Pressure Washing vs Power Washing
Is the person below pressure washing his car or power washing it? Can you tell? Can you even ask that? We tend to interchange these two terms, but is that correct? Keep on reading to find out! The difference between pressure washing and power washing Pressure washing and power washing, are these two terms referring to the same thing? Can we use them interchangeably? The simple answer to both questions is: No. The confusion is common, and no wonder about it because both terms are so similar and seem to be the same type of machine. Nevertheless, these two terms refer to different actions and machines. Thanks to the expert advice of the best team of pressure washing in Victoria, BC, we can clarify the differences among both terms. Pressure washing. Pressure washing refers to the use of highly pressurised water to remove dirt, mould, dust, grime, loose paint, bird droppings, and even chewing gum from different surfaces and objects such as vehicles, buildings, and concrete surfaces. It is common to see cleaning companies offering this service, but many house owners have their own machines to do it themselves. The pressure washer machine is nothing else but a water pump with an electric or gas motor. The washer is connected to a water source such as a hose or a tap. The pump puts the water to high pressure by accelerating it and then squirts it through a trigger gun with the possibility of having different ends. The highly pressurised water it produces can easily remove dirt or grime that water and soap might not be able to. Power Washing. A power washer uses highly pressurised hot water to remove dirt, mould, dust, grime, loose paint, bird droppings, and even chewing gum from different surfaces and objects such as vehicles, buildings, and concrete surfaces. The combination of hot water and high pressure makes power washing even more effective than pressure washing for removing residue like mould or salt. It is especially effective for removing grease stains on garage floors or driveways. The difference. The machine might look exactly the same, but the big difference between both pressurised water washing is the temperature of the water. Pressure washing is by far the most common method used by cleaning companies and house owners. The use of cold water facilitates the portability and energy consumption of the machine, and pressure washing can do 80% to 90% of the jobs that a power washer can do. When to use pressure washer You can use pressure washing for the cleaning of almost any surface around your house. This includes driveways, walls, fences, pathways, outdoor furniture, outdoor grills, roofs, tiles, security bars, and even fake grass. You can also use pressure washing to wash your car, bicycle, motorbike, or ATV. Use the pressure washer when removing dust, grime, mould, and other residues that might be stuck on different surfaces such as concrete or wood. When to use a power washer You can use power washing on every task that you would use a pressure washer. The power washer will be more effective and quicker due to the high temperature of the water. Use the power washer for specific hard to remove stains that would loosen up with the hot water. For instance, grease stains from your parked car. The grease that falls from your car engine on top of the driveway can easily get into all the pores of the asphalt or concrete. Since the car provides a shade over the grease stain, it gives it more time to sink in. Hot water is the best solution to loosen the grease, and the pressurised water can easily remove it afterwards. Because the power washer is used for more difficult jobs, it is common to see cleaning companies or house owners use them with soap or other detergents. While the use of soap will increase the effectiveness of the washing, there are several tips to keep in mind to do it environmentally friendly. The Victoria, BC, government has collected these best practices in the Power Washing Without Pollution document. Which one you should have at home The pressure washing you would do at home will always be a light job compared to what a business of pressure washing in Victoria, BC, would do. Therefore, there should be no need for a robust power washer at home. Pressure washers have a great variety of sizes and levels of pressure. There are even portable models and work with batteries so that you can take them anywhere with you. Just put the hose in a pool or lake, and it will use it as a water source. Battery-powered pressure washers, though, have minimal capacity for pressurising the water, so do not expect a powerful machine. You can choose a pressure washer for home with a decent amount of pressure, and with an electric engine, you can plug it into any normal power socket. Another option is to get a gas motor pressure washer, this kind usually allows you to have a higher level of water pressure, but the cost can be three times the price of an electric one, or even more! Analyse the needs of your house for pressure washing and determine how often you will use the machine. For instance, if you plan to wash the car at home, an electric pressure washer would be a brilliant choice. But if you do not plan to wash your car at home and want the pressure washer for washing the outside of your house once or twice a year, then it is better to hire the services of a local pressure washing company. Tips for using a pressure washer Using a pressure washer is not a difficult job. Nevertheless, there are several techniques that you can use to perform the washing effectively. The following list contains practical tips that are often overlooked when doing pressure washing. Protect your plants. The high pressure of the water coming out of the pressure washer is great for cleaning but dangerous for you, plants, and animals. The damaging effect of it on plants is often overlooked, so before you start pressure washing, make sure to protect your plants with plastic. This will protect the leaves from ripping and the soil from moving away from the roots. Washing siding. If your house has siding for the walls, make sure never to point the pressure washer gun from down up or facing it perpendicular to the wall. This will push water behind the siding and can create severe mould problems in the wall. Instead, point the gun in 45° from up-down. Also, do the cleaning starting from the bottom and then rinse the same section from top to bottom. This ensures that the loose dirt from the wash doesn't sit somewhere else in the siding. Don’t spray windows. Some thin windows can easily break with high-pressure water. Do not use your pressure washer for cleaning windows. Professional cleaning teams can do it because they have industrial machines that control the amount of water pressure they use. Start slow. If your pressure washer has different ends for the gun, start the job using the one that produces less pressure. Use higher pressure only for difficult stains. This will protect whatever surface that you are washing. Remember that even though you are just using plain water, the high pressure can cause damage to asphalt, concrete, wood, and any other solid surface you are washing. So start slow, carefully washing the surfaces and increase pressure when necessary. Conclusion Pressure washing and power washing are not the same things. Despite their similar functionality, there is a key difference regarding water temperature. Pressure washing uses cold water, and power washing uses hot water to perform harder cleaning jobs. Pressure washers are a nice asset for a home since you can do your own washing of your car and house. Nevertheless, there are techniques to apply and pressure requirements that your personal equipment might not meet. Therefore, it is recommended to hire the services of a pressure washing company in your area for bigger and harder jobs. Chadam Cleaning is the recommended team for our local area due to their skills, experience, and capable equipment. No wonder they have the reputation of the best team doing pressure washing cleaning in Victoria, BC.
