Who Power Washes Houses? Here’s Who to Call

Whether you have mildew buildup on your siding or other kinds of grime, power washing is the most efficient way to remove it. But you may wonder: who power washes houses? Hiring a professional power washing company delivers the skills and equipment to do the job quickly and safely.

Benefits of Hiring a Power Washing Professional

When you hire a local power washing company, you receive several benefits, including fast work, full insurance protection, effective cleaning, and no need to rent and learn how to use unfamiliar equipment. A professional power washer knows how to protect all parts of your house and foundation while working, too. 

But how often should you power wash your house? Washing the house once a year is a good cadence. A professional can put you on an automatic annual schedule for power washing so you don’t have to remember to call for service. You should also power wash a house before painting it.

Can I Hire a Handyperson to Power Wash My House?

If you don’t have access to a local power washing company, you could hire a handyperson to do the work. However, make sure the handyperson knows how to use the equipment to pressure wash siding. The handyperson might need to rent the equipment, which may influence when the work can take place. On the other hand, a power washing company will always have its own equipment ready to go.

How Do Power Washing Professionals Wash Your House?

Power washing professionals will take several steps when power washing your home, including:

• Inspection: The pros walk around the entire home, looking for cracks or worn materials that the pressure washer could damage further.

• Covering items: The pros protect shrubs, plants, air conditioning compressors, electrical outlets, and light fixtures by covering them. But you’ll want to move cars, grills, kids’ toys, and patio furniture out of the way.

• Prescrubbing: The pros will pre-treat areas with significant mildew or grime with a cleaning solution.

• Using safety gear: They wear safety goggles, gloves, coveralls, and grippy shoes to guard against splashback and slipping.

• Adding detergent: They will mix the cleaning solution and add it to the pressure washing equipment.

• Washing the house: The pros stand several feet from the siding and turn on the machine. They sweep the water application wand back and forth. The key is using enough water pressure to remove grime without damaging the home.

• Second sweep: If your home has significant grime or mildew, the pros might need to run the power washer over the siding a second time.

• Clean up: The pros will let your house air dry naturally, remove any plastic covering, and return items to their original places. If you plan to paint the house, you’ll want to wait a couple of days to give everything time to dry adequately.

How Much Does Power Washing a House Cost?

The cost to professionally pressure wash a house runs between $100 and $700, with an average of $300. However, large multi-story homes that need a lot of cleaning could cost $1,000 or more. 

To save some money on the cost of power washing the house, have the professional wash other items at the same time. The company might give you a discount on the quote by washing multiple items now rather than having to return to clean additional items later. Some other power-washing jobs can include:

• Roof

• Fence

• Detached garage

• Gutters

• Driveway

• Patio

• Deck

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

The answer to the question—who power washes houses—could be you. You could save some money by DIY power washing your own house. 

However, you will have to rent the equipment, which can be pricey. By the time you go through the hassle of renting the gear, picking it up, using it, cleaning it, and returning it, you may find that you’d prefer avoiding the stress and hiring a professional.

You must learn how to use the equipment safely to reduce the chance of causing damage. A professional has the skills—and insurance—to keep your property safe.

If you have a multi-story house, you may need to climb a ladder or walk on the roof to do the job properly. A professional has experience working off the ground and will have the required safety equipment. Working around a wet, slippery ladder or roof can be dangerous for an average homeowner.