A pressure washer is a fantastic tool, and is exactly what you need to clean things like dirty brick patio, weathered wood (if you are careful), and other hard to clean surfaces. You have to be very aware though because a pressure washer can harm the surfaces you want clean, and even yourself if you are not very careful. Here are some basics of how this incredible tool works.

A pressure washer takes the low pressure water of a garden hose, and boosts the pressure way up with a special pump. The pump is powered by a gas powered engine, or sometimes by an electric motor. The business end of a pressure washer is the spray wand. You attach special tips that concentrate, or spread out, the high pressure stream of water.

Before you turn on a pressure washer, be sure to read the entire owner’s manual. It contains very vital safety information. You can either hurt the machine, yourself, or things you are trying to clean. Once you are sure what you are doing, and know that you can run things safely, you can start your job.

You should make sure, when you are using a pressure washer, to wear all kinds of protective gear. You need safety glasses or goggles, ear muffs or plugs, and of course, work gloves. You have got to protect your eyes, your hearing, and your hands from this machine. Always remember to be careful.

You may have seen the multi-colored tips that are used when pressure washing. The red one is a 0 degree tip, and is the most concentrated stream of water. Be really careful when using a 0 degree tip. The yellow tip produces a 15 degree wide spray pattern. This is my favorite tip for heavy duty cleaning. The green tip is a 25 degree tip and is best for general cleaning. The white tip produces an even wider spray pattern at 40 degrees. Use it for light duty cleaning. The black tip is the safest one to use. It produces a really wide spray pattern of 65 degrees. I like using this one when applying the special cleaning detergents to surfaces just before I get ready to pressure wash.

If your pressure washer is gas powered, remember to check the oil before running it, make sure you’ve got plenty of gas and you are excellent to go. Many of these machines have reservoirs to add cleaning solutions. This is a convenience. Before firing up the machine it is always a excellent thought to just do a quick visual check of the hose. If it is all curled up amusing it can whip around and possibly hurt someone when the pressure fills the hose suddenly.

You will be surprised at the power of a pressure washer. Getting mold and mildew off of ancient bricks is no huge deal. If you get too close to the surface, or stay in one place too long, you will hurt the surface. Water under pressure is probably one of the strongest forces out there. I like it when I get a chance to use one of these terrible boys. They are really simple and fun to use. As with any power tool, just use it safely and your job will be done before you know it and without any ill effect.

If you have an ancient masonry surface such as concrete, brick, or stone that looks really green, black or both I am going to share with you how you can clean them up.  There are various methods for each surface type so I am going to discuss them all.

First you have to gather the equipment needed to complete this task.  You are going to need a empty 5 gallon pail, stainless steel bug sprayer, access to water with a hose, muriatic acid or some other masonry cleaner, a scrub brush, steel wire brush, protective gear waterproof gear, gloves,jacket, hood, pants, boots and most importantly eye protection, acid does not feel excellent in your eyes.  Lastly you will need a excellent gas powered pressure washer you can buy one for around 0.00 or just rent one for a day.

Dirty brick and stone walls can be handles a few different ways you can use muriatic acid or a less perilous cleaner such as sure clean or a pressure washer or both together.  If you opt to use a cleaner wet the surface first with a hose.  Next apply cleaner with a hard plastic bristle brush or use the bug sprayer to apply it.  Be sure to dilute the cleaner with water first to make it safer to use, follow the instructions on the cleaner you are using.  Try not to breath in the fumes from the cleaner either, it can make you very dizzy and vomit.  In really dirty area you may have to scrub really hard or use a steel wire brush moderately over the affected area.  If you are using acid it should bubble up on dirty area straight away but it doesn’t work all that well on moss.  After you have scrubbed the wall down hose it off or I recommend using a pressure washer with the fan tip to clean it off.  A pressure washer itself is capable of cleaning most of the surfaces if done properly, but don’t get too close with the tip you blast a hole in your brick or mortar joints if they are aged.

If you are cleaning concrete it can be done much the same way as what you did  the brick and stone wall.  But you must be more consistent with your pressure washer.  If not you will easily see where you have wash and where you have not sometimes giving your concrete an hideous striped look.

If you have an ancient sandstone surface such as a porch or steps that are flat there is another method you should use to clean them.  For this project you will need a rubbing stone or another piece of sandstone that is about the same hardness.  This does require some back breaking work but you will be very pleased with the results when you are done.  Take your rubbing stone a rub it all over the surface till you get a nice sandy grit all over the surface, in dirtier area you may have to scrub a small harder.  Once complete simply sweep the surface or wash it off with a hose. Do not use acid or a pressure washer on sandstone surfaces, they are very easily hurt.

If you are unsure of how to complete this task you should hire a qualified mason or pressure washing contractor to take care of this for you.  Working with acid and pressure washers can be perilous for both you and the people around you.  If you are not careful you can easily hurt surfaces if you do not clean them properly.

When it comes to purchasing a pressure washer the choices are much greater than one might reckon. Likely the most vital choice that will help you to narrow down a excellent selection is whether you want an electric pressure washer or a gas pressure washer. How to buy a pressure washer from there might be a bit simpler. If you choose to go electric then you should be aware that they will be smaller, simpler to maneuver, and much quieter. They also don’t require as much maintenance as gas powered machines do. Gas powered washers offer more power and do cost more.

For industrial purposes, a gas powered pressure washer will be the answer when the question is how to buy a pressure washer. One of the main other factors to consider is PSI which means per square inch. That is very vital, especially in industrial usage. This is only an vital and critical factor if you plot to clean large areas. Pressure washers are used daily by various commercial cleaning contractors. Commercial pressure washers are composed of industrial pumps, very heavy-duty components and motors. How to buy a pressure washer depends solely on the pressure washer application.

Pressure washers come in many various assortments and types. The standard styles are cold, hot, and steam pressure washers. You should be aware of how to buy a pressure washer before embarking on the journey. Cold water pressure washers are the standard for general cleaning jobs that do not require the strength that the others offer. If you generally will be removing such things as grease and oil then a pressure washer that emits hot water will work much better as their temperatures reach a high enough point where they have the capabilities to remove such debris.

The hot water systems are also much more effective for cleaning cars and trucks, places that have contact with food and preparation, and to clean construction equipment. The ultra high temperatures make all the difference when you are figuring out how to buy a pressure washer.

Steam clean pressure washers rely on propane, gasoline, or other types of heating oils to make wet steam. Dry steam only offers a small amount of the same pressure and does not have the flow to remove debris from most surfaces. Although dry steam still uses the PSI measurement, the best that they can stand up to is about 50PSI. There is also not much consistency at all with dry steam cleaners.

The application and pressure washing locations play a vital role in determining how to buy a pressure washer. If it will be used outdoors then there are general rules laid in place by the EPA that prohibit exactly how you will use your pressure washer. Simply allowing water flow and contamination to run down the storm drains will likely get you a hefty fine. For indoor use there may be standards in place by both the EPA and OSHA that have to be followed.

A pressure washer is used to generate high pressure water that can remove mold, dust, mud, grime, and dirt from many different services. The mechanical device is usually gas powered, although there are the smaller electrical powered ones.

A pressure washer can be used on buildings, concrete, as well as vehicles to clean and restore the objects back to their original state. If you are not using the pressure washer for commercial purposes and will only need it for a small or one time project, you can rent the equipment for a small fee.

The pressure washer can produce pressure up to 5000 PSI and in some cases even more.

When you buy or rent your pressure washer, it should come equipped with:

A High Pressure Hose (lengths vary) A Trigger Gun A Motor to Drive the Water Pump

When you are ready to start using your pressure washer, the first thing to consider is the water source. You have to ensure that the water source is adequate to feed the pressure washer a constant supply of water. The flow of water source must be equal or superior to the flow that the machine demands.

If water is not given in a constant flow to the device, the pressure washer will malfunction and the motor could burn up, causing irreversible hurt.

There are several different nozzles available for attachment to the pressure washer. Each nozzle offers a use for a particular job and will allow a different stream of pressurized water to come through. The nozzles vary from a pencil thin line sized stream of water to a triangular sized larger stream. The majority of nozzles available will attach directly to the trigger gun.

Deep Cleaning with your Pressure Washer

If you are working on a project that requires a small more elbow grease, the use of a nozzle allowing detergent to be incorporated in to the water flow may be the best solution. You can choose from two different types of chemical injectors, a low-pressure and a high-pressure injector.

You should be aware that a pressure washer can be a very perilous tool if not operated carefully. You should read the safety instructions that will be supplied with the machine before attempting to operate it. The powerful jet of pressurized water coming from the nozzle can rip the flesh right off of a bone.

You should also be aware that when using the pressure washer to clean surfaces such as concrete, the foundation can be broken up and small and even large objects be thrown in to the air with fantastic speed. You should know that using a pressure washer on asphalt can lead to breaks and crumbling if the water is being directly aimed at a crack or void in the surface.

When you are looking to buy or rent a pressure washer be aware of the job at hand and determine which may be best for your project. You can find electrical and gas powered units and the pressure will vary. There are some gas powered pressure washers that will produce hot water, making them ideal for cleaning grease or oil stains. You should never use a gas powered pressure washer indoors, due to the fumes from the exhaust.

Many people underestimate the power of a pressure washer. Serious and even fatal injuries can result when using pressure washers improperly or if basic safety measures are ignored. The two main types of pressure washing machines are electric and gas. Electric machines emit water at pressures exceeding 1,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). Many gas pressure washers exceed 2.000 PSI and are capable of reaching pressures as high as 4,000 PSI on industrial units. Higher pressure is obviously a quicker and more effective cleaning tool… but with the greater pressure, comes the greater chance for serious injury.

Serious injuries from a pressure washer may include abrasions, slips and falls, blindness, and high-pressure injection. The sheer pressure of water alone is powerful enough to cause an injury, but using chemicals during the cleaning process can make a terrible situation even worse. Injuries and wounds sustained while pressure washing can appear deceptively benign but should always be examined and treated by a doctor or qualified emergency care provider.

Abrasions are a common injury associated with pressure washing. To reduce the risk of getting abrasions, wear protective clothing including gloves, closed shoes and long pants. Avoid pointing the pressure washer at yourself, other people and pets. Do not depress the trigger until you are sure of where the gun is pointing and use care not to spray your hands, feet or legs.

Slips and falls can lead to hospitalization or death. Wet surfaces will be more slippery and ice can form rapidly in cold climates. Using a pressure washer on a ladder or other elevated surface is perilous due to the backward force of a pressure washing gun, which can easily throw a person off balance. Know your work area and how water will affect the surface. Use appropriate safety harnesses when operating a pressure washer from a ladder, lift, or crane.

Blindness and other eye injuries can occur not only from being sprayed directly in the eye, but from foreign objects or chemicals flying through the air. The power of water at high pressure can send rocks, nails, glass, and other harmful debris hurtling through the air at damaging speeds. Chemicals and detergents can also splash up from the surface. Always wear shock resistant and splash resistant safety glasses or goggles when operating a pressure washer. In the event of a chemical-related eye injury, seek immediate medical help and be sure to take the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or mark explaining the chemical’s properties for the physicians’ review.

High-pressure injection (HPI) occurs when water and other debris/chemical penetrates the skin and causes deep tissue hurt. Serious infections are highly likely with HPI and may ultimately lead to permanent disability or amputation of the affected body parts. To lessen the risk of HPI, use wide angle or fan nozzles to disburse the pressure over a wider area. Solid stream nozzles can do more harm and should be avoided whenever possible. As with abrasions, wear protective clothing and never point the pressure washer at yourself or another person.

Special concerns for each specific type of pressure washer should also be considered. With electric pressure washers (as with any electrical tool around water) there is the risk of electric shock. Use of gas-powered pressure washers can lead to asphyxiation by carbon monoxide inhalation when used without proper ventilation. Gas units are also loud and may result in hearing loss – hearing protection should be worn at all times. Misuse of hot-water and steam pressure washers may result in serious burns that could likely require medical attention. When operating any pressure washer be sure to read and know its operation manual, paying special attention to all safety precautions.

Do not be one of the thousands of individuals each year that underestimate the power of a pressure washer and ultimately require hospitalization for their injuries. Give the machine the respect it deserves and use necessary safety measures for each particular situation. If you have any doubts about operating a machine, consider hiring a mobile pressure washing service to complete your project. A quick Internet search for “pressure washing in (your city)” will likely result in dozens of professional companies that would be pleased to give you a free estimate.

For instance, a search for “Pressure Washing in Phoenix” will bring up http://www.acmepowerwash.com where you can learn more about pressure washing, see photos of industrial pressure washers in action, or request a free estimate from a professional pressure washing company with over 13 years of industry experience.