In the northern part of the country, pressure washing during the wintertime is downright dangerous. Slick roads can make it dangerous for technicians to travel, and equipment may freeze when technicians arrive at the job site. During the wintertime, technicians lean on the warmth from the sun to warm their own vehicles and the homes they’re washing, but sunlight isn’t always a given in the wintertime. Learn about the importance of pressure washing in winter for Houstonians.
That’s not the case for wintertime in Houston. Sure, we have ice storms occasionally, and sometimes, the temperature will stay in the mid-40s for a week or more, but compared to what people in Chicago, New York, and Milwaukee go through, our winters remain mild all the way through spring. We may never have a truly white Christmas, but that’s a small price to pay for not having to deal with salt trucks and snowblowers.
Unlike those in the midwest and northeast, outdoor maintenance doesn’t really end like it does in colder climates. Weeds can still grow, and dirt and debris can pile up on our homes, making pressure washing services essential. So even though you may put away most of your gardening tools for the winter and retreated inside, you still need to go through your seasonal maintenance checklist during the winter and make sure your house is staying in good condition.
You already know that pressure washing services in winter can keep your home looking bright and clean in the summertime, but did you know that it can also help in the wintertime? Rain and wind in January and February can still splatter your home with dirt, dust, and debris, and over time, the buildup can damage your home.
Ready to make pressure washing in winter part of your seasonal maintenance checklist? Here’s why it’s important and how to incorporate it into your schedule.
Why pressure washing in winter is essential in Houston
Your home and your car are very similar when it comes to upkeep. If you stay on top of your home and car maintenance, it will probably save you a lot of money in the long run and help lessen the damage done when something does break down.
Your car, for example, should see a mechanic — provided you’re not one yourself — a few times a year for tune-ups and check-ups. Your mechanic will check your oil, rotate your tires and go over your engine, looking for potential problems or issues that should be addressed soon. You build a good report with your mechanic and since your mechanic sees your car regularly, he or she can spot when something looks off.
In the long run, this could save you money by averting major disasters like dead batteries and flat tires that might require a tow truck or the hassle of calling a friend to take you to the auto parts store for a new battery. Your mechanic would provide recommendations on how long your battery might last or if you should be thinking about new tires in the future.
Now seeing a mechanic regularly won’t stop your alternator from going bad eventually, but it will make your car last longer and stretch out those times between major repairs even farther.
Your home operates in the same way. When you keep up with general maintenance, you’ll lessen the likelihood that you need to spend serious money on major repairs. If you don’t wait to replace windows before the sealant around them has completely worn away — thereby letting rainwater to get in and damage your floors and furniture before you knew it was happening — then you’ll save money by not having to replace carpet or furniture.
Power washing services are part of those regular maintenance check-ups for Houston homes. When done at regular intervals, pressure washing in winter can prevent damage to your home, clean away dirt and debris and restore its curb appeal. Here’s how:
- Washing away harmful dirt and algae: You wouldn’t think a little dirt could hurt your home, but if left alone, dirt, algae, dust, and debris will collect moisture, allowing for the possibility of mold growth on your home. Mold eats away at paint, which means you might have to paint your home sooner and maybe more often if you don’t have regular pressure washing services.
- Preventing sun damage: That hot Houston sun doesn’t stop in the wintertime. That sunshine can discolor and wear down outside surfaces with the help of dirt and grime. Washing it away can lengthen the time between paint jobs.
- Preserve older homes: If your home is 80, 90, or even 100 years old, regular pressure washing services will take years off it. That grime and dirt building up can cause the paint to chip and siding to crack, resulting in costly repairs. Pressure washing keeps these problems at bay, therefore minimizing the money you need to spend on expensive repairs in the long run.
- Improve curb appeal: If you’re trying to sell your home or plan to in the near future, your home’s exterior can either make or break the sale. A dirty exterior makes a bad first impression on buyers. If it comes down to your home and another home, buyers might go with the other home if its exterior looks brighter and cleaner. Not only does a pressure washed exterior look better, but it also signifies that the home’s been taken care of and there probably won’t be any hidden problems that will be discovered after moving in. With a dirty exterior, buyers might not want to take a chance on what kind of damage may be lurking behind all that dirt and grime.
- Protect your family’s health: Mold allergies are common in Houston, and all it takes for mold to start growing is shade, moisture and access to food like dirt. Mold building up on the side of your home will not always cause allergic reactions since the mold is outside, but if the mold happens to find a crack or point of entry in your home, then that mold could move inside your home and cause serious damage and health problems for your family. In closed spaces, mold can cause allergic reactions, among other health problems. Regular pressure washing services, however, keeps mold at bay.
Overtime, regular pressure washing services keeps the value of your home intact while preventing some of the more costly repairs. Your homes looks great on the outside and stays in good condition both inside and out.
How to stay on top of pressure washing in Houston
The easiest way to ensure that your home stays clean and free of debris is to schedule pressure washing services ahead of time and then set up a schedule for recurring services. If you know your pressure washing technician will be out at your home on the first Saturday of every other month, you can make your calendar in advance and set reminders for yourself. You’ll feel confident knowing the service is scheduled way in advance and you don’t have to worry about remembering to schedule it again and again.
Think of scheduling pressure washing services in the same way that you schedule regular delivery of household items from Amazon or Walmart. You know you’re always going to need laundry detergent, dishwasher fluid and pet food, so it makes sense to schedule the deliveries in advance so you never go to feed your dog in the morning and discover that you’re out of food. You’ve got enough to worry about between work schedules, your kids’ sports and school activities and family events, so make it easier on yourself by scheduling your pressure washing services in advance so you can concentrate on what you love most in life.
Now you can do your own pressure washing in winter on your home, but it’s a lot more time consuming — and expensive in some ways — than you might think.
For one thing, you need the equipment to get the job done, which you can either rent from a hardware store or buy yourself. We at Advantage Pro Services use commercial-grade equipment, which means our equipment is built to tackle big jobs and stand up to the elements. Most pressure washers sold at hardware stores aren’t quite built to be as tough or as durable as commercial-grade pressure washers.
Of course, you can buy your own commercial-grade pressure washer, but they’re far more expensive than the ones built for homes. Once you buy the pressure washer, then you also have to keep it in good condition and add your own oil to keep it running. If your pressure washer breaks down or malfunctions, it will be up to you to fix it. Though you may think it’s better to make a large one-time payment for a pressure washer, the fact is that you continue to make a lot of smaller payments down the line as well, so you never really stop spending money on your pressure washer.
Renting a pressure washer does relieve some of these expenses, but then you must be on someone else’s schedule. You have to be on time to pick up the pressure washer and then drop it back off again — but what if something comes up during your day? What if a friend from out of town drops by just as you’re about to start pressure washing? What if you forgot that you need to pick up your child from a playdate and can’t get the pressure washer back in time? You could be charged a late fee and end up having to pay more.
Then of course, there’s always the possibility that the person renting the pressure washer before you doesn’t return it on time. Now you’re waiting on someone else, which could throw off the rest of your day.
Though pressure washing may seem like an easy task — just turn on the water and spray it at your home — there’s a lot more that goes into it. For one thing, many people use the incorrect amount of pressure and end up using too little or, more than likely, too much pressure. While you might think that more pressure would blast away more dirt, it can also damage your home. With too much pressure, you could:
- Break a window
- Crack your siding
- Break the sealant around a window
- Damage a roof shingle
Our Advantage Pro Services technicians always start each job by first checking for any cracks or holes in the exterior of your home where water could potentially get in if sprayed. If our technicians find any issues, they’ll address them before getting started. This can be a major money-saver for homeowners because cracks and holes often allow hot and cold air to escape and pests to get in. By having an expert look over the windows and siding beforehand, you could save money not only by not causing more damage yourself but also by preventing future damage.
If you do try to do pressure washing services yourself, then you’re responsible for all the clean up involved. You have to put the machinery away and clean up any little messes you made along the way. Then you have to return the machinery, and that’s at least another 30 minutes out of your day.
Hiring pressure washing service experts to handle the job saves you time and money in the long run, and you’ll rest assured that the job’s getting done right. You’ll have an extra set of eyes on your home, which means a pressure washing service expert might spot a problem you didn’t even know you had. If you have regular pressure washing services, your technicians will get to know your home and be able to provide expert advice for keeping it in good condition.
Pressure washing services shouldn’t stop just because the temperature drops below the summer high. In Houston, pressure washing is a year-round service, and having it done regularly can keep your home in good condition through the years.
Tell us: When was your last pressure washing service? Share with us in the comments and let us know how we can help you take better care of your home.
