When the temperature goes up, many people begin to focus on the curb appeal of their homes a little more. For many, pressure washing is a hobby. Many homeowners in Greenville, and all over America, take on this do-it-yourself (DIY) project to add some glitter to their home’s exterior. What they may not know, however, is that pressure washing can be incredibly dangerous.

It is estimated that in 2014, over 6,000 Americans made emergency room visits after using a pressure washer. You might be considering using this tool for some home tweaking. Find out here that what might be a hobby, could become a dangerous problem.

Know Your Power Tool

Not all pressure washers are created equal. There are different pressure washers for different things. If you don’t use the right electric pressure washer for the right surface, you could hurt yourself, or damage your property. Know the power tool that you need for cement, wood, and siding, or you could create a very big problem without even realizing it.

The average garden hose can deliver approximately 50 pounds per square inch of water. Pressure water on the other hand will deliver 1,500 to 4,000 pounds per square inch. That’s why people use them.

When a pressure washer is operated properly, it can easily and quickly blast away dirt that is trapped, without harming the surface. Before you buy a pressure washer, be sure you get the right one for the surface intended.

Injuries Under Pressure

A pressure washer is dangerous because it is an effective power tool. When used properly, it can be a safe machine. When it is not, that pressure is dangerous. If a pressure washer is misdirected, someone could get seriously hurt.

The most common injuries sustained from a pressure washer are lacerations, as the water pressure is so strong it can cut the skin. They also cause bruises, black eyes, serious eye damages, and even deep punctures.

If you have seen the damage that a pressure washer can do to siding or a wood deck, then know that if that pressure hits the skin’s surface, the damage will be even greater.

Use Your Manual

Pressure washers seem very easy to use. You turn it on, you wash. Not so simple. Be sure that you follow the owner’s manual to the letter. You even need to use exactly as much soap as they recommend, or you could make a mistake that leads to an injury.

A common mistake that homeowners make is to forget how much cleanser solution they need to put in the pressure washer. When this happens, they don’t put in enough, and it looks and feels like their expensive new tool isn’t working properly. So, they apply more pressure, and dangerous accidents happen.

Not only that, but without the right amount of cleaning solution, water-only cleaning is more likely to distribute mold spores as opposed to cleaning them. This could lead to sickness, and more expenses to repair that damage.

When you are considering a DIY project like pressure washing, you want to be very careful about how you go about this. Pressure washing is a good idea, but it could lead to a very big problem if you don’t follow your owner’s manual, and know the tool that you are using very well.