Are electric power washers safe to use?

Heavy spray from a pressure washer can cause serious injuries that, at first, may seem minor. Wounds that appear minor can cause a person to delay treatment, increasing the risk of infection, disability, or amputation. The fast and strong spray can throw objects that hit and injure other people who are nearby. Then, wear personal protective equipment from head to toe.

Always be aware of the things around you and never leave the pressure washer alone. If you have to attend to something, turn it off and activate your locking system to avoid any accidental operation. Also, remember to use the widest tip of the nozzle first and then go up if you see that the pressure it emits is not enough. When cleaning something above your head, use an extended rod and never use ladders.

Last but not least, make sure you are sober when using an electric pressure washer.

Pressure washers

are a great tool for removing dirt, grime, and other things from aluminum siding, patios, and sidewalks. When you buy through the retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. A pressure washer does a quick and satisfying job of removing dirt.

Whether you're cleaning your hallways or removing old paint from a terrace, nothing compares to the unbridled power of these machines. But a pressure washer isn't the right tool for every job, and it's easy to get carried away. Composite covers from brands such as TimberTech and Trex tend to resist deep stains and are well cleaned with a light scrub, followed by rinsing with a garden hose. But if that's not enough, check the terms of the warranty to make sure that pressure washing doesn't void it.

Covers made with South American hardwoods, such as ipe, cumaru and tiger, are perfectly resistant to pressure washing. Those that are made of pressure-treated wood, usually southern yellow pine, a soft wood, are also fine, assuming you don't keep the nozzle too close. Consult the owner's manual to confirm which nozzle and configuration the manufacturer recommends for the cover and how far away from the surface it should be kept. Generally speaking, it's best to start with a low-pressure nozzle in an inconspicuous place to ensure that the spray doesn't etch or mark the wood.

Once you find the correct nozzle, fit and distance, work along the board, following the grain of the wood. As tempting as it may be to remove unsightly moss and algae, using a pressure washer to clean the ceiling is dangerous, not to mention it can damage. We never recommend using a pressure washer while sitting on a ladder because backtracking could cause you to lose your balance. The powerful current of water can also loosen roof shingles and, if the shingles are asphalt, it can remove embedded granules that help extend the life of the roof.

A lot of people use a pressure washer to clean their car, but it can do more harm than good. Using a pressure washer can damage or scratch the paint, which could cause rust. Usually, a car wash will do the job, as will a garden hose and a soapy sponge. Use some elbow grease and a specialized wheel cleaner for wheels and other problem spots.

Concrete entrances (and walkways) can easily withstand intense cleaning without needing to be engraved. In general, a thinner nozzle will be more effective at cleaning greasy stains. In case of mold or mildew, use lower pressure and cover the surface with foam first. Wood clapboard can also be washed effectively, but if your home was built before 1978, have a lead remediation specialist first test the exterior paint licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

If you release old lead paint, it will settle permanently on the ground, where children playing outside can pick it up or drag it to the house. Whatever material is being pressure washed, be sure to avoid water being trapped between the siding and the siding of the house, as moisture promotes mold. Repair or replace loose, damaged, or missing siding, and take special care not to spray water directly into gaps around doors, windows, or under the lap joints of the siding. Do not pressure wash the shingle siding, as pressure can cause the shingles to come loose.

If your pressure washer comes with a 0-degree red nozzle, discard it. The next size, a 15-degree nozzle, will be suitable for detailed work, such as removing moss from the grooves between the paving stones. And always wear hearing protection, safety goggles, and protective shoes and gloves while working. We measure the time it takes for each pressure washer to remove paint from painted plastic panels.

The shorter the time, the greater the pressure output. And since almost all pressure washers make noise, you'll need earplugs or earmuffs to use them, we also evaluate the noise levels of each machine. Regardless of the performance of a model, CR recommends only those that do not include a nozzle at 0 degrees, which we believe represents an unnecessary safety risk for users and bystanders. As a classically trained chef and DIY enthusiast, I've always valued having the best tool for a job, whether it's dicing onions to make mirepoix or hanging drywall.

When I'm not writing about household products, I can be found putting them to the test, often with the help of my two young children, in the 1860 house that I'm restoring in my spare time. Even with high amounts of pressure, electric pressure washers are known to be much quieter than gas washers. This, combined with the fact that they do not emit fumes, gas pressure washers are ideal for both outdoor and indoor use. Gas pressure washers are often the preferred choice for both residential and commercial applications.

Pressure washers are useful for cleaning gutters and decks, and are also great for removing mold, mud, and loose paint from the sides of the house. While electric pressure washers are not maintenance-free, they require much less maintenance than gas pressure washers. From a business point of view, an electric pressure washer would be a valuable addition to your arsenal of cleaning tools, especially if you belong to an industry prone to dirt, such as catering, automotive or commercial cleaning. Therefore, if you need a pressure washer for common household cleaning, an electric pressure washer is the most logical option.

Electric pressure washers are known to be affordable, low-maintenance, highly portable, environmentally friendly and quiet. In addition, these machines can be very dangerous if handled incorrectly (see the “Safety of pressure washers” section, below). In general, a gas pressure washer outperforms an electric pressure washer in all areas, but the latter is more compact, economical and works quieter than the former. .