Between pollen and Daylight Savings Time, it is easy to wonder if there isn’t a conspiracy to make us dislike spring after all. Pollen tends to be nearly ubiquitous this time of year, and the results range from unattractive to unhealthy. You can do much toward minimizing these negative effects by pressure washing pollen away without delay. Let the professionals at Westchester Power Washing manage the task for a quick and efficient clean.
The Problem with Pollen
Pollen is an essential part of the plant propagation process. The particles are intentionally minute and essentially weightless so they can be carried on the wind or water or on the legs of insects or animals. This haphazard method of dispersion gives plants a better chance of propagation, but it makes for a very messy season.
Pollen grains can settle just about anywhere, from roofs to sidewalks to siding to vehicles to gutters. When they land on frequently-trafficked surfaces, they can quickly become ground into them, and the grains can also settle into every possible nook and cranny. Pollen that is not taken care of quickly tends to build up, and when it gets wet, it gets sticky. Truly, pollen can range from inconvenient to unhealthy.
Is Pressure Washing Pollen Away Possible?
Pressure washing pollen is often the best way to get rid of it. Simply taking a garden hose to it is usually not enough and can even make the situation worse. That being said, inexperienced pressure washing can do the same, so we recommend professional services for best results. Most surfaces can be pressure washed to rid them of pollen, but some materials—particularly siding and roof shingles—require more delicate treatment to avoid damaging them. A good soft wash is perfect.
Because pollen can cake, bake, and stain when left on too long, we recommend not waiting too long before pressure washing pollen away. Twice a year is a good metric to aim for. Because regular pressure washes prevent pollen and other debris from doing more serious damage, making it a priority can ultimately save homeowners time, energy, and money. We recommend having your property power washed shortly after the height of pollen season has passed.
Reasons to Power Wash Pollen
The reasons for pressure washing pollen away early on are many and range from slightly inconvenient to medically important.
Improve Curb Appeal
Pollen will coat every exposed surface in a yellow and sometimes sticky film. This makes homes and vehicles look in worse repair than they really are and significantly injures their curb appeal. The grains are not picky; they will stick just about anywhere, and whatever they stick to is sure to be covered. Get a fresh appearance by pressure washing your home.
Prevent Staining
In addition to being initially unsightly, pollen can also cause staining, propagating its filthy appearance long after the first spring buds emerge. Taking steps to wash pollen away early on can prevent staining and protect your home.
Cut Back on Health Concerns
Even more important than pollen’s unattractive qualities are the health challenges it poses. Pollen, like other particulates, can initiate allergies, resulting in scratchy throats, runny noses, itchy eyes, and more. In addition to inspiring asthma attacks, it can also cause sinus troubles, choking, and other breathing problems. Pressure washing can remove pollen and other allergens like dust and debris from circulation.
Wash Away Worse Things
As insidious as pollen is in the health department, it isn’t the worst health hazard that can stick to your walls. Growth of mildew and mold is even more likely to stimulate asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. It can also cause physical damage to the structure of your home, so it is critical to remove any biological growth early on. Pressure washing pollen can also rid you of these bigger threats and prevent their growth in the first place.
Prep for Paint
When painting anything, it is important to start with a clean slate. This helps prevent particles or debris from gumming up painting equipment and it yields a cleaner paint job. Even more importantly, a freshly cleaned surface facilitates better paint adhesion. Pressure washing pollen off of the exterior surfaces you plan to paint is essential, and a professional can do the job in no time. It is wise to put off both cleaning and painting until you’re sure the pollen frenzy has quelled because your surface must be thoroughly dry when you paint and you don’t want any pollen particles flying in and getting stuck in your wet paint.
Many roof washing companies advertise pressure washing roofs and pressure cleaning roofs. This sounds like an effective way to get a roof washed but it is not. Pressure washing or pressure cleaning is okay for patios, decks, driveways, walls, walkways- and other hard surfaces such as stone, brick, and cement, not roofs.
But while asphalt shingles can survive heavy rainfall, rain is not the same as a concentrated beam of water from a pressure washer. Simply put, unless you have the pressure cleaner on a low setting, cleaning your roof with a pressure washer on high will damage your roof while it appears to clean it.
When there are other features on a roof, such as vents, skylights, flashing, chimneys, solar panels, and any other items, high-pressure water could compromise the sealants on any one of those elements, plus create leaks. The water temperature could be a problem as well. Water that is too hot could damage any roofing parts, and if the angle of the spray coming towards the roof is incorrect, along with any spray repelled away from the roof, the high pressure from the spray could cause serious roof damage.
Truthfully, it would be faster and cheaper for Westchester Power Washing to simply blast your roof with a pressure washer and tell you it is clean. But, we care about our customers, some of whom have been with us for more than 30 years. And many more that have used our roof washing and home pressure cleaning services for more than 10 years. We treat your home like our home.