When is It too Cold not to Pressure Wash?

The winter months can be a great time to pressure wash your home or business. The cold weather includes a number of benefits to pressure washing that you may not have considered. However, there is one thing that may put you off taking advantage of the benefits of wintertime pressure washing: the quieter cold weather itself.

If you are comfortable outside, you can pressure wash, with a couple of exceptions. Pressure washers operate in a similar way to garden hoses; they pump water from an outside spigot through their own internal plumbing and out through the nozzle at high speeds and pressures.

Temperatures generally need to be above freezing in order for you to use your spigot as a water source. If they're not, then the water inside the pipes can freeze and cause damage to them. The same goes for the washer's own internal piping — if either set of pipes freezes up and cracks, then it could lead to leaks or other issues once thawed out again.

Of course, just because it's above freezing doesn't mean that it's warm enough for you to go outside comfortably without considering your health.

What are the risky times to pressure wash?

If you're an experienced power washer, you likely know what time of year your machine can handle the cold, but if you're just getting started and learning the ropes, it's best to proceed with caution during the winter months.

You may also want to consider your own comfort level when it comes to cold weather pressure washing. For example, some people prefer to leave their windows exposed during the winter so they can enjoy more natural light inside their home. If this is your preference, you may only want to pressure wash during the spring and summer months for this reason.

Here are some instances where caution should be used:

• High winds: Pressure washers should not be used in windy conditions because they can blow debris around and make it difficult to aim the water stream.
• Around vehicles: Pressure washers should never be used on vehicles because they can damage them and may not be strong enough to remove debris that is stuck between parts of the vehicle.
• Near electrical sources: Never use a power washer near electrical sources like power lines, outlets or other devices that could be damaged by water spray.
• Around people: Pressure washers should never be operated near people or animals because they can cause serious injury if an accident occurs with them as well as create noise pollution that may disturb others nearby.

At night: the darkness at night even with some light still limits your entire vision. So you may not be in a position to account for any object beyond some dark point where the debris might be flying to.

A number of factors can make power washing more dangerous. These include:

• Working in wet conditions.
• Working on ladders, roofs and other elevated surfaces.
• Working with electricity around water.
• Neglecting to wear protective eyewear, gloves or clothing.

You may need to consider more guidance from the Giraffetools collections, if you are still unsure about when to pressure wash.