When is Pressure Washing Season?
It doesn’t matter if you’re a do-it-yourself type of person, or a small business owner. Knowing when pressure washing season is will help you determine the best time of year to wash a house. The most important thing is to clean outdoor surfaces effectively, without having seasonal weather conditions negatively impact the results.
The pressure washing season can generally be classified as the spring. Most people choose to clean up their homes during this time of year, before dealing with heat and humidity from the summer months.
Best Time to Pressure Wash a House
As I touched on above, the best time to pressure wash a house is during the spring. This can be a variety of different months depending on where you live in the country – but April, May, and June are most popular.
Now this doesn’t mean that you can’t clean up your house year-round, but washing in the spring will be most effective. During this season is when homeowners start tidying up around their house.
You can pressure wash areas like the roof, siding, patio, and sidewalks that received a beating from the snow. This practice of spring cleaning is most common in areas with a cold winter. The idea is to get everything back to normal and ready for the summer.
Why Spring Cleaning is Best
- Cooler cleaning temperatures
- Replace any damage from snow and ice
- Work now to relax in the summer
Pressure Washing in the Summer
Yes, it’s still common to pressure wash areas around the house in the summer. In fact, there are many businesses that offer outdoor cleaning services throughout the year. And while spring is the best time to pressure wash, you can still get the job done in the summer months. Just take the following into consideration before you begin.
First off, you need to remember that the temperatures will be much hotter. And just because you might be totally fine working in the sun, doesn’t mean your equipment is. Warmer climates can cause gasoline and electric pressure washers to overheat. That means you need to keep them cool while washing, or they could temporarily shut off.
Pressure washing in the summer will also cause cleaning agents to dry up much faster. It’s no secret that using detergents can help remove stubborn areas with mold and mildew off the exterior. But if these chemicals sit too long in the sun they will dry up. As a result, the soaps won’t work as well and they will cause light discoloration on the surface.
Pressure Washing in the Winter
You can still use a pressure washer in the winter even though there is a prime season. The most important factor to consider working in this type of weather is the temperature of the water. You generally won’t run into any problems, unless it’s colder than 32 degrees Fahrenheit (or 0 degrees Celsius).
It doesn’t matter if you want to wash your own house, or if you own a pressure washing company. You will need to figure out the source of the water. Most people turn off the outside water faucet during the cold winter months to avoid any liquid from freezing in the pipes. Check this connection if you plan on using it.
If you own a pressure washing company, there is always the option of storing water in a trailer rig tank. This method will only work if the tank is stored inside a heated garage at night, as it will prevent the water from freezing. Having the ability to utilize a setup like this will also allow you to pressure wash in below freezing temperatures.
Pressure Washing in the Fall
Pressure washing your house in the fall is the worst time of year to clean if you live in areas that experiences intense wintry conditions. It doesn’t make sense to go through all of the work if you are in a climate that gets a regular amount of snow in the winter. It would be like spending a day to clean your car before it rained.
The reality is that sometimes sections of your house will need to be replaced after the winter. It’s common for large amounts of snow to cause ice dams during this time of year. Ice dams can lead to leaks in your house from water not being able to drain properly. So why take the time to clean the shingles, or siding if they will need to be replaced?
If you live in the south or a location that doesn’t get snow, there’s nothing wrong with pressure washing your house in the fall. It won’t be as hot, which means you can continue cleaning up the exterior of your house. The only thing to keep in mind is if you live in an area with tropical storms. These weather patterns can bring heavy wind and rain.
How to Pressure Wash
- Gather your supplies: You will need to gather up all of the necessary supplies before beginning any type of cleaning project. It can be annoying if you turn on the machine, only to realize that you don’t have a long enough hose. Plan out what you will need first, so you can avoid potential setbacks.
- Follow a pattern: One of the most crucial steps when pressure washing is to always follow a pattern. You want to keep an even amount of water pressure on whatever type of surface you’re working with. Avoid standing in one place as this will create an uneven amount of water pressure and it could create sloppy results.
- Adjust the pressure: Trying out a different pressure setting and using different nozzles is also important. When you’re cleaning a two story house for example, it will be easier to clean the first floor. Use a more aggressive nozzle for second story cleaning, as it will create a tighter spray pattern and allow you to safely clean higher areas.
- Use soap: Using a cleaning solution can help depending on what type of surface you’re washing. Neglected houses and patios will naturally have more mold and mildew built up on them. Try mixing soap, or another type of cleaner with water in order to remove this type of stubborn contamination from the surface.
- Get on a schedule: When it comes to cleaning, getting on a schedule can be very helpful. It’s recommended that you pressure wash your house once a year (in the spring) to keep up with normal maintenance. This type of cleaning schedule will keep your home looking good throughout the year and prevent it from getting too dirty.
Final Thoughts
This article began with a question: when is pressure washing season? And while I generally believe that the best time to clean is the spring, it really depends on the climate you live in. For areas that experience snow and ice during the winter months, it makes sense to pressure wash after this kind of weather has passed.
But if you live in a warmer location where snow is an afterthought, you can realistically pressure wash year-round. I would still avoid working in extremely hot conditions, as this can negatively impact your equipment. Your machine can overheat quickly and the cleaning agents will dry up much faster.
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