There are few chores on your outdoor “to-do” list that are as satisfying as power washing your home or car. From a springtime patio spray down to a post-suds car cleansing, power washing gets the job done right. However, these tools have “power” in their name for a reason; while effective tools for cleaning surfaces, they can also damage surfaces if you’re not careful. There are a variety of safe PSI levels for power washing your vehicle and home that you should be aware of.
Scale Back a Bit When Washing Your Vehicle
Whether you are power washing a car, truck or motorcycle, it’s important to protect the finish at all costs. Overpowering your wash or applying a PSI (pounds per square inch) setting that is overly aggressive can chip or crack the paint on your vehicle. The recommended setting for a safe power wash here is between 1,200 to 1,900 PSI. A good number to shoot for here is 1,500 PSI.
Additionally, you will want to consider tipping or angling the power wash nozzle. A direct spray, even at a more agreeable PSI setting, can still cause damage. For a green nozzle the recommendation is 25-degrees. When using a white nozzle then the recommended angle is 40-degrees. Another suggestion is to keep a slight distance from the vehicle surface as the power wash is applied. A separation of 12 to 18 inches should be enough to allow for a thorough cleansing while also protecting your vehicle’s finish.
You might be wondering about that red nozzle tip. Remember, red is associated with danger or “extreme”. This rule of thumb is honored by power washer manufacturers. A red tip nozzle on your power wash can be too harsh. Cracked or damaged paint could result.
When it comes to safe PSI levels for power washing, here’s another quick tip. Avoid spraying your power wash directly into seals, engine bays or electrical components. It’s true that professionals can and often do this but that’s because professionals know how to do so while protecting those components. There are also specific detergents that are designed for vehicle power washing so you might want to apply a detergent with that in mind.
Multiple PSI Settings for Washing Your Home
Power washing your home’s exterior often involves multiple surfaces and, by design, multiple PSI settings. That’s because those varying surfaces call for different levels of protection.
Brick is a remarkably durable surface and is more forgiving to the wrong PSI choice. By design, brick is able to absorb a number of harsh outdoor and weather conditions. As a result, a PSI setting of 2,000 to 3,000 PSI should be ideal for power cleaning those surfaces.
Another surface that is able to take on a serious power wash is concrete. In the case of your home or business exterior this means driveways and sidewalks. Don’t be afraid to crank up that dial and use a powerful PSI setting of 2,500 to 3,000 PSI for a thorough deep cleaning of these exterior spaces.
Vinyl siding and painted wood are not as durable and should not be treated with the same PSI unless you are interested in stripping paint. Consider a milder setting of 1,300 to 1,600 PSI. Like your vehicles, the goal here is to protect your painted surface and prevent chipping or cracking.
Decks and exterior fencing are another consideration and a pressure washer should be in your maintenance routine for these. Generally speaking, the wood used for decking and fencing is coated for protection from outside elements such as sun and water. However, they also need to be treated a little more delicately when it comes to a proper cleaning. This means you will need to dial down a bit. A recommended PSI setting for decks and fencing is 500 to 1,200 PSI.
As for nozzle adjustments, you should consider a 15-degree angle for yellow nozzles or a 25-degree angle for green nozzles when you’re power washing those tougher surfaces. Start on a lower PSI setting and then adjust higher as needed.
General Safety Precautions
Test a less visible area first and, as mentioned, work your way up from a lower setting.
You should also consider using safety gear when power washing. After all, 2,000 pounds per square inch can cause significant bodily harm. If you accidentally cross that stream with a bare foot, you will lose skin and it can be painful. Be sure to wear safety glasses, gloves and protective footwear, especially if you are power-washing concrete such as a driveway or sidewalk. Also, do not use a power washer on elements that can erode easily. As an example, asphalt shingles or anything that features old mortar joints should not be power washed.
You also want to ensure that your power washer is well maintained. We’re happy to help with a power washer inspection and/or power washer repair.
If you are in the market for a new power washer and have any further questions about safety or safe PSI levels for power washing your vehicle and home, please feel free to drop by one of our three convenient locations in Arlington, Haltom City or Mansfield or drop us a line. Our outdoor power equipment specialists will have the answers to all your questions when it comes to purchasing the power washer you need for your home and business.
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