Whether you’re prepping your Florida home for a fresh coat of paint, sprucing up patio furniture, or cleaning off the deck or driveway, pressure washers can help you tackle your outdoor cleaning chores fast.
But there’s more to pressure washers than meets the eye…
To help keep you safe, we’re sharing 12 pressure washer tips that all Florida homeowners should know.
The Hidden Danger of Pressure Washers
Pressure washers can spray water with up to 80 times more pressure than your typical garden hose. If operated incorrectly, they can pose a serious hazard.
The primary concern? The nozzle. Pressure washers are typically sold with either a set of interchangeable nozzles or an all-in-one adjustable nozzle, allowing users to change the water pressure angle depending on the task at hand.
According to Consumer Reports, very narrow nozzles pose a potentially dangerous risk to users and have limited benefits. To reduce your risk of injury while operating a pressure washer, never use the red, zero-degree nozzle or the zero-degree setting on an all-in-one nozzle. In fact, if you own a pressure washer that has a zero-degree nozzle, consider getting rid of it to avoid accidentally using it. Essentially, the wider the water pressure angle, the safer it is for you and your home.
Safety First: 12 Pressure Washer Tips
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following pressure washer tips to help keep Florida homeowners safe while operating this equipment:
- Follow your product manual pressure washer tips and safety instructions
- Wear closed-toe, rubber-soled shoes, as well as safety goggles and long pants, while operating a pressure washer
- Test your circuit breaker or outlet before operating a pressure washer
- If you need to use an extension cord, use a heavy-duty extension cord and keep both the power cord and extension cord connections as far away from standing water as possible
- Have a qualified electrician check the pressure washer for electrical problems if it trips a circuit breaker
- Hire a professional if you don’t feel comfortable operating the pressure washer
DON’T
- Point a pressure washer at yourself or others
- Attempt to move objects around by spraying them with the pressure washer
- Operate a gasoline-powered pressure washer inside your garage or in an enclosed space
- Remove the grounding prong from the pressure washer’s power cord plug or the extension cord
- Cut or splice the pressure washer’s power cord or extension cords
- Allow children to operate a pressure washer. Keep children at a safe distance when the pressure washer is being used.
With these pressure washer tips in mind, you’ll be able to safely and efficiently complete your outdoor cleaning tasks.