Before using Orange County Power Washing services, it is essential to know certain safety precautions that must be observed. Wearing work gloves and masks is one of the best safety practices to avoid contacting the spray itself. Masks should also be worn to prevent exposure to the concentrated chemicals contained in the power washing stream. These chemicals can temporarily irritate the eyes and skin and cause headaches in some individuals. Therefore, proper ventilation is a must when pressure washers are being used.
The primary difference between hot water and cold pressure is that cold pressure is often more affordable than hot pressure. The primary difference between hot and cold is that cold typically provides a quicker drying time. However, the primary difference between hot and cold is that cold often provides a better surface finish. Power washing applications using hot water may cause splashes and damage to cement and vinyl flooring if the heated water is accidentally poured on these surfaces.
Pressure washers are commonly rented on a month-to-month basis. Power washed surfaces that receive an average of five to seven gallons of water per load can easily be cleaned with a single gallon of heated water. For surfaces that are more heavily contaminated with dirt or grime, it may be necessary to use two or three gallons of heated water to effectively clean them. In this situation, power washing machinery is not needed.
Another benefit of using hot water for power washing applications is that it helps to loosen dirt and grime from the surface being worked on. Dirt and grime can easily become trapped in the tiny gaps between the pad and the surface, and it is these tiny gaps that attract and trap dust and other contaminants. When a pressure washer is used to power wash the surfaces, the vacuum helps to dislodge the dirt and grime from between the pad and the surface, reducing the amount of time that the contaminants remain on the surface.
One of the most common problems associated with power washing operations is the presence of mildew and mold. Mildew, which is a natural product of moisture in the air, can easily become trapped in the tiny gaps between the pad and the concrete or wood surface, which allows it to become trapped within the walls of these spaces, creating a damp environment that attracts mold spores and other organisms. Hot water can help to kill any existing mold or mildew, while also killing any new mold or mildew that may develop on the surface of the walls or other surfaces after the pressure washing has been completed.
Another problem that can occur when doing power washing on your own is that some of the dirt and grime will escape into the air. This dirty water, plus the suction from the machine itself, will draw in all the dirt and grime that is produced during the cleaning process. These dirty water droplets are attracted to any moisture in the air, and this moisture acts as a magnet, attracting and holding onto other airborne particles that are in the air. As the dirty water continues to move through the air, the particle accumulation can reach higher levels in the air. If you are careful, you can minimize this occurrence by not being too vigorous when you power wash.
Using a power washer is a great way to clean hard surfaces such as concrete, asphalt paver, brick, concrete block and wood. However, if you have soft or clay-based grout or siding you should be especially careful in the power washing process. The reason is that the force used in power washing can actually crack and break the cement just as it is done on hard surfaces with more force. You may end up with a puddle of mud on your patio when using a power washer with a high pressure setting, especially if you try to go at it with a lower setting. Also, be sure to be patient and make sure that you pay close attention to what is going on around you when power washing hard surfaces as the dirt, grease and debris often escapes into the air as well when you are washing your car in a pressure washer.