The process for power washing houses and fences is very similar

so it is best to lump them together. It should be noted that power

washing is the most complicated of our services and this is simply

an overview of the process, and there is much more to be learned

about power washing. Check out our articles on Can the Power

Washer Damage Property?, Surfaces That Can't Be Power

Washed, and Is the Soap Safe For Plants?

     Materials

• A gas power washer

• A garden hose

• Gasoline

• Ear protection

• Step ladder (if needed for heights)

• Extension wand (if needed for heights)

• Soap for siding

• Anti-vibration gloves

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1. Setting up the Power Washer

We will start by connecting the power washer to the hose, power hose, and power washing wand and turning the water on.

 

     2. Testing the Power Washer

Once the power washer is set up,we then squeeze the trigger to  

check to make sure the water is in an evenly dispersed “V”. If it is

not, the nozzle is most likely clogged and we clear it out with a pin.

 

     3. Turning the Power Washer On

Once we’ve checked that the power washer is functioning properly, it is time to turn it on. This will involve pulling on the cord and may involve experimenting with different positions for the "choke/run"lever to see which works best (it varies by day).

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     4. Making Sure the Power Washer is Up and Running

Once the power washer is turned on, we will then squeeze the trigger to make sure that it is up and running properly. This sometimes takes a couple minutes for the power washer to warm up.

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     5. Putting the Soap On (Sometimes)

We don't always use soap, often times the water is just enough. The exact proportions of mix-to-soap will vary based the weather and the surface being cleaned. When we do use soap, we apply the soap using a pump sprayer or squirt gun. We then generally let it sit for a couple minutes, although the length of time also depends on the weather and surface being cleaned.

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     6. Pressure Washing the House/Fence

Once the soap has set for the right amount of time, it is time to wash the house/fence. We start from the top and work our way down. If we’re power washing a vinyl-sided house, we will be careful with oxidized paint. There may be spots that are tougher than others so we'll make sure to go over any spots that don’t come out initially.

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     7. Repeat Until Finished

We then repeat steps 5 & 6 with the whole house/fence until finished, making sure to double-check areas after we've finished so that we don’t miss any areas.