Do you want to boost your home’s curb appeal and value?
Whether you plan on selling your home soon or just want to make it better for yourself and your family, chances are you’re intrigued by at least one of those perks. If so, you ought to consider pressure washing your house.
Read on to learn more about the importance of pressure washing. You’ll also learn the pros and cons of choosing to buy or rent a pressure washer.
Benefits of Pressure Washing
There are lots of reasons why you might want to make pressure washing your home a priority, especially if your home is older or hasn’t had a thorough clean in a long time (if ever).
Besides the benefits mentioned above, pressure washing is more efficient than cleaning your house and driveway with a brush or broom and the house. It also helps you to get into those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies of your home (you know, the ones you only seem to notice when gets are over and taking a look around?).
Pressure washing is good for the environment, too. It uses less water (up to 80 percent less) than manual cleaning. It also doesn’t require you to use any harsh cleaning products that could damage your home or contribute to environmental issues like poor soil health.
Buying a Pressure Washer
Okay, you’re convinced that pressure washing your home is a good idea. A question likely remains, though, as to whether you should buy a pressure washer or just rent one.
There are pros and cons to both options. Let’s start by breaking down the option to buy a pressure washer outright:
Pros
One of the main benefits of buying your own pressure washer is that it will be available to you whenever you need it. This makes buying a great option for people who plan to use their pressure washer often.
Having this kind of device readily available saves you a trip to the hardware store to rent one, and it makes it more likely that you’ll actually use your washer on a regular basis.
This, in turn, can help you to justify the high upfront cost of purchasing a pressure washing. It also increases the likelihood that your house will get clean and stay clean without you having to put in as much effort.
Cons
One of the main drawbacks to buying a pressure washer, of course, is the fact that it does cost more money upfront.
If you only plan to use your pressure washer once and have a feeling it’ll collect dust in the garage for several years after that initial use, you’re probably better off renting instead.
When you buy a pressure washer, as the owner, you have to be the one to maintain it. You’ll also be responsible for footing the bill for any necessary repairs. This can add more strain to your wallet, especially if you don’t take good care of your washer in between uses.
Renting a Pressure Washer
Renting a pressure washer has its own pros and cons. The following are things that you should take into account:
Pros
If you rent a pressure washer, you only have to pay for what you need. You don’t have to worry about paying tons of money to have another expensive appliance sit untouched in your garage for years on end.
Renting also saves you from having to do time-consuming maintenance work like winterizing, and you don’t have to worry about finding a permanent storage place for the washer.
Renting can make higher-end, more effective equipment more accessible to you since you’re only using it once. If you buy, you might have to settle for a subpar washer that doesn’t get the job done as well as you’d like.
Cons
For those who only intend to pressure wash their home once, renting is generally the more affordable option. If you plan to use this device often on your home, though, renting becomes much less cost-effective.
Remember, a pressure washer can usually pay for itself after a few uses. If you have plans to exceed that, buying will end up saving you money in the long run.
Renting also isn’t ideal if you plan to use the pressure washer for several different projects. If you keep the washer longer than you’re supposed to (or if you space out and don’t return it on time), you could rack up some expensive late fees.
What to Look for in a Pressure Washer
Whether you choose to buy or rent, it’s important to do some research and figure out what kind of pressure washer you want to use on your home. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you begin weighing your options:
- Gas vs. Electric: Gas-powered washers tend to be louder but more powerful; the opposite is true of electric washers
- Hot vs. Cold Waster: Hot water power washers can be more effective cleaning products, but they’re also more complicated than cold water models
- Power: Always check the power of a high-pressure cleaner — look at the number of pounds per square inch (PSI) and gallons per minute (GPM) to figure this out
- Portability: How easy is it for you to move the pressure washer around your house?
If you plan to buy a pressure washer, find out what kind of warranty is offered, too. This will help you find a washer that will last you for a long time.
Buy or Rent a Pressure Washer Today
Now that you know more about the pros and cons of buying vs. renting a pressure washer, have you decided which option is more practical for you?
Whether you’ve landed on investing in one of your very own or you’re content to rent a pressure washer, keep the tips listed above in mind. They’ll help you ensure you’re choosing the best washer on the market and getting the most bang for your buck.
Are you looking for more cost-effective ways to keep your home in good shape year-round? If so, head to the Money section of our site today for additional tips on how you can save your hard-earned cash.