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Power washers....pressure washers; we bet you have used these terms interchangeably. No worries, you’re not the only one. You would be surprised that so many people don’t know the difference, or that differences even exist. That said, understanding the variations between power washing and pressure washing is important. Recognizing what each can do allows you to purchase the correct equipment or contract for the most appropriate service. Below, we have shared some information about each. Power Washing Power washing is a process that combines high pressure AND heated hot water. It is the perfect choice if you are looking to remove resilient stains. For example, If you are looking to clean large patios, driveways or commercial areas, power washing is the way to go. It is the best way to clean mold, mildew, or mud and can even eliminate moss and weeds. The effect of adding of heat to the pressure is exceptionally useful in deteriorating contaminates and cleaning areas outside of your home. It is important to understand, however, the extreme pressure combined with the heat CAN be damaging to certain materials. Pressure Washing Pressure washing is a process very similar to power washing - both use high pressure water and powered streams of water to clean hard surfaces. However, pressure washing does NOT use heated water. Because of this, it is less damaging to surfaces. You can use electric pressure washers for exterior cleaning of your patio, outdoor furniture, outdoor flat surfaces and deck of surface dirt. However, you should still be cautious, while pressure washing IS a slightly less harsh process; it can still cause damage. The force of the water is comparable to power washing; the temperature is the primary difference. Use care when determining what items and areas to use high powered pressure washers. Choosing the Correct Equipment Are you trying to determine the best equipment for your business or home use? Ask us! You've come to the right place if you offer power washing services and/or pressure washing services! We have 30 years of experience in the cleaning industry. Let us leverage our knowledge of the equipment and the industry to help you determine what will best satisfy your needs.

How To Remove Mildew From The Outside Of Your Home It is important to keep the outside of your home as clean as the inside. You would be surprised as to how dirty the outside can become. Wind and rain result in the accumulation of dirt. Additionally, if you live in a particularly humid climate (like Florida, especially during the summer), mold and mildew may be an issue. If you can see mildew accumulating on your home, it's time to clean it. And, it is important to do it correctly. Power Washing Power washing is the most efficient means of removing mildew from the outside of your house. If you are unaware, power washing combines a high pressure flow with heated water. It is incredibly useful in removing resilient stains like mildew. That said, prior to using a pressure washer, you should be certain that the heat and pressure will not be damaging to any of the surfaces you are looking to clean. Advantages of Power Washing Using a power washer to clean the outside of the home has several advantages: Speed: Power washers eradicate mildew quickly and efficiently, especially when compared with the alternative, cleaning by hand. Imagine how long it would take to wash the outside of your house by hand (with a bucket and sponge). Grounded: Power washers water streams can reach high places; when you use them you stand on the ground. Should you try washing your home by hand, you would need to stand on a ladder, which may prove to be dangerous. Ease: using a power washer is a simple process; and, in terms of energy expended and knowledge needed. It is not a complicated piece of machinery. Power Washing Tips Now that you understand the value of using a power washer, here are some important tips to consider before starting the job. Select the Right Soap: While it may seem like any type of soap would clean your home, only house and siding soap will clean and treat your home to help prevent mildew from returning. Divide and Conquer: Separate the outside of your home into sections and completely wash each section before moving on. Spray the soap on to the section on which you are working, and let it rest for a few minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly with water. Protect Your Plants: if you have landscaping close to your home, it may be wise to cover your plants with plastic. This should be done section by section, as you wash the house. Covering plants for extended periods of time could cause them to die. Consider a Telescoping Wand: This attachment to a pressure washer extends the length of the water stream allowing you to reach higher parts of your home. Protect Yourself: Consider keeping your body and head covered during this process (hat, long sleeves, rubber gloves). The soap used to remove mildew can be harsh and pressure washer spray can splatter. It's wise to protect yourself. While mildew and mold are stubborn stains; they absolutely can be removed from the outside of your house. The combination of a the correct equipment (a power washer) and best soap can help make the process smoothly. How We Can Help If you are looking to purchase a power washer, for removing mildew or any other type of cleaning, give us a call. We have 30 years experience in the industry and can help you determine the best equipment for your home or business use. We sell a broad range of quality power and pressure washers. Let us leverage our knowledge and experience to help you determine exactly what you need.

The outside of your home can become dingy over time. Elements like wind, snow and rain can distribute dirt and grime on your exterior walls and roof. Similarly, walkways and driveways become dull and dirty, as do patios, decks and outdoor furniture. Pressure washing is an ideal way to clean these hards surfaces and have them looking fresh and new! Sold in stores across the country, pressure washers are a “tool” many of us already own. While on the surface they seem simple to operate, there are precautions you should take to ensure both your safety and the safety of those around you. Tips There are multiple things you can do to make certain you are using your pressure washer appropriately. Here are three to consider: Dress Appropriately: While it may seem as if shorts and flip flops are the perfect attire to pressure wash (after all, there is a lot of water involved); they are not. The water stream from a pressure washer is extremely strong. This can cause lots of splattering. It sometimes even dislodges materials back in the direction of the operator. To remain as safe as possible, wear long pants, long sleeves and sturdy shoes. And, consider wearing gloves and protective eye gear. Better to be safe than sorry. Work Carefully: Pressure washers are NOT a toy. They should only be operated by a responsible adult for the purposes of cleaning hard surfaces. That said, the nozzle should only be directed toward the work surface, never at another individual or child. The water stream is forceful and often hot - it can be very dangerous. Know Your Surroundings: This is so important and there a couple of things to consider. First, operate your pressure washer from the ground. The strong stream of water can make cleaning on a ladder dangerous. Additionally, if your pressure washer is powered by gas, make sure you only use it outdoors. The engines on these machines emit carbon, an odorless and invisible gas that is dangerous to breathe. In short, pressure washers are valuable tools that can help areas of your home look sparkling clean and brand new. That said, they need to be utilized by adults who take appropriate caution. Please, read the instruction manual of any pressure washer you purchase and abide by the suggestions it provides. Keep yourself, your family and friends and your home safe. How We Can Help If you are looking to purchase a power washer, give us a call. We have 30 years experience in the industry and can help you determine the best equipment for your home or business use. Additionally, we will take the time to explain the equipment to you and to ensure you understand how to operate it responsibly and safely. We sell a broad range of quality power and pressure washers. Let us leverage our knowledge and experience to help you determine exactly what you need.

Whether you are a professional in a power washing company or simply an individual interested in maintaining your home, purchasing a pressure washer is, without a doubt, a good investment. This piece of equipment helps maintain the exterior of houses (including driveways, patios, walkways, decks and outdoor furniture). Ensuring that the equipment you purchase is of the highest quality is critical. Three important factors to consider when determining which pressure washer to purchase are engine quality, cleaning path and PSI. Below we have shared why these are important to understand. Engine Quality A pressure washer is useless if the engine is weak or won’t engage. That said, ensuring that the equipment you purchase has a quality engine is important. MysticWasher pressure washers are complete with the industrial grade engines, manufactured by either Honda or Kohler. These are among the best the market has to offer. Cleaning Path Obviously, the areas you are looking to clean will vary on each and every job. That said, purchasing a machine with an appropriate cleaning path is important. The term cleaning path refers to the size of the surface cleaner; the larger the size the more quickly jobs can be completed. That said, some projects (like narrow pathways) may require a smaller cleaning path. Understanding exactly what your jobs will require is critical. MysticWashers are available with either 16 or 24 inch cleaning paths. PSI PSI stands for pounds per square inch, it is how water pressure is measured. It is important to determine how much pressure you will need prior to making your pressure washer purchase. Some stains on certain materials require a higher level of pressure to clean. MysticWashers are available with PSIs ranging from 2700 to 4200. Purchasing a pressure washer that works, one that fulfills all of your needs, is important. That said, it is critical to ensure that you understand your needs prior to shopping. Then you can concentrate on identifying equipment that will meet them. If you are looking to purchase a pressure washer, give us a call. With over 30 years of industry experience and an inventory that includes nine MysticWashers and a host of accessories, we can help you determine the best machine for your needs. We commit to completely explaining the machine you purchase to you, ensuring you understand all of its features. Pressure washers are a valuable tool and can help keep your home and surrounding areas in top notch condition. We look forward to working with you.

Does the brick on the outside of your home look drab and dingy? When you pull into your driveway are you disappointed in the appearance of your home? If you answered yes to one of the questions above, don’t worry. With a little bit of time and a quality pressure washer, your brick house can look as good as new. Take a peek below at at our six tips and ensure a quality pressure wash for your brick home. 1. Inspect The Bricks: If you are ready to power wash the exterior brick of your home, the first thing you must do is scrutinize it. Over time, mortar (the glue that holds your brick in place) can erode and chip away. There may be spaces between bricks that need to be filled prior to cleaning. In fact, you should patch the damaged spots at least a full week (seven days) prior to power washing. By making sure the mortar is in top notch condition, you can protect against water entry and prevent mold from growing inside the walls of your home. 2. Prepare To Wash: After waiting a week for everything to dry completely, it’s ALMOST time to get to work. First, though, you must take some time to prepare your home for this project. So, make sure all of your doors and windows are tightly shut - you don’t want to start washing and inadvertently spray inside your living room! Also, protect your plants by covering all outdoor landscaping with a tarp. You should also take a few minutes to move your patio furniture or cover it as well. 3. Test The Power Washer: Before you turn the washer full-force on your brick, test it on a smaller, hidden portion of your home. Make sure the pressure is strong enough to clean the brick, but not so strong as to cause damage. 4. Wet The House: Prior to power washing, it is important to prepare the brick by wetting it with just water (No detergent yet). Make sure you completely soak the entire area. When you do this, spray the water from the bottom to the top. This will prevent streaks while ensuring all of the walls are truly wet. 5. Wash the Walls: If you are using detergent, NOW is the time to apply it. It is important to use a product that was made for exterior brick AND your equipment, not just any old soap! Once again, begin spraying from the bottom to the top! Once applied, give the soap a chance work - let it rest for about 10 minutes. During this time dirt and debris will loosen and become easier to remove. Do you see any tough stains? If so, this is the perfect time to use a little elbow grease and scrub them away! Pay special attention to where grass or landscaping touch the home - these locations are often a little more dirty! 6. Time to Rinse: Once you have let the soap sit and scrubbed away the tough stains, it’s time to wash away the soap. First, completely rinse out your power washer, make sure it is clean and that the water you are going to spray is free of all soapy residue. You want to rinse with perfectly clear water. When this is the case, spray away! This time work from the top down, rising as you go. Dirt and soap will drip downward and you can wash it away as it does. Think it’s time to clean your exterior brick walls? If so, consider the purchase of a power washer. This is the perfect time to buy one! Give us a call! At PSI we sell a broad range of quality power and pressure washers and can help you determine the best product to meet your needs! We look forward to working with you!