Why You Should Pressure Wash in Late Winter
When it comes to exterior property maintenance and improvement projects, winter might seem like a wash. After all, the cold temperatures make it difficult to get anything done outside for too long, and regular snowfall, high winds, and other wintry conditions can undo your hard work shortly after you’ve completed it. As such, it often makes more sense to wait until spring to tackle things like cleaning, painting, and repairs. You might be surprised to know that many experts recommend pressure washing your property during the winter -- late winter, to be more precise. The optimal time of year to wash your home will vary depending on your location and the conditions of a given year, but late winter is often a great time to give your exterior a proper cleaning and prepare it for warmer weather.
Benefits of Pressure Washing in Late Winter
The Importance of Pressure Washing
First, let’s review why it’s so crucial to pressure wash your property at least once a year (twice is ideal if you live in an area with harsher weather). The most obvious reason has to do with keeping up appearances. When properly performed, pressure washing helps restore your home’s or business’ color and shine, boosting its curb appeal and making it more inviting overall. Beyond mere aesthetics, pressure washing is also an essential preparatory step for commercial or residential exterior painting. By thoroughly cleaning your outside surface this way, you provide a more even and receptive canvas for the incoming coatings. Ultimately, pressure washing your property will enhance the look and longevity of your exterior paint job. Lastly, pressure washing is one of the most effective and efficient ways to remove years of dirt, dust, grime, mold, mildew, and other unwanted and/or harmful contaminants lingering on your property’s face. If left unchecked, these substances (namely fungi like mold and mildew) can eat away at your surfaces and gain entry into your property, causing further damage and posing health risks.
In short, pressure washing your home or business once or twice a year enhances its appearance, prepares it for a fresh coat of paint, and prevents harmful substances like mold and mildew from building up and wreaking havoc.
Is There a Bad Time to Pressure Wash?
With so many benefits, is there any situation in which pressure washing might be a bad idea? As is the case with any exterior project, you’re at the mercy of your environment. If it’s extremely hot or cold, windy, rainy, snowy, etc., you’ll have a hard time accomplishing whatever you set out to do, including pressure washing. Though the weather can be unpredictable, certain times of year are generally more temperate than others, such as late winter, early spring, and fall (again, this depends on your local climate trends). It also helps to keep an eye on the forecast as you prepare to wash your home. Ideally, you’ll want a day with temperatures between 45 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, low winds, no precipitation, and partly sunny cloud conditions.
Of course, pressure washing can still occur outside of these conditions -- if it’s under 45 degrees, but not below freezing, over 80 degrees but not oppressive, drizzling, or slightly windy, pressure washing services can typically still get the job done. So, while there are some less than desirable times to pressure wash your property, it’s more useful to think about which times are best to tackle this project. The optimal conditions outlined above might not exactly describe late winter where you live, but continue reading to learn why you should consider pressure washing at the end of the cold season anyway.
Why Late Winter Is a Great Time for Pressure Washing
So, what makes late winter so special for pressure washing? For one thing, it’s no secret that winter can do a number on your property -- snow lands and lingers on your roof, freezes, then melts down your exterior, carrying with it dirt and debris and allowing moisture to enter every nook and cranny it can find; freezing temperatures force your surfaces to contract and seize up, leading to warping and cracking; biting winds erode your surfaces; the list goes on. As this season comes to a close, your property likely won’t look its best and may even be damaged in various ways. If you wait too long to address these issues, the potential for damage grows greater and greater. So, the sooner you assess and refresh your property following the worst of winter, the better. In other words, pressure washing this early on (i.e. before spring is in full force) will ensure that winter’s negative effects are eradicated before they become bigger problems (don’t forget to pressure wash gutters as well to remove any dirt and debris left over from the fall and winter).
While late winter may still provide cold days, the season’s end will be somewhat warmer and sunnier than previous months, and any remaining snow will be quickly evaporating by this point. Keep an eye on your local forecast -- if it appears that temperatures are steadily on the rise and snow is done falling for the season, it’s worth investing in commercial or residential pressure washing services. Doing so will allow you to prepare your property for spring in both appearance and integrity. You can then spend your spring and summer on other important exterior projects, such as painting, staining your deck, installing new outdoor fixtures, and so on.
Simply put, pressure washing in late winter as opposed to spring or summer allows you to quickly rid your home of dirt, grime, mold, and other problems caused by winter weather so you don’t wind up with larger, costlier repairs and so you can enjoy the warmer weather with a fresh-looking property.
Proper Pressure Washer Preparation and Usage
If you have your own pressure washer, there are some caveats to consider before using it, especially during the winter. The cold weather can damage your pressure washer and cause performance issues if it’s not properly stored or winterized. You’ll want to make sure the engine is well-lubricated, fluids are stabilized, and the pump is stored in a warm area throughout the season, so it’s safe and ready to use in late winter. If you’d rather not concern yourself with these maintenance requirements, you can simply hire a professional pressure washing contractor to do the job. At Nash Painting, our pressure washing professionals use the best equipment for the job and safely deploy our methods to prevent damaging your surfaces or putting anyone in harm’s way.
If you’re considering pressure washing your home before winter comes to an end, we’re your go-to provider in Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin, TN. To learn more about us, our services, and our values, call us at 615-829-6858 today!