plastic or composite materials can withstand higher pressures, up to 3,500 PSI depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. A 15-degree nozzle works well for cleaning these surfaces.