5 Easy Steps to Start a Pressure Washing Business (2024)

FAQs

5 Easy Steps to Start a Pressure Washing Business? ›

What PSI pressure washer do you need to start a business? For most residential and light commercial applications, pressure washers with a PSI (pounds per square inch) rating of 2,500 to 3,500 will suffice. However, for heavy-duty commercial jobs, a higher PSI rating of 4,000 or more may be necessary.

What PSI pressure washer do you need to start a business? For most residential and light commercial applications, pressure washers with a PSI (pounds per square inch) rating of 2,500 to 3,500 will suffice. However, for heavy-duty commercial jobs, a higher PSI rating of 4,000 or more may be necessary.

How much does pressure washing cost per hour? Pressure washing typically costs between $60 to $100 an hour, according to Fixr.com. For example, a 1,200-square-foot home takes about six hours to pressure wash and costs between $360 to $600.

If you're looking for a profitable and easy business, you should consider getting into the business of pressure washing. It is a business you can begin with minimal money. It doesn't require special skills or training.

Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI

They're great for cleaning concrete, brick, and wood. They work especially well for cleaning patios, sidings, roofs, decks, and fences. The medium-duty power washer is best for getting rid of stubborn stains and dirt that a low-duty pressure washer can't clean.

You should also never set your pressure washer above 2,200 psi when washing your car. 1,500 psi is really all you need to get a good deep clean; any pressure higher than that won't make a noticeable performance difference.

For cleaning a wooden deck, you'll be best served by using the lowest pressure setting that's still effective. For soft woods like cedar or pine, this is usually about 500 to 600 psi. For harder woods, it can go up to 1200 to 1500 psi.

How successful are pressure washing businesses? ›

Making money with the pressure washing business can be a breeze, thanks to low start-up costs and favorable pricing. You can earn between $40,000-$50,000 a year from your business at the beginning, with the potential of making upwards of a six-figure income over time.

Consider that the average pressure washing costs between $192 and $401 per job. If you did two jobs a day at $250 each, you'd make $130,000 a year working 260 days per year. That's good money and a lot of time off to enjoy it.

Concrete cleaning calls for powerful pressure washers featuring high pressure levels of 3000 PSI. However, if you will be using the power cleaner to maintain a range of surfaces in addition to concrete, choose one with adjustable pressure levels and set it to about 3000 PSI when you need to clean concrete.

The main difference is that power washing uses highly pressurized steam to do the cleaning while pressure washing just uses unheated tap water, without the help of a heating element.

The downside to using pressure washers is that they tend to cause damage to surfaces that are too delicate. In addition, the high pressure of the water spray can cause damage to surfaces you don't intend for it to reach, such as brick or stone surfaces.

Negatives – Using a pressure washer to clean your home may not be all that it is cracked up to be. The pressure can blast through wood, asphalt and even concrete if close enough. So, you're forcing water behind the siding which could cause problems within your walls and you wouldn't even know until it's too late.

The average profit margin for a pressure washing service is typically between 25 to 40 percent depending on the services being provided. The size of the job, the cost of labor, and the equipment and supplies used can all have an impact on the profit margin.

Pressure washing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to clear away dirt and grime from your home's exterior. Pressure washers are very powerful machines that spray water at a pressure so high that it can cut through skin and cause injury or damage to your home if you're not careful.

Pressure washing using 500 to 1000 PSI is recommended for cleaning masonry. Many professionals use 100 to 1500 PSI to avoid damage. 2,000 PSI is the absolute maximum, and that's for experienced pressure washers only.

If your concrete has been newly poured, make sure to wait until it has fully cured. The curing process, if done correctly, typically takes around thirty days to properly dry and set to its full strength.

How much PSI can car paint handle? ›

Too much pressure (generally anything more than 1,900 PSI) can damage the paint job on your vehicle. If you're determined to do so, keep the following tips in mind. In addition to using the right pressure (1,000 to 1,200 PSI), make sure you use the correct nozzle.

You have to know its capabilities, 1600 PSI is good for most home jobs (general siding cleaning/gutters, car washes, cleaning furniture) Don't expect it to clean a whole concrete driveway in one smooth pass.

Foam it up

If you're using a foam cannon, fill it with a car wash soap that has been formulated specifically for this purpose and connect it to your pressure washer using the quick disconnect. We recommend M.A.X. Power Car Wash, which was recently reformulated to be foam-cannon-ready, or Cherry Snow Foam.

How to strip your deck using a pressure washer. First of all, you need the right pressure washer. We recommend around 2400 PSI for the average deck. This makes the job easy without damaging most woods.

When you are looking to clean the exterior of your home, you may be wondering if you can power wash with just water. The answer is yes – you can power wash with just water!

Pressure washing removes the outer layer of dead wood, and can sometimes make it look like it has short fuzzy hairs. This is caused by the tearing of the wood fibers. This is normal, and does not indicate damage. These fuzzies will generally go away in 2 or 3 weeks.

Running a pressure washing business involves a lot of liability, which means the cost for insurance premiums may also be high. Over the years, your equipment can get damaged, break down, and may need repairs which can be expensive.

Increases property value. Pressure washing your home can immediately increase curb appeal and property value. It is a simple task that can really go a long way. It is also a necessary task before painting or renovating the exterior of your home, so you can be one step ahead when preparing for updates to your home.

Done effectively, pressure washing can be done year-round. No matter what the weather, you may need your pressure washer for your cleaning and maintenance needs. However, pressure washing during winter can present some unique challenges. Snow-covered roads may coat your fleet vehicles with dirt, ice, sand, and salt.

How many PSI is a good pressure washer? ›

Mid-Range Power: 2,000 to 3,200 PSI

The most versatile category of pressure washers, those ranging from 2,000 to 3,200 PSI effectively clean cars (including the most well-used off-road vehicles), home siding, fences, boats and grimy garage floors. Those closer to 3,200 PSI work effectively on tough stains, too.

What is a good PSI for a power washer? A model that creates anywhere between 1300 to 1700 pounds per square inch of pressure is decent. The higher the pressure, the more powerful it is.

2,000 to 3,000 PSI

The most common range for commercial pressure washers. Good for cleaning concrete surfaces with light to moderate oil stains, most automotive cleaning, pools, many industrial applications.

There are two types of pressure washers: electric and gas. Electric pressure washers are the cheapest of the two, costing $35 to $65 to rent per day, according to Home Advisor. Renting a gas residential power washer costs $70-$110 per day.

Pressure washing utilizes cold high-pressure water to do the job, while power washing uses heated high-pressure water. Since power washing uses heated water, it requires more expensive equipment, meaning you'll pay more for power washing.

Grout on interior surfaces and point on exterior surfaces can be removed by pressure washing. Grout and point can become soft, weak, and crack with age. Using a pressure washer accelerates this process through over-saturation.

You need 3000 psi (pound per square inch) to clean a driveway. Some will say that 1500 psi will do the job, as most pressure cleaners sold for domestic use can only go up to that. If you want to make sure that the pressure cleaner will clean your driveway thoroughly, an industrial pressure cleaner is what you need.

Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI.

You need a high-quality pressure washer that can deliver about 3,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). The higher the PSI, the faster and more effectively you can clean your driveway.

Soft washing is the better option since the risk of damaging your home's vinyl material becomes much lower. In this case, soaps and detergents prove more important to the cleaning process than pressure. High water pressure will dig into vinyl and aluminum sidings, significantly decreasing its visual appeal.

What is another name for pressure washing? ›

The terms pressure washing and power washing are often used interchangeably.

Sole proprietors and general partners do not have to apply for a business license with the state of Louisiana. Residential house cleaning businesses must apply for a business license at their city or parish clerk's office.

You'll want to use at least 3,000 PSI for most commercial projects. This will give you enough power to clean surfaces quickly and easily. If you're working on a particularly tough project, you may need to use even more PSI. Most professional pressure washers are gas-powered, allowing for higher pressure and flow rate.

This could be a lucrative side gig or a full time operation. Consider that the average pressure washing costs between $192 and $401 per job. If you did two jobs a day at $250 each, you'd make $130,000 a year working 260 days per year. That's good money and a lot of time off to enjoy it.

Most commercial hot water pressure washers can be used for any cleaning situation with the application determining the nozzles and chemicals used. 90% of the successful commercial operators use a flow volume of 4 gpm or more. Below 4 gpm there is not enough water volume to clean efficiently.

Do Power Washing Companies Use Your Water or Their Own? Most power washing companies hook up to your water spigot or well to get the cleaning water. Since the water is on site, the power washing company won't need to bring water to your house which simplifies the process and cuts costs.

Overview: High pressure water jetting can be extremely dangerous. It is therefore essential that all staff expected to use this type of equipment receive appropriate and adequate training in accordance with the High Pressure Water Jetting Association's (HPWJA) Code of Practice.

Louisiana does require a business license for general house cleaning businesses.

When professionals think of soft washing roofs and siding, the top cleaning chemical used is a professional-grade 12.5% sodium hypochlorite, or bleach, mixed with water.

What is the difference between power wash and soft wash? ›

Pressure washing can dislodge deep-rooted contaminants within the surface, making it ideal for hard and porous surfaces like concrete. Soft washing has lighter pressure, which can reduce the cleaning effectiveness while making it easier for softer surfaces to handle.

Sodium Hypochlorite @ 15% divided by 6 parts gives you 2.5% softwash recipe. So find the required % recipe you want to work with, then take that figure away from the litres you want to make. 80L of water + 20L of Sodium Hypochlorite = 100L of 3% softwash recipe.

3,000 - 6,900 PSI: These high pressure models are what professional pressure washers and contractors usually use. They are commonly used in commercial and industrial settings, and can run on either gas or diesel.

To get the job done right, you need a pressure washer rated at least 3,000 PSI with a flow rate of at least four gallons per minute (GPM).

The main difference is that power washing uses highly pressurized steam to do the cleaning while pressure washing just uses unheated tap water, without the help of a heating element.