Many people who are considering having the patios or homes pressure washed often wonder whether they can do this serve by their selves. One thing to consider is the dangers of pressure washing on your own. In short pressure washing can cause serious damage to the skin if it comes in contact. Another thing that needs to be considered is the surface that you are pressure washing. It can be dangerous to pressure wash certain surfaces if you do not have the correct experience with the material. Throughout this blog we will answer the question, are pressure washers dangerous? We will also take a look at the safest way to pressure wash your surfaces.

Why is pressure washing dangerous?

Pressure washers are considered dangerous because of the force that comes out. The pressurised water is sprayed out at very high pressures ranging from 1000-3000+ PSI (pounds per square inch). For a brief example of the severity of the injury that can be caused to a human, 1000 PSI water stream can puncture human skin. A stream over 1750 can penetrate concrete. Therefore, making it vital that this work is carried out by professionals so that damage to skin and materials is not accidentally caused. Given the recent rise in purchasing these for households, it is estimated that over 5000 individuals are fatally injured. This again provides proof that this work should be carried out professionally to eliminate the risk of injury.

Direct impact is not the only type of injury that can be caused through pressure washing. Electric shocks are also known to happen. This is a result of mixing water and electric power. It is vital that water does not seep into the cords of the power cables. If this does occur then you can expect electric shocks and possibly fires. Eliminate this risk by grounding your power source.

A lot of the surfaces that need to be cleaned also require chemicals to actually remove the dirt from the surface. This involves the risk of chemical exposure if you are not doing performing this task properly. Furthermore, the risk of damaging the surface by not using the correct chemical mixes is increased if you are not a professional.

Not only are chemical damages caused but also general damage to the surface. Another danger to the surface is the distance between the water and surface itself. If not carried out properly this will be dangerous for your surfaces, as they will incur damage.

How do injuries occur through pressure washing?

Due to the force of the water, the hose of the pressure washer is hard to control. Therefore, the water can sometimes be sprayed in places that they are not supposed to. If you are a beginner or using a pressure washer for home uses this is something that has to be considered. The pressure of these machines are able to cut through heavy duty boots and in some very intense cases strip your flesh from the bone.

Should I pressure wash?

The blunt answer to this is yes! If you get a professional to come in and perform the service for you pressure washing can be extremely beneficial. Carried out by the right person this service is also safe. All of the issues that have been spoken about can be eliminated just by using a professional.

One thing that has to be taken into consideration is the dangers of not pressure washing. If there is resting dirt and grime on floor surfaces, then these can become slippery. A study performed by housecalpro showed that 25% of all injuries across all industries are caused by slips and falls. If this study was only carried out in the work place, imagine the number of people who slip on their driveways. Pressure washing is a great way to take care of this problem. Professionals are able to remove the dirt and grime effectively.

Conclusion

To conclude the original question of are pressure washers dangerous? There is a clear answer that can be drawn. If you are inexperienced then it can be very dangerous, you could cause serious injury to yourself. You could also cause permanent damage to the surface that you are trying to clean. However, if you were to hire professional pressure washing services then its not so dangerous. Professionals are able to carry out all of your needs, lowering the risk of injury. Furthermore they are experts, meaning they know how to clean each surface without damaging them. If you are looking to pressure wash something, we recommend getting a professional to do it.