Very few people are fond of cleaning, while most do it out of necessity. Unless you are least bothered about how the cleanliness of your home, there will always be something that needs to be cleaned. Especially if you have children, it is crucial for their hygiene and safety that you keep your home clean.
So which substances would you want to clean from an object or the environment? The answer is anything that brings harm to you and your family or does not look appealing if it stays where it is. Examples include dirt, mud, infectious bacteria, ice, oil, and grease.
Cleaning can be done in various ways, and a lot of tools can be applied to the process. Different tools and machines exist for different substances and surfaces. But there is one that removes all the substances mentioned above and many others.
Hot water pressure washers are useful in cleaning concrete, bricks, wood, heavy equipment, and machine parts. They are particularly useful in removing tough stains that cannot be removed by other methods.
We will look at the reasons why they are so effective later in this article. First, let us look at how hot water pressure washers are useful in the winter season.
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Hot Pressure Cleaner for Winter
Winter is a time when you become lazy and inefficient. You automatically feel less productive during the short, cold days. However, if you live in harsh weather conditions, you will not want to be snowed in.
It is a terrible thought that you wake up in the morning and get ready to leave for work, only to find that you cannot move your car because of the deep snow around it. Or even worse than that, you are not able to open your front door.
Unless there is an extraordinary snowstorm, these things do not happen overnight. If you are efficient in removing the snow as it builds up, you will not have to face this mess. You will have to solve these problems yourself as the sun will not be there to help you either. Sunny days are a rarity in the winter in some areas.
Ice will not cause the same issues like snow, but it has its own share of danger that it brings. Black ice is a well- known winter hazard. The primary reason why it is extremely hazardous is that it is invisible and forms a thin layer on driveways, sidewalks, and roads. People easily slip and fall due to this perilous black ice. Thousands of road accidents are also attributed to black ice each year.
Moreover, if we talk about driveways, there is a high risk of slipping and falling for you and your children. You cannot do anything about the ice on the roads as it is the responsibility of the city authorities but what you can do is, take care of your own driveway. Buy a hot water pressure washer, and it will do the magic. It is incredibly useful in removing ice and snow from driveways.
Advantages of a High-pressure Washer
Now you do not have to spend hours trying to remove stains from surfaces. Previously, de-icing pavements and driveways also used to take a great part of your day but not anymore. The main advantage of using water at high pressure is that it hits the surface with a greater force. Thus, forcing the substance off the surface much quicker.
Furthermore, you can also wash trucks and large machinery with a high-pressure cleaner. The oil and grease stains need to be scrubbed hard to make them vanish. Instead of doing the dirty work with your hands, take the help of high-pressure washers.
Scrubbing by hand can be very time consuming, and you still will not be satisfied with the level of cleaning achieved. High pressure water cleaners are quick and effective.
In addition to saving time, you can also save money by using fewer cleaning agents. Agents such as soap and detergents are used to chemically break down the materials you want to remove.
After breaking down, they are easily dissolved and removed by water. Using water at a higher pressure requires less amount of cleaning agent for the same task.
Power Washing for Removing Snow
The snow that accumulates on rooftops and driveways can be blasted off with a high-pressure washer, also known as a power washer. Power washers use water at a high pressure to maximize the impact with which it hits the snow. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind when it comes to power washing.
Water is heavy (8.34 lbs. per gallon) and can be absorbed into the snow on your roof. This can cause cracks to appear in your roof and, in extreme cases, cause the roof to collapse. Even small machines can force out around 3 gallons of water per minute.
Imagine the extra weight you are putting onto your roof! While you power washes the snow from your roof, you need to be extra careful that water does not accumulate. Wash small portions at a time to avoid absorption of water by a large surface area of snow.
Other Considerations
Other things you might want to consider while when using pressure washers to wash snow are:
1. Protecting yourself from the cold: Surely, you do not want frostbites while working outdoors. Snow cleaning can be hard work, especially in harsh and chilly weather conditions. Wear multiple layers of clothing to keep yourself warm. Also, wear waterproof gloves to protect your hands and thick rubber boots to avoid slipping. Your health and safety are the most important.
2. Preventing hoses from freezing up: When the temperature falls below the melting point of ice, water in your hoses and pipes freezes up. To prevent this from happening, run hot water through the pipe once every day. You can take hot water from your washing machine or other appliances that use it.
3. Choosing a suitable time: It is best to clean your driveway or roof at a time when there is available sunlight. You might want to get done with your chores early in the morning, but the sun can help speed up the process around noon when it is at the top of its arc.
4. Storing the washer properly: It is best that you store the pressure washer in a warm and dry place. However, if you have no such option, make sure you put anti-freeze in the pipes and motor. Residual water left inside can freeze and expand, causing the machine to break. Here is a video explaining how to winterize your pressure washers.
Dealing With Ice Dams
Icicles hanging from the edges of your sloped roof may look pretty, but they can be dangerous as they lead to the formation of thick ridges of ice. Such build-ups are known as ice dams. Learn more about the formation of ice dams and how to cure them on the University of Minnesota Extension Website.
The question is, is it advisable to use hot water pressure washers for treating ice dams? This technique is quite effective but should be carried out by a trained professional.
Using pressure washers to remove snow from the roof yourself can be dangerous but even more so for the removal of ice dams, as it requires a larger quantity of water. Trained individuals know how to avoid the accumulation of water on the roof, and they can effectively take care of the process.
If you live in an extremely cold climate, it is worthwhile to look for permanent solutions for dealing with ice dams.
The High-temperature Advantage: Why Choose Hot Water?
Pressure washers can work with both hot and cold water. But can any washer accommodate hot water? The answer is no. Some pressure washers are specifically designed for hot water. Those that are not designed for this purpose can be damaged if the temperature of the water flowing through them crosses a certain temperature.
The next question is does it make a difference if you use hot or cold water in your high-pressure washer? Yes, of course, it does. It makes all the difference. Especially in the winter, hot water is much more useful. To melt the snow and ice, you must raise their temperature above the melting point. What better way there is than to use hot water?
You can also use hot water to thaw frozen pipes and hoses in your home. Take water directly from the output of a water heater and make it flow through the frozen pipe. This will cause the pipe to become functional in only a few minutes. Moreover, hot water is more effective in removing grease and oil stains, and bacteria from surfaces.
Let us look at this scientifically.
Scientifically Speaking
Cold water is seldom used for tasks such as washing clothes and dishes, and the reason for this is easily explainable. Increasing the temperature of the water molecules increases their kinetic energy. This leads to the faster movement of molecules.
These fast and energetic molecules are more efficient in reacting with substances because most chemical reactions tend to occur faster at a high temperature.
The molecules of the substance you want to remove are broken down and dissolved in hot water. In addition to that, heat reduces the surface tension of the dish or cloth. This allows water to further penetrate the substance that you want to remove.
A similar scientific logic can be applied to cleaning other surfaces using a hot water cleaner. While you are cleaning the snow and ice from your driveway, you can also use hot water pressure washers to clean your vehicles and machinery. Any ice build-up will be removed, and stains will be washed away due to the wonderful effect of high temperature.
Furthermore, hot water kills bacteria and other infectious microorganisms. So, it can be used to sterilize surfaces along with cleaning them. Also, heating water to a temperature above the boiling point produces steam that effectively kills microorganisms and removes stains too.
How to Use Hot Water Pressure Washers?
To be the most efficient, take care of your technique while cleaning snow or ice with a high-pressure washer. Here are a few tips to remember:
- If there is deep snow on your driveway, it is best to shovel a few inches by hand before you use a machine.
- Add some salt to the ice before you start cleaning. The salt assists in the melting of ice. Follow this link to learn more about why salt is used for this purpose.
- Constantly move the spray back and forth on the snow or ice surface.
- Try to go layer by layer, as it is the most efficient method.
- Use a nozzle with a wide-angle as it will speed things up for you.
- Remember to discard the wash water properly. If it leaks onto the pavement, you will just be making more ice while trying to remove it.
How Does It Work?
There can be various kinds of heating systems installed in Hot Water Pressure Washers. Mostly a fuel such as natural gas or kerosene is used to heat the water to around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. A pump circulates water constantly, which causes pressure to build up inside the machine.
To release this pressure, you need to press a trigger that is on the long arm of the washer. This forces water through a narrow nozzle at the end. Aim the arm at the snow, ice, or any other surface to wash.
Caution: Use hot water pressure washers in well-ventilated areas. Wear protective goggles and make sure that you do not spray the water on yourself or others as it can cause severe burns.
To Sum It All Up
The purpose of this article was to explain how a hot water pressure washer can be used. We hope that you learned how to use this cleaning device in the winter efficiently and understood the rationale behind using high pressure and high temperature.
If you are interested in buying a hot water pressure washer for your home, check out our website for reviews on the best products available and a complete guide to buying a power washer.