6 Important Safety Tips to Follow When Using a Pressure Washer

Pressure washing, also known as power washing, involves the use of pressurized water to clean hard surfaces. It's used among homeowners, business owners and professional cleaners alike. But if you're planning to use a pressure washer in the near future, you should follow these tips to protect against injury.

#1) Wear Eye Protection

Whether you're pressure washing a sidewalk, building, home or any other structure, you should always wear the appropriate eye protection. The pressurized stream of water can knock off debris, turning that debris into a flying a projectile. Without the appropriate eye protection, you could sustain serious eye injury and/or vision loss.

#2) Low Pressure First

A good rule of thumb is to use the lowest pressure setting first and gradually increase the pressure as needed. This way, there's less risk of excessive pressure damaging the object or structure that you are cleaning and subsequently dislodging or knocking off debris. So, turn your pressure washer to the lowest setting first and increase the pressure if you need additional cleaning power.

#3) Wear Long Pants and Boots

Don't make the mistake of trying to pressure wash while wearing shorts and sneakers. If you accidentally direct the water stream to your legs or feet, it could cause serious injury. To protect against such injury, it's recommended that you wear long pants (jeans) as well as boots.

#4) Hold with Both Hands

Of course, you should also use the pressure washer by holding it with both hands. Holding a pressure washer with only one hand could result in a loss of control -- and that's ultimately what causes bodily injury with this device. As long you hold the pressure washer with both hands, you'll have greater control over it.

#5) Wait Before Storing

Because pressure washers generate heat during operation, you should wait for the device to cool down before placing it in storage. Normally, you can expect a pressure washer to cool down within one hour.

#6) Don't Spray Power or Electrical Lines

I know this probably sounds like common sense, but it's still worth mentioning that you should avoid spraying power or electrical lines when using a pressure washer. Conventional wisdom should tell you that water and electricity doesn't mix. Nonetheless, many people still overlook this otherwise basic safety rule.