Tips To Cleaning With Pressure Washers

A reader was recently asked to change up their processes for cleaning an outdoor courtyard that was on contract. New requests included pressure washing the concrete pads to remove dirt, oil and mold build up.

In a prior article we determined that the customer was correct in requiring fulfillment of the specifications even though his predecessor had not interpreted the contract in the same manner. Over time, the concrete pads in the courtyard have become soiled to the point that simply using a blower is not sufficient to fulfill the requirements as stated. The simplest approach is to use a pressure washer strong enough to blast away the accumulated soils. If possible, this task should be performed without the use of harsh chemicals.

It is very important that the operator of this equipment be properly trained and qualified to operate this machine. Pressure washers can generate between 1,000 - 3,000 psi (pounds per square inch) which can put out an eye, cut off a toe or cause damage property if aimed incorrectly. Although setting up and using a pressure washer seems relatively simple, many injuries and unnecessary damage occurs each year to not taking into account the power of these machines.

The operation of a pressure washer is relatively straight forward. Although there are electric and gasoline models, we will consider the gas powered version for our discussion. A water hose is usually attached to an inlet using regular tap water. The pump is driven by the same type engine as a lawn more or other small engine device. We will continue this discussion in a future article.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.