Is there a difference between power washing and pressure washing?

Pressure washing and power washing terms are thrown around a lot all the time by everyone in and out of the cleaning industry. For a homeowner, how do you know which is which? How do you know which one is the right technique for your home? It can be confusing. Let’s take a look at them.

What is the Difference Between Pressure and Power Washing?

It is a type of trick question. There is no difference. Technically, pressure washing and power washing are the same thing. Pressure and power refer to different parts of the same process.

• Pressure: Pressure refers to the force used against the surface to clean everything off.
• Power: Power refers to the generator, gas or electric, that is used to generate added pressure above your normal faucet pressure.

So, if you hear either pressure or power washing, know that they are referring to the same cleaning process. However, there is a question of what pressure should you use and what surfaces can you clean with a pressure washer. Talk to a qualified professional to figure out which pressure levels are right for your surfaces and how often you should be cleaning them.

Why Pressure Wash a Surface?

Pressure washing is the easy alternative to scrubbing surfaces on your hands and knees. Who really wants to do that over the entire driveway? Pressure washing jumps up the pressure of your home’s water faucet from 50 – 100 PSI to upwards of 700 PSI. This added pressure is the cleaning magic, but it is also the cause of much of the damage to your surfaces.

What Type of Stuff Can You Pressure Wash?

Don’t assume that you can pressure wash everything. There are limits to its ability to clean things. Here is a quick list of the best surfaces to use a pressure washer on.

• Driveways
• Patios
• Concrete
• Non-Painted Metals
• Cement
• Ultra-Hard Surfaces

Hire A Professional 

Making sure the right techniques are used on your house is important to prevent damage. Instead of renting a pressure washer and trying to clean your property yourself, give Tri-State Softwash a call. We use low-pressure techniques to clean surfaces without damaging it, so your property looks great without any risk. Call (304) 671-6768 for a free estimate.