Power Washing FAQ | Montana Pressure Washing

FAQ

What’s the difference between power washing and pressure washing?

Over the years we’ve heard a lot of people ask, “Are power washing and pressure washing the same thing?” The simple answer is that the basics of both are similar — each method uses pressurized water — and oftentimes cleaners — to remove unwanted dirt, grime, paint and more from surfaces. While both may use similar pressure and water volume, they are technically not the same thing.

One notable difference is that power washing uses a heating element or "burner" to heat the water. So many companies in our industry believe the only real difference between these two methods is the temperature of the water used to clean surfaces.

What Is Power Washing?

Power washing uses pressurized hot water which can be mixed with detergents to deep clean surfaces for longer-lasting results. The heat helps to loosen dirt and grease and removes potentially harmful growths like moss, mildew, mold and algae. The addition of heat adds a level of complexity to the process, so having an experienced professional handling that job is the best way to prevent any damage to the job site or the machine itself.

What Is Pressure Washing?

Pressure washing uses high pressure water to clean a wide range of surfaces and may also use detergents. It does a great job blasting away dirt, but because it doesn’t use heat, it doesn’t clean as deeply and thoroughly as power washing. Pressure washing is great for regular household use, and you have the option to purchase either gas or electrically powered units.

When should I use power washing versus pressure washing?

Pressure washing isn’t as harsh on surfaces, and as a result, it doesn’t clean into the multiple layers of many types of surfaces. This method is great for the basic cleaning of concrete, brick and masonry to remove dirt and grime.

Power washing, for the most part, does everything that pressure washing does plus it can handle larger jobs such as commercial spaces, large driveways, decks or commercial storefronts.

It’s preferred for:

Cleaning vinyl, wood, aluminum siding and gutters
Killing algae
Lifting and lightening grease and oil
Removing mold and mildew
Removing gum
Brightening concrete surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, patios and more for better curb appeal
Refreshing decks and fences

Applications For A Pressure Washer & Applications For A Power Washer

When to use what

-Pressure Washing

Not as harsh on surfaces/doesnt clean into layers of surfaces

Great for the basic cleaning of concrete, brick, masonry

Removes grime and dirt

-Power Washing

-Everything that pressure washing does plus

-Larger jobs such as commercial space, large driveways, decks, or commercial storefronts that you want to look great

-Cleaning vinyl, wood, aluminum siding

-Cleaning gutters

-Killing algae

-Removing mold and mildew

-Removing gum

-Brightening concrete surfaces - driveways, sidewalks, patios, etc.

-Improving curb appeal

-Refreshing decks and fences

PSI vs GPM? What Makes A Pressure Washer More Effective? (reword - I copied someone else's question) What Matters Most?

-What is the pressure range of a pressure washer?

Residential

There are gas and electric models available for residential power washing.

You can find these units at places such as Home Depot and Lowes (links)

Gas range typically 2,000-2,800 psi

Electric Range Typically 1,300-1,700 psi

Commercial/Professional

Professional power washers/contractors generally use 3,000-6,900 psi models, definitely under 10,000 psi

These units generally run on gas or diesel or both

Industrial/Engineering setting

Anything above the 7,000-10,000 psi range and as high as 50,000 psi is considered blasting or jetting and is used to remove layers of materials, can alter structures, buildings and equipment

-GPM (Gallons

Additional sections/blogs - Soft washing, nozzles,

House Washing

Do I Need To Power Wash My House?

-The exterior of your home is made of many different materials from your roofing and siding to the concrete and maybe asphalt driveway, and they all need to be treated differently when cleaning. most of the time a home exterior can be most effectively cleaned with a process of Soft Washing (see *soft wash* section below for more details) but as for the concrete and hard stuck on grime and buildup, the proper application of pressure and volume especially when combined with the addition of heat, can cut through most anything the residential application could ask for.

What Is The Best Way To Clean The Outside Of A House?

The short answer is to have a profession come in and Soft Wash your home. just like cleaning your kitchen for example, you have cleaners and chemicals to loosen the stuck on grime and sanitize the surface.s Soft washing a home is something like that. First, the areas surrounding the home including furniture and decorative plants are moved and the area rinsed down with water to protect grass and plants. Then a cleaning solution is applied and allowed to dwell on the surface. this acts to kill mold and algae and sanitize the surface which prevents future growth as well as cling to and loosen pollen and dander on the surface. if