As cleaning and damage restoration professionals, the team at SERVPRO of Crowley and South Johnson County understands the homeowner’s desire to have a clean and well-kept home, but homeowners need to be aware of a home maintenance mistake that can result in water intrusion and a water damage restoration project.
Pressure Washing: A Popular Option for DIY Home Maintenance
The power washer is a favorite piece of equipment among homeowners for several reasons:
- Affordability
A residential-grade power washer from a big box store fits in most household budgets at a price between $250 and $500. The unit will pay for itself after only a few hours of usage.
- Versatility
A wide variety of nozzles, wands, and attachments makes the gas-powered power washer adaptable to almost any situation and surface, including wood decks, concrete patios and driveways, fences, brick, farm machinery, lawn equipment, and more. Large wheels and weight displacement enable the homeowner to push or pull the unit almost anywhere with ease.
The pressures used in power washing are measured in terms of PSI or pound-force per square inch. PressureWashr.com, an online resource for the residential pressure washing industry explains the different PSIs used in pressure washing, writing, “The Society for Protective Coatings classifies water cleaning technology according to the following PSI ranges:
- Less than 5,000 PSI is low-pressure water cleaning
- 5,000 to 10,000 PSI is high-pressure washer cleaning
- 10,000 to 25,000 PSI is high-pressure water jetting
- More than 25,000 PSI is ultra-high pressure water jetting.
But when it comes to everyday use, the most popular PSI pressure washers are all less than 5,000 PSI.”
An Expensive DIY Pressure Washing Mistake That Homeowners Want to Avoid
Pressure washing professionals offer the following warning to homeowners considering a DIY pressure washing project: “The risks of DIY window pressure washing come from inexperience with handling such equipment. High-pressure jets of water can shatter glass, carve out pieces of wood, and even damage the siding of your home. People also often forget to load the pressure washer with the proper ratio of water to cleaning solution. Without this, washing is less effective, so people often increase water pressure to make up for it.”
In many cases, if the homeowner power washes replacement windows, the guarantee or warranty is rendered null and void. The high-pressure stream of water from the wand can shatter the glass, rupture the seal in the windows, loosen caulk, and damage the siding adjacent to the windows. These types of damage cause water intrusion, which can be a stream of water spraying into the home or a leak that leads to hidden water damage over time. If the warranty is voided, repairs and replacements will be the homeowner’s responsibility. In addition, the homeowner will have to cover the cost to repair any water damage to the structure, as well as any resulting mold issues. Power washing the windows may save time, but the effects of water leaks, mold, wood rot, and termites could be a nightmare.
Cleburne, TX, Water Damage Restoration
When a DIY power washing project ends in a water damage disaster, SERVPRO of Crowley and South Johnson County is the local choice for water damage restoration services. The team will remove the water, dry out the structure, clean the affected area, and restore the flooring, baseboards, walls, and any other materials damaged by the water intrusion.
SERVPRO of Crowley and South Johnson County utilizes industrial-grade water-removal and drying equipment, cutting-edge moisture-detecting technology, and advanced cleaning techniques when dealing with a water damage disaster. The certified professionals are available 24/7, 365 days a year, and they arrive on the scene within an hour of the client’s emergency contact. Technicians inspect and assess the situation, mitigate the water intrusion, and begin the removal and drying process. Whether the water intrusion is from a burst pipe, storm damage to the roof or a DIY power washing project gone wrong, the experienced team at SERVPRO of Crowley and South Johnson County is prepared for all the challenges that water damage presents.
For more information about water damage restoration in Cleburne, TX, contact SERVPRO of Crowley and South Johnson County by phone at (817) 297-8588. The damage remediation and cleaning company can also be contacted by email at office@servprocrowley.com.
