My wife and I are thinking of investing in a power washer to clean our vinyl siding. Every year we spend a couple days scrubbing off the dirt and green algae. Thought we’d buy a washer rather than rent one. Could also use it to clean the deck.
We’re thinking of one of the electric models, at 1555 psi (from the Big Orange Box) for $99. Is that adequate psi? We don’t want to spend $300 for a big ol’ gas powered Contractor Grade power washer. If the 1555psi won’t do, then we’ll stick to a garden hose and a scrub brush.
Thanks.
Replies
Electric pressure washers aren't good for washing houses. Low pressure, low water output, short hoses, etc. will make for a very long day. If you only need one once a year or so I'd continue to rent.
Power washing vinyl siding is a bad idea, as it is not a very good seal against the weather to begin with.
Power washing a deck isn't much better an idea. You'd be better served to find a quality sealer and apply it twice a year.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
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Try the search function. We just had some fights over this issue last week.
Whoa. . Looks like it was a hot topic. I shoulda searched. Thanks.
pressure washing vynal is a really very poor idea...
you will inject all kinds of water in behind the siding that will eventually be detrimental to yur home....
bucket, cleaning agent, long poled scub brush and a free flowing garden hose would be yur best bet....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
stick to a garden hose and a scrub brush - you answered yourself
Anything powerfull enough to remove the dirt will cut the vinyl.
Even washing my truck with a $1500 4500psi, 4gpm washer does not remove the light film. You pause for a second and you have o hole in the vinyl.
Did I mention that using the 0 degree nozzle I once slipped and cut a 1" deep gash in my leg thru the jeans - luckily it did not get infected.
OK so everybody agrees that pressure washing vynil is bad. now lets get back to the question. Is the 99 dollar 1500 psi worth a sh^&
I vote no.
no...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Only for exposing aggregate on 2 day old concrete if you have a LOT of time <G>
I've pressure washed thousands of houses, many hundreds of them with vinyl siding including my own house, and never had a problem. Never had a callback for a leak or water stain, certainly never blown a hole through the vinyl. I pressure clean my own house about every 3 months and it could probably use it every month so I'd hate to think I had to use a bucket and a brush. Also, here in south Florida you'd be paying a $500.00 fine for washing your house with a hose and brush.
Let me see if I get this straight: pressure washing a vinyl house is a pick 'em.
But a $99 pressure washer is a mistake.
Last time my sister-in-law was in town she did a pretty good job of scrubbing the siding. Maybe I'll just wait for her.
"Pick-em"?
You got one guy from Florida who says go....everybody else recomends against it.
Hardly a toss up.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
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Hey, I'm from Florida and I wash my vinyl palace on wheels once a year. Didn't squirt holes in it either. On the other hand I did knock it off the blocks, but the next tornado set it upright again :)
BTW Junkhound be afraid, very afraid of the 0 degree nozzle and flesh.
Florida says he's done thousands. So I figured his thousands balance out the others? ;-)So how about this: It's not worth buying the $99 pressure washer because it doesn't have the pressure to clean the vinyl. A more powerful pressure washer, one that does have the power, also runs the risk of pushing water behind the siding. Then again, the other thread where this was discussed had a couple people writing that their $99 washers worked well enough. My neighbor said he's let me try his $99 washer to see how it works.
Actually he said "many hundres with vinyl".
But that's pickin' nits.
"Balancing it out" would be an equal number of people who believe its fine......not one who claims to have done many.
If you went to 100 doctors.....and 99 of them agreed you needed surgery.....but the other one insisted he's given a "magic pill" to 100 other people......would his opiion "balance" that of the first 99 doctors?
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq