Vinyl siding is one of the easiest types to keep clean as it doesn’t require much in the way of routine maintenance. But there are many other variants of siding raleigh nc and the best way to keep them clean is with a power washer. Conducting normal regular maintenance will keep the siding in excellent condition and preserve the appearance of your home.
But a lot of homeowners don’t know how to use a power washer and many are intimidated by the sheer force and velocity of the equipment. Well fear no more as we walk you through the important tips for how to power wash your siding.
Inspect Your Siding
First things first, check for damage. Whether the siding is brand new or a few years old, you should always conduct a thorough examination of the exterior of the house. Inspect for any damage that might be evident in the form of cracks, chipped paint, and other various vulnerabilities that might compromise the siding and allow water to get in through and behind the siding on your home.
When water is able to penetrate through the siding you could be dealing with the increased potential for water damage in your home.
Power Washer Detergent
Most folks will opt to use a simple mix of soap and water in their power washer when they are ready to clean any exterior surface. But there are actual detergents made expressly for use in power washers that can be a whole lot more effective at clearing out the dirt and grime caked up thick on the side of your house.
Some of this equipment has an injection system where you can introduce the detergent directly into the stream of pressurized water. Just be sure you are using a detergent that is approved for use with a power washer or you could end up damaging some of the parts of your equipment.
Using Your Power Washer
Now that you’re ready to get started and aim that high-pressure water at your home, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First and foremost, never ever point the nozzle of your washer at any people or animals. It could injure or cause death to that person or animal.
Now keeping that in mind, you have a lot of power in your hands and you could damage the surface you are pointing it towards. Where siding is concerned, you need to be careful about water getting behind the siding panels. So always err on the side of caution by using a much lower pressure than you might normally use on your driveway or a brick patio.
Temperature
Since you’re working with a lower psi, you may want to increase the temperature of your water so that it’s much hotter than normal. Dirt and grime can be eliminated quicker with higher temperatures and a lower velocity of water pressure might make it harder to clear away the accumulated layers of months or years of dirt.
Eleena Timmons