Don’t DIY Or Hire The Guy In Truck Who Has The Lowest Price. Found Out Why.
There are many reasons to use a pressure washer around the house. They can clean windows, gutters, cement and much more. Pressure washers cut down on the time it takes to do a job significantly. A garden hose delivers water pressure around 50 psi and a pressure washer can range from 1,500 to 4,000. That is a lot of cleaning power to make the tough jobs easier.
It might be tempting to purchase a pressure washer and tackle the job yourself but you definitely don’t want to do that. You should hire a professional to do the job for you. It will cost more up front, but in the long run, it could save you thousands of dollars. The person or company you hire should be experienced as well as licensed and insured. Experience is going to make sure they have the proper knowledge to complete the job safely and effectively. Not all states require contractors to be licensed but you should know if it is required before you begin your search. You can usually check with your state’s Department of Labor to verify if licensing is required and also verify if their license is valid and up to date. Typically, to be licensed, a professional will have to show the quality of their work, provide proof of experience or education, in some cases pass a state test, and keep all of their insurance current.
There are many reasons to make sure your contractor is licensed. Most states have some type of warranty on licensed contractors and if the work isn’t completed, or is subpar, they will help you recover some of your costs. If you hire someone who is unlicensed, there is nothing the state can do for you. If you hire an unlicensed contractor, more than likely, they won’t have worker’s compensation insurance, so if they injure themself, you could be held liable. You could end up with a lawsuit and be responsible for all of their damages.
You should also verify that your contractor is insured. Including the reasons listed above, there are other reasons for this as well. If they cause damage to your home or property, their liability insurance should cover it. If they don’t have liability insurance, it’s more than likely that your insurance won’t cover it and you will be responsible to pay for the cost of the repairs. Liability insurance also covers you in the event that work isn’t completed or isn’t up to your expectations.
So, let’s say you decide to do the pressure washing yourself. Did you know that over 5,000 people in the United States go to the Emergency Room every year for injuries sustained using a power or pressure washer? A good many of these actually end up needing surgery or an extended hospital stay. The use of a gas-powered pressure washer in an enclosed space can put you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. The high-powered spray from the pressure washer can cut your skin and also force debris into the wound. It can even cause objects to strike you or other people nearby. These types of injuries may require stitches, a tetanus shot, x-rays and possibly surgical debridement of the wound. The cost is going to add up fast and it would have been less expensive and less painful to hire the professional.
There are many chemicals that are used in pressure washing and when you hire a licensed professional, they will know the advantages and dangers of the various chemicals as well as the best situations to use them in. They will also know what chemicals to avoid using when children or pets are present.
The EPA holds property owners responsible if a dangerous chemical is allowed to contaminate a storm drain. You could be fined up to $50,000 per day. Are you willing to risk that sum of money by doing the job yourself or hiring the cheaper, unlicensed pressure washer? The professionals at First Class Pressure Washing are on the job to make your property shine and protect your financial future.
So, while it may be tempting to save a few bucks and do the pressure washing yourself, or hire one of the cheaper alternatives, the price you may end up paying may be more than you ever imagined. Contact First Class Pressure Washing today for a free quote. Let US do the work and save YOU the hassle.
