As the name suggests, pressure washers are pieces of equipment that use highly pressurized water to blast away dirt and grime. Pressure cleaning is an integral part of many residential, commercial and industrial cleaning regimens.
However, not all pressure washers are made equally and will typically fall into two distinct categories: cold pressure washing and hot pressure washing. While both techniques use pressurised water and are capable of cleaning both indoors and outdoors, their difference lies in the temperature of the water that is used.
While effective, sometimes the application of cold water to a greasy and oil surface is not enough, even with the addition of a cleaning solution. In this post, we discuss what hot water pressure washing is, its applications and the benefits of using this cleaning technique.
How Hot Water Pressure Washers Work
Have you ever tried to clean oil and grease off a surface with cold water? In most cases, it takes a significant amount of scrubbing to remove the stains. That’s because cold water is not able to effectively break down these tough residues and they stick stubbornly to surfaces, resulting in an unsatisfactory finish.
This is where hot water pressure washers come into play. Providing a higher temperature option to the pressure cleaning process, hot water pressure washers can more effectively penetrate the molecules of grease and grime.
There are 3 key elements that make hot-pressure cleaning an effective technique – heat, agitation and detergent.
1. Heat
Oily stains are difficult to remove because the molecules that make them up are attracted to each other more than they are to water. The heat of the water helps to break down these molecules and strip them away from the surface
2. Agitation
The pressure of a hot pressure washer helps to agitate the surface, breaking down dirt and debris. As this water is travelling relatively fast, it hits the surface with lots of energy, knocking dirt, grime and dust away.
3. Detergent
Cleaning solutions chemically break down the bond between the dirt and the surface being cleaned. Most detergents will have a softening agent that emulsifies the oil and grease. Once mixed the dirt can be carried away in the water.
What Are The Best Jobs For Hot Water Pressure Cleaning?
As much as we scrub and clean, cold water is simply not able to effectively break down these tough residues. In many cases, hot water pressure washing is a much more effective option for removing oils and grease from surfaces. Hot water pressure washers can be used in a variety of applications, such as:
- Cleaning grease stains and oil stains
- Stripping paint
- Cleaning concrete
- Cleaning tough dirt stains
- Removing mould, mildew, and weeds
- Removing salt
The Benefits Of Hot Pressure Washing
Hot water pressure washing offers a number of benefits, including:
Disinfects
Hot water pressure washers are effective at disinfecting surfaces. The heat kills germs and bacteria and allows for the surface to be sterilises – making it effective for indoor applications.For stained driveways and external surfaces, hot-pressure washers cut through petroleum, cooking oils, grease, and other stubborn stains.
Quality Cleaning in a Fraction of the Time
Manual scrubbing can take time and effort – all for less than satisfactory results. The combination of heat, pressure and detergent can result in a thorough clean with little effort. Using hot water for pressure cleaning can save you a significant amount of time as the heat helps to break down dirt more quickly.
Reduced Detergent Consumption
While still needed, using a hot-pressure washer can reduce the amount of detergent needed. This can help to reduce the costs associated with cleaning as well as its environmental impact!
Is Hot Water Always Better?
Hot water is not always needed for cleaning. For some jobs and surfaces cold pressure cleaning can be just as, if not more effective.
Cold water pressure washers are ideal for removing dirt and temperature-sensitive surfaces, like plastic.
Similarly, they work better with wooden surfaces and are quite effective and removing dirt and grime of of fences and other timber structures.
Oil & Grease Don't Stand A Chance!
Hot water pressure washing is a great way to quickly and effectively clean tough stains, grease, grime and dirt. It can save you time, and money and reduce detergent consumption. If you are looking for fast, efficient and professional hot water pressure cleaning services, the team at Water Attack Pressure Washing can help!
By combining hot water pressure washing with high-quality detergents and cleaning solutions, we can easily remove even the toughest stains and dirt quickly, efficiently, and effectively. Whether you are looking for residential or commercial pressure cleaning services in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, Water Attack have got you covered. Get in touch with us today to learn more!
