Yes, the phrase ‘Water blasting is easy’ may hold some truth, but what such people fail to understand is that if you are not careful, what you stand to lose is your life and that of your family members apart from spoiling your house.
Water blasting is a good and efficient method for cleaning up around the house or in commercial spaces and the outcomes, if achieved properly, are fabulous. On the other hand, the wrong person approaching it in the wrong way or at the wrong time has disastrous results. In the following article, ten preventable errors will be highlighted to decrease the risk of loss of property.
What are the advantages of water blasting?
Contrary to most conventional techniques of surface preparation, water blasting has advantages in many sectors
Efficient cleaning
The first and foremost benefit of high-pressure water blasting is that this process is very effective. Combined with gentle soap, it takes very little time to completely clean a facade or industrial equipment.
Effective in hard-to-reach areas
Another important advantage of high-pressure water blasting is the possibility of cleaning very tight corners. While cleaning a commercial area, it is very hard to get to all areas of the rooms; nonetheless, such a task is easy if one uses high-pressure cleaning.
The high-pressure water jets enter your equipment and wash out all impurities with no risk of causing harm to the equipment. Hire a house washing expert to get your plant looking as good as new!
Impeccable precision
The hose which has water with pressure is flexible to ensure a particular area is washed with a stream of water. The flow can also be regulated depending on the area that is needed for cleaning and possesses a rather high degree of accuracy.
10 Common Mistakes Made When Water-blasting
Avoid these ten common water-blasting mistakes to reduce the danger of property damage or injury.
Forgetting to Angle the Spray
When water blasting, approach the surface to be cleaned at an angle. It’s to remove the dirt up above the surface so it can be washed off. If you throw the water directly at a filthy surface, you just compost the dirt even farther into the object being washed. This is especially true on porous materials such as wood or concrete.
Really tough stains and ground-in dirt may require moving the spray head around to attack from different directions, but there should always be some angle there to “scoop” away the dirt.
If you don’t spray at an angle, you’ll likely end up with blowback dirt flying around. It’s never enjoyable to get a face full of wet muck, and if you’re not wearing safety glasses some of it could land in your eye.
Not Using Safety Equipment
Water Blasters may look like oversized squirt guns, but they are definitely not toys. A narrow stream of water discharged at several thousand pounds per square inch (PSI) can slice through flesh almost as efficiently as a saw. Even worse, the high pressure drives water and dirt deep into the tissue, often leading to infection.
Another common mistake often occurs on hot summer days: failing to wear close-toed shoes. Sandals may be more comfortable, but a minor lapse of attention might send you to the hospital. And it’s a big mistake to forget safety glasses.
Using the Wrong Nozzle
Choosing the right pressure washer nozzle tip is an important safety measure and work efficiency measure that is often done incorrectly.
It is for this reason that there is so much advice that one can get whenever they are wondering what they can or they cannot pressure wash. Generally, you can water blast almost anything as long as you’re using the right nozzle! Nozzles change the angle and spread of the spray, which affects the PSI coming out of the wand. A wider angle creates a lower pressure.
Spraying Upward Against Siding
When water blasts your home, never direct the spray upward into the siding. Siding channels water down from the roof to the foundation. It’s intentionally left open on the bottom so that any water that penetrates its barrier harmlessly drains out. Spraying from below forces water into those gaps between the siding and the house — a surefire recipe for disaster. Find out why should not water blast your roof.
The best solution is to remain on the ground and use a solid or telescoping extension wand. Don’t hop on a ladder. The kickback from water blasting can potentially send you tumbling to the ground.
Look for extension wands with a pronounced downward angle or slight curve. That will allow you to direct the spray top to bottom or along the face of the siding.
Pressure Overload
Water blaster pumps generate a closed system of pressurized water. When you pull the trigger on the spray gun, that pressure is released. But what happens when you’re not pulling that trigger? The pressure can’t be allowed to build up in one spot, so a bypass valve re-directs water away from the spray gun and back into the system.
It’s a solution that comes with one downside: temperature. All that re-directed water is continuously heated as it circulates through the system. Eventually, it gets hot enough to damage the pump, leading to early burn-out and a costly repair. (Some models avoid this issue by using ceramic-lined parts, but those generally aren’t in the consumer-grade price range.)
Using a Gas-Powered Water Blaster for Indoors
Petrol-powered water blasters are more powerful and portable than corded electric models, making them a favorite for professionals and DIYers in areas without electricity. They also produce carbon monoxide, and should never be used without proper ventilation. Get to know why your petrol-powered pressure washer won’t start.
A study published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine concluded that water-blaster-related carbon monoxide poisonings spike after natural disasters as homeowners and contractors clean out damaged basements.
Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for using a water blaster. When in doubt, take a professional water-blasting service
Not Checking Pressure Ratings
You need to be positive that your hose, fittings, and lance can handle the output pressure of the pump. You’ll be able to find the respective pressure ratings printed on the hose and lance. Make sure the printed ratings on each piece are greater than or equal to the pressure rating of the pump you’re using.
Not Throwing Away Compromised Hoses or Lances
If your hose or lance has been compromised in any way, it increases the chances of a harmful accident occurring while blasting. Inspect your hose and lance thoroughly each time before using. If the hose gets crimped or develops noticeable nicks or pits, it should be removed, cut in half, and thrown away.
Any bend in the barrel rod of the lance—no matter how small—means the integrity of the inner walls of the lance has been compromised, and the lance must be replaced.
Neglecting Safety Precautions
Treat Water Injections Like a Snake Bite – you may not think that an accidental injection from water would be cause for such concern—after all, it’s just water—but it should be treated like a serious injury. Even though the injection may be small with no apparent bleeding, you have essentially introduced micro-organisms directly into your bloodstream.
Not Hiring a Professional One for Water Blasting
Each of these homes poses its own challenges for any water blasting company. Many of the challenges can not be identified until you are actually on-site.
It would certainly be easier to provide a quick quote over the phone but, it could lead to nasty surprises for both the homeowner and the contractor.
Reputable house-washing companies never give quotes without first physically visiting the property. Most house washing companies like Sun Sofwash charge by a combination of the time required to achieve the desired result and the overall size of the property.
Read also- Benefits Of High-Pressure Water Blasting
Conclusion
With such variation between different sectors and machines, high-pressure cleaning needs to be adaptable. Professional cleaning companies must be familiar with their client’s business and operations to adjust their services to suit the equipment in question.
At Sun SoftWash, we pride ourselves on having the power of water combined with modern equipment to deliver the desired results. We know how vital equipment cleaning is to plant safety. That is why our teams employ the best cleaning practices to provide you with the best results.
In case you need high-pressure water blast services in your compounding, residential or commercial, contact us We would like to find out what questions, where problems, or challenges are that you are experiencing either with blast or painting solutions so that we can assist. Feel free to ask all your questions as we are ready to assist you on every issue that you may have.