Good idea: Having your home power washed.

An annual power washing—you might call it pressure washing—is preventative maintenance for your home that will protect everything from your curb appeal to your property value, and that’s in addition to protecting your home and your family from mold, mildew, and dry rot.

Maybe not a good idea: Power washing your home yourself.

A power washer isn’t the kind of tool you can pick up and learn to use in five minutes. It takes training to use effectively and safely, and if you try to power wash your home without knowing the ins and outs, you might end up doing permanent damage to your house or yourself.

That’s where a professional power washing service comes in. Since we’re talking about good ideas, another one is to do some pre-screening before you ask someone to point a high-pressure water jet at your stuff. Rather than hiring the first group that pops up in a Google search, you should do some research first.

Here are a few questions you should consider asking your prospective power washing professionals.

Ask to see their credentials – Are they qualified?

Residential power washing services require licenses that you have a right to see. Ask to see the certifications of the group you’re planning to hire so you know that they know what they’re doing. You should also ask about liability insurance so you know what will happen in the event something or someone is damaged during the course of your service.

As a more informal background check, look up the company on Yelp! or Google to see how other people have rated their service.

Get a quote – How much should you pay to have your home power washed?

Any business that won’t give you an honest estimate upfront is one you should avoid. We can attest that the cost of residential power washing varies from home to home based on the size of the house and the materials and surfaces you need cleaned.

Red Beacon, a home improvement referral site, says that the average cost of a power washing service is $236 a visit, with prices ranging from $159 to $350. If you feel like you’re getting overcharged, move on to the next business on your list.

Ask how they conduct their business – Are they safe, clean, and effective?

Whichever group you choose to go with, you’ll want to do some thorough planning about how they’ll approach the work. Make sure the person in charge knows exactly what you want and what you need. Consider things like:

• Waste water disposal: If you’re city doesn’t permit waste water from power washing to be washed down storm drains, or if you don’t want it running into your lawn, make sure that your chosen service has a plan in place to collect and dispose of the waste water.
• Safety: Ensure that proper equipment is being used and that safety is guaranteed for the people performing the service as well as other people in the area like your family and neighbors.
• Chemical products: Ask about the chemicals they use, both for the main service and pre-cleaning. Make sure these aren’t a hazard to your home.

We are happy to answer all of the above questions at AAA Window Solutions, as well as any others you might have about our residential power washing services. Get in touch with us today if you’re interested in a free quote.