How Often Should You Pressure Wash Your House? What To Know!

Pressure washing a house can provide numerous benefits to both the overall health of your dwelling and your curb appeal. Pressure washing can blast away grime, mildew, and dirt. It can also help reveal issues with your home’s siding or trim. A fresh pressure-washed house looks sharp and new compared to a house that has not been pressure washed in some time. All of these benefits beg the question, how often should you pressure wash your house?

Most experts agree that you should pressure wash your house at least once a year. In some cases, it might be prudent to pressure wash your house twice a year, every six months or so. Pressure washing your house too often can cause damage to the paint, and it is recommended that you pressure wash a house only biannually at most.

If you need to pressure wash your house at least once per year, when is the best time to do it? How do you know if your house needs two washings a year instead of one? This guide will quickly answer these questions and give you the best information to decide about your home’s next pressure washing.

When Is the Best Time to Pressure Wash Your House?

The best time to pressure wash a house is during a warm, dry month. This will differ depending on where exactly you live. Some places won’t get a nice, warm, dry month until June or July. Southern homes might be able to pressure wash as early as March.

You do not want to pressure wash your home during the winter. It takes time for a house to dry completely after a good pressure washing session. If you have water left over on your home, it could freeze if the temperatures drop enough. Having water freeze on or behind your siding could cause cracking and gapping, which will only grow worse over time.

The best months to pressure wash a home are typically May through September. If you want to do two pressure washing sessions in a single year, it is best to do one at the beginning of the warm season (March or April) and one at the end of the warm season (September or October). This will give you a roughly six-month gap between each washing and will avoid any freezing weather.

When Do You Need More Frequent Washing?

You will need two pressure washing sessions a year if you live in an area with a lot of mildew or dust. Warm, humid climates can rapidly produce algae or mildew on the siding of a home. Flat, dry climates can produce a lot of airborne dirt and dust that can settle on a home.

Experts suggest running your finger over the siding of your house when you are considering doing a pressure washing session. If you get visible dirt, dust, grime, or mildew on your finger, it could be time for a wash. You can also watch to see if green spots or bands of grime start to appear under the eaves or along the skirting.

Homes in typical climates that are hot in the summer and cold in the winter, generally only need one washing per year. Homes in areas that are warmer might need two. Places like Florida or Arizona produce environments where pressure washing is more necessary than places like Ohio or Michigan. Arizona produces a lot of heat and dust that can cake onto a house. Florida produces a lot of heat and wet weather that are perfect conditions for mildew to appear.

Conclusion

Most houses will need to be pressure washed once per year. The best time to pressure wash a home is when it is warm, sunny, and dry outside. The best months are typically May through September. Homes in particular climates might need two washes per year to keep them clean and healthy, but these areas are not as common as basic areas that need just one wash per year. If you are curious about whether your home needs to be pressure washed, run your fingers or hands over your siding to see if you collect any dirt or grime.

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