There is no doubt a pressure washer is an aggressive cleaning tool in this modern era! Yes, we are indicating the aggressive word positively, because this tool works with a high-pressurized water spray, which could even cut the concrete floor as well!
As every invention has both positive and negative sides, the same goes with the pressure washer too! It can give you efficient and convenient cleaning, again it can cause serious bodily injury if you even little bit trying to make it with the spray gun, or become incautious.
Yes, a pressure washer can cause accidents most often. And the good news is that you can avoid almost 100% of those accidents if you follow the most essential pressure washer safety tips.
However, let’s stop all ado and dive into the main discussion-
How Much Damage Can a Pressure Washer Cause?
Do you know how much pressure exactly a pressure washer deals with? It is almost 1,600 and 1,800 PSI (the electric pressure washer), more than 3,000 PSI(gas pressure washer). Could you imagine how much the PSI is? Also, could you imagine how much dangerous this PSI is?
Only 1,160 PSI can cut human skin. And pressure washer with 1,740 PSI can cut the concrete floor just in a few seconds. A pressure washer with 1,914 PSI, easily will cut your patio window and door.
Here is some example only aforementioned here. Now it’s your turn! Just calculate how the PSI of your washer can harm you if you still are not serious while operating it.
Most Essential Pressure Washer Safety Tips:
As now you know how much dangerous this tool is, now let know how to keep the dangerous side of the washer closed in a box! Here we are going to include the most essential pressure washer safety tips for you. Following all these tips surely will stop the chance of injuries in many aspects.
Don’t make it fun!
Never Point the spray Nozzle to your Friend. If you try to make fun while spraying the water. It is not a water spray toy or a water spray gun. So don’t point the water spray to anyone for making fun. Pointing the high-pressure water at anyone will take a few seconds to cut his/her skin.
Wear Safety Gear:
Wearing safety goggles, safety boots, and hand gloves is mandatory if you want to ensure safety issues while operating the pressure washer. Also wear long pants, hearing protection for your leg, and ear protection.
Sometimes we suggest wearing a helmet (don’t make fun of this) if you are pressure washing on a slippery surface. Open the front glass of the helmet. A slippery surface means you have a chance to slip down and your head can face a serious injury. So if you wear a helmet or head protector, it will protect your head from the hard surface.
Don’t operate the Gas Power Washer indoor:
Gas pressure washers are dedicated to outdoor use only. As these washer causes fume, and carbon monoxide while operating, there should be enough open space to spread the gas in an open area.
In an enclosed space, carbon monoxide can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. This poisoning can cause breathing problems. Even on a large scale if you cannot exit from the affected place, this gas can ensure your death too.
Take Care of Your Surroundings:
Check the area, you are going to pressure wash. The surrounding area should be free of any children, or pets. Also check the area you are going to clean and make sure there is no other hidden item, which could damage the middle of your pressure washing. Check the surface you are going to stand on which. Do not stand on slippery surfaces with pressure washers.
Never take your Pressure Washer at High:
Don’t take the washing tool up the ladder. As most pressure washers use a high PSI, therefore they can produce high pressure injection injuries too. Besides this, a high PSI also works with high force, so gives a kickback to the operator.
When you take the washer on the ladder and turn it on-it will suddenly give you a kickback, and you will fall down. Your tool also will fall down on you, and finally, a severe accident will occur.
Choose the Correct Nozzle:
There are several types of nozzle, each dedicated to fixed-job. So any particular nozzle may be good for a particular job, again be dangerous for others’ jobs. You have to know which nozzle is perfect for your job.
You can’t use the nozzle to clean the car if it is designed to clean the concrete surface. Choosing the correct nozzle also could minimize the accidental chance broadly.
Be Cautious about the Electrical Shock:
If you are cleaning the home indoors or outdoors, there might be many electrical outlets on the home wall. And if you are running an electric-powered pressure washer, it is mandatory to plug or unplug the washer at the time of its operation.
Be careful about the electric shock, do not deal with any electric outlet with a wet hand. Also, be careful about the electric wire, do not let the wire get in touch with the water splash.
Don’t Use the Red Zero-Degree Nozzle:
The red zero Degree Nozzle are most dangerous nozzle among all nozzles. Rarely does the user needs to use this nozzle on the spray attachment. However, if you are a beginner, don’t operate the pressure washer with the red nozzle.
Read The Machine Manual:
If you read the machine Manual, it will give you a whole insight into your machine. So how does this machine works, what are the safety issues of this machine, and so on!
How to maintain the machine, you will also find over the manual. So before operating the pressure washer, read the manual to know about the machine’s operation. It will help you to prevent any unwanted accident caused by your ignorance!
FAQs:
At what PSI can water cut skin?
At 1,160 PSI, a pressure washer can cut the skin.
What PPE do you need for pressure washing?
Almost all pressure washers injury you can prohibit by wearing protective gear while operating the tool, The PPE you need for pressure washing are- safety gloves, boots, hearing aids, long pants, safety glasses, etc.
Final Verdict:
A pressure washer is a so useful item, that could make your home, driveway, and backyard shiny like new in a just few hours. And the most advantage of this machine is, anybody can operate it easily. The only precaution only is knowing the Most essential pressure washer safety tips before operating the machine.
However, if you are not aware of the safety issues of your washing tool, it not only will damage your property but also will damage your body in equal measure. So be aware of the safety issue of your washer, and take care of yourself and your property.