Top 5 Dangers of DIY Pressure Washing- Is it Worth the Risk?

Top 5 Dangers of DIY Pressure Washing- Is it Worth the Risk?

These days, DIY projects are a rage. Thanks to the Internet, you can do most of the home improvement and maintenance projects on your own. DIY projects are not only satisfying, but they also help you save some money. You can get the supplies you need from your local hardware store or online, and you are good to go.

But some DIY projects are risky, and they are best left to the professionals. Apart from the skills they possess, they also leverage technology like field service management software which allows them to streamline the business operations. One of them is power washing or pressure washing.

Power washers are extremely powerful machines. If you really want to understand its power, consider this: A regular garden hose delivers about 50 pounds of pressure per square inch (PSI). A pressure washer generates over 3000 PSI! The amount of power is huge. Imagine this kind of power in the hands of an inexperienced or untrained individual. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.  

So, is DIY pressure washing worth the risk? Definitely not. We’ve reasons to believe that you are better off hiring a pro when it comes to pressure washing. Here are the dangers of DIY pressure washing:

1. Personal Injuries

According to the NKY Tribune, over 6,000 people are estimated to go to the emergency room at the hospital each year because of pressure washing injuries. And 14% of those people are hospitalized after their initial injury.

As the CDC explains, the spray of the pressure washer is so strong that it can cause serious wounds to feet and hands and even cut through some heavy-duty boots. What’s even scarier is pressure washing injuries such as cuts, bruises, and scrapes seem like no big deal. But these injuries, if not treated, can lead to bacterial infections that could be fatal.

Another problem with DIY pressure washing is the potential risks of slips, tumbles, and falls when you try to reach those difficult to climb/reach spots. The pressure is so strong that when you pull the nozzle, the kickback can throw you to the ground.

2. Electric Shock

The pressure washer is electrically powered. According to the CDC, one of the top dangers of DIY pressure or power washing is the risk of electric shock. If you are operating heavy machinery like a pressure washer, you must take proper safety precautions.

3. Toxic Fumes 

Many homeowners get seriously injured when they run their pressure washers in a place without ventilation. Using a gas-powered pressure washer in a closed space can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. The Center for Disease Control reports carbon monoxide poisoning as a risk of DIY pressure washing.

4. Debris 

When you use the pressure washer, debris can fly in the air. If you are not holding the pressure washer at a proper angle, this debris can fly into your face or eye, causing injuries. Moreover, a lot of debris flying around means a lot of mess to clean up. You definitely don’t want to end up with an additional chore.

5. Damage to Property

The pressure blasted through the pressure washer’s nozzle is so strong that it can damage your home’s wood siding, landscaping, roof, or other parts of your home’s exteriors. The high pressure can punch holes in your vinyl siding or break windows. If you aren’t careful, you can cause electrical damage. It’s a personal injury waiting to happen. Moreover, water damage is another risk of DIY power washing, leading to mould growth or damage to the home’s foundation.

How Dancing keeps Mind sharp and Heart Healthy

In conclusion

You might like to see your home clean and in top shape. And a DIY pressure washing project might appear to be the right way to go about it. But, it’s not worth the risk because there are too many downsides to it. Pressure washing is a job that’s best left to professionals 

Author Bio:

Akhil Rajan is a Customer Success Specialist at Zuper, an intelligent workforce management platform for service-oriented businesses. Working with customers on a daily basis, he has a deep understanding of their needs and pain points and so he is able to contribute to the marketing strategies for Zuper with the content he writes. He writes on topics like how to increase workforce utilization, how to reduce the service turnaround time and increase workforce efficiency, customer adoption, cost reduction strategies, etc – to name a few. He is often found buried in books or playing chess in his free time.

Leave a Reply