While some home improvement projects lend themselves to the do-it-yourself community, others should be left to professionals. When it comes to power washing, if you have simply done a few minutes of research, you know both DIY and hiring a professional service are options. There is a lot to consider, from cost to the quality of the job, and both options present a list of pros and cons. In this post, we highlight those pros and cons to make sure you have all the information you need for your home when comparing professional vs DIY power washing.
On a per-day basis, renting a power washer is not too expensive. For smaller projects, you can adequately wash surfaces and keep it cost-effective. Another benefit of choosing the DIY route for power washing, if you decide to do so, is that you have full control over the operation and outcome of the project. You can easily find a standard residential pressure washer at a local home improvement store for rental.
CONS
While doable, power washing your home can be time-consuming and potentially dangerous. For example, there are countless hard-to-reach areas on a typical home that are difficult to clean with a standard pressure washer. In this situation, your first instinct will likely be to grab a ladder. While logical, there is a high risk of injury since there is a great amount of pressure coming from the wand. Additionally, the high pressure can easily damage the structure of your vinyl siding.
Another common perception is that, in general, it is cheaper to power wash on your own. While that may be true for small and concentrated areas, there are several overlooked factors:
Cost of equipment (pressure washer rental/purchase, fuel, etc.)
How much soap/cleansers cost
Cost of water used
Opportunity cost
While opportunity cost may not be top of mind, it is critical to know that washing a house without professional-grade equipment can take days to complete. Even then, the results may not be what you expected. Simply put, the best and safest way to power wash a home is to use a soft wash method in combination with professional cleansers. DIY power washing makes it nearly impossible to accomplish that.
Professional Power Washing
PROS
Hiring one of the professional power washing services in your area will yield the best results for your home. Reputable power washing companies have the experience and processes to clean your property safely and efficiently.
As previously mentioned, a standard residential pressure washer will not have the capability to reach high areas or effectively clean stubborn areas of a home. Conversely, a professional power washing company will have the equipment and technology to clean your entire home thoroughly. On top of that, here a few other advantages of hiring an experienced professional company:
A reputable company is fully insured in case of any unforeseen issues.
All contaminants, like algae and mildew, will be removed from your home.
You will have a single expense vs. shopping around for a long list of equipment.
You do not have to spend your weekend or free-time power washing.
CONS
When hiring a company or contractor to wash your home, it is understandable to look for the lowest price. Just like in any industry, price is often directly correlated to quality. We encourage you not to focus solely on price, but instead spend time researching a company’s credibility and reviews. This will prevent a situation where someone shows up with just a pickup truck and the same pressure washer you could have rented. Additionally, a contractor like this may become elusive once the job is paid for, which can be especially problematic if there were any issues with the job. Unfortunately, fly-by-night companies do exist.
Hiring a Professional Like Perfect Power Wash
Now that you understand the differences between professional vs DIY power washing, it is time to call the pros. Perfect Power Wash sets the standard for professional power washing services. At the time of this post, our team has washed nearly 100,000 homes in our 20 years of business. We take pride in all aspects of our customer-first process, which ensures every home is efficiently and effectively cleaned. Here is the typical process:
Schedule your service in one short phone call with a power washing expert.
Receive a text with a picture of your technician when they are on their way.
Whether you are home or not, our technician diligently power washes your home.
You are notified (and/or walked around your property) when the job is complete.
We don’t charge you until the day after the service.
We follow up with you the next day to ensure we exceeded your expectations.
Are you looking to power wash your home? Still not sure if you want to hire a professional to do the work? We would be happy to discuss with you why hiring Perfect Power Wash is the right choice. Just call our team today or start the process by requesting a free quote.
While both DIY and professional pressure washing cost money, professional washing will cost more upfront. With professionals, you're paying for an expert's labor, equipment and expertise. They come in and take care of everything for you, so you'll have to pay accordingly. With DIY, you'll save money on labor.
For regular household use, pressure washing is the way to go. It's less harsh on surfaces, which makes it ideal for use on things like masonry, brick, and concrete. This is what you want to turn to when you're looking to give your deck or patio a quick clean.
There's too high of a risk of damaging your siding or gutters—not to mention danger to you, your friends, your family, your neighbors, and your pets—if you try to clean the house yourself with a pressure washer. Plus, you'll miss out on the specialty cleaning agents offered by the pros when you go the DIY route.
Best Commercial Pressure Washer: Pressure-Pro EB4040HC-20
You'll have a reliable partner on residential, commercial, and industrial job sites. Its belt-driven operation provides unmatched durability and ease of maintenance for a long-term power washing relationship.
Pressure washers with a PSI of 2500 to 4000 are considered more suitable for these heavy-duty cleaning jobs, offering the power needed to tackle stubborn dirt and grime.
Cons: Potential damage: In inexperienced hands, a pressure washer can cause damage to your car's paint, trim, or delicate parts. High-pressure water can strip away protective coatings and even force water into vulnerable areas, leading to rust or electrical issues.
One of the most effective alternatives to pressure washing is using a deck brush. These stiff-bristled brushes can effectively remove dirt, mildew, and algae. Choose a brush with a long, sturdy handle to make the job easier on your back and knees.
Consider a light- to medium-duty pressure washer. As with stucco, use a wider-pattern 40-degree tip for painted brick. If you have vinyl siding, look for pressure ratings between 1900 and 2800 PSI — a medium- or heavy-duty pressure washer — and a pressure tip with a 40-degree pattern.
Medium Duty Pressure Washers: 1900 - 2788 PSI and 1-3 GPM. Best for home and shop use, clean everything from exterior siding and fences to patios and decks. Commercial Pressure Washers: Start at 3100 PSI and up to 4 GPM.
While you can pressure wash your house or any other property whenever you like, it won't be a good idea to do so during a blizzard or a rainstorm. You should also avoid washing your house when the wind is very strong since you won't be able to derive optimum pressure from your machine.
Vinyl siding can withstand a powerful gas pressure washer (2,500-3,000 psi). Aluminum, stucco or soft-grain wood homes will do better with a less powerful washer (about 1,200-1,500 psi).
A unit with too low of a PSI might struggle to remove stubborn grime and grease, while one with too high of a PSI could damage sensitive surfaces or equipment. Pressure washers that range from 2,000 to 3,000 PSI are generally suitable for most industrial cleaning tasks.
If your car or boat needs washing, then a light-duty pressure washer can handle the job. A medium-duty pressure washer is strong enough to blast greasy, grimy stains from residential areas. Homeowners can safely clean sidewalks, concrete driveways, decking, and siding with a 2,000 to 3,000 PSI washer.
In order for the pumps to work correctly, they need water, which is provided, for example, by a garden hose [2]. Before it is put under pressure, the water flows into a double-walled casing around the motor, which cools it down [3]. This reduces noise and also extends the device's run time.
“Most standard pressure washers will use between 2 to 4 GPM.” That comes a total of 120 to 240 Gallons Per Hour. To bring that into perspective, a standard bathtub holds about 80 gallons of water.
We do not require access to electricity as our machinery is powered by petrol engines. We do require the use of your water, ideally an outdoor water tap.
Attempting to run a pressure washer without a proper water supply can have damaging consequences, including:Damage to pump and components. Operating a pressure washer system without water can cause the pump to overheat and seize up, leading to costly repairs or replacements. Reduced cleaning performance.
Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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