Pressure washing yourself can be extremely dangerous. This is one of those home maintenance things best left to a pro. Sure you can rent one from your local hardware store but when you bring it home do you actually know the proper way to use it?

Many people don’t know their garden hose delivers 50 PSI (pounds per square inch) where a pressure washing machine can generate 1500 to 4000 PSI. That’s a lot of pressure for a person, I mean unless your a fireman. So say your up on your roof attempting a DIY wash. Your assistant (in my home that’s me) turns on your box store power washer and it blows you right off the roof. Hope you’ve met your deductible! Not to mention a lot of cleaning jobs require getting up on a ladder. Making an already dangerous job even more tricky. I have a neighbor who was on the top of a ladder getting ready to pressure wash, unfortunately he got tangled up in the hose and fell from the top of his ladder. This lead to quiet a hefty dental bill and a trip to the emergency room on Christmas Eve. I’m not giving us a call is at the top of regrets for the year.

There’s also the issue of cleaning solutions to be considered. It’s important chemicals are used properly and adhere to EPA’s clean water act. If used improperly, chemicals can run into the cities water supply and damage any surface. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good guessing game but not when it comes to selecting or mixing chemicals. From general cleaning to stain removal there’s an appropriate, effective solution for each. Not to mention the risk of damanging your landscape. Honestly, who can afford to kill plants or grass? Savings gained would be savings lost, and then some. In my neighborhood that guarantees a reprimand from the HOA.

Not to mention, your time is valuable. Multiply your hourly pay rate by the 8 hours, give or take, it’ll take you to prepare cleaning solutions, hook up the machine, lag a ladder around and pressure wash. I bet you dollars to peanuts, a professional isn’t going to exceed your labor value.

Before you commit to DIY, consult with a professional. The pros and cons might surprise you.

-Melissa W.