4 Benefits of Dryer Vent Cleaning

Homeowners must dedicate time to cleaning the vents of their dryer once a year or more, depending on the number of occupants using it. The cleaner your dryer is, the more efficiently it will operate. However, there are far more advantages to maintaining a clean dryer than just cleanliness. If you neglect routine dryer duct cleaning, it can cause a variety of problems you may never have considered. Learn four of the most significant dryer vent cleaning advantages.

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Fact vs. Fiction — Debunking Common Pressure Washer Myths

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EcoTek provides pressure washing services to residential and commercial clients in Maryland, Virginia, and DC. There are many myths in the world of power washing. So, we thought we would debunk them as well as spread the word about our legendary eco-friendly services, including high-speed pressure washing and soft washing for delicate surfaces.

Below, find common power washing myths and the actual facts that can help you hire a pressure washing service for your roof, home, or business.

Myth 1: Pressure washing only uses high water pressure to clean surfaces.

Fact: Pressure washing typically uses high water pressure to clean durable surfaces. However, we can also use soft washing on delicate areas such as vinyl siding. For example, soft washing can safely clean the delicate surfaces of roof shingles to preserve the structure while washing away fungus, dirt, and mildew. Please call us for house washing services, and we’ll use the appropriate pressure to protect and clean your home’s exterior.

Myth 2: Pressure washing is only useful for large buildings or homes.

Fact: Power washing is safe for nearly every external surface, including brick, pavers, fencing, sidewalks, and driveways. In fact, we offer a two-year limited warranty on house and building cleanings and a five-year warranty on roof cleanings. Additionally, our pressure washers can clean any structure, no matter how large or small.

Myth 3: Pressure washing is an easy DIY project.

Fact: It’s not as easy as it looks to operate a power washer without the proper training. Without the right technique, you could leave behind etchings and sensitive surfaces at your home or business. We highly recommend hiring a professional with years of experience and the appropriate personal protective gear.

Protect yourself and your family from injuries due to high water pressure by calling EcoTek. Our qualified technicians professionally clean the designated surfaces with environmentally friendly pressure and soft washing services.

Myth 4: Every surface is safe for power washing.

Fact: pressure washing works for many exterior surfaces. However, some surfaces are not suitable for high water pressure or even softer water pressure. It’s important to hire a professional to determine which surfaces are safe for power washing. Trying to figure that out on your own could result in costly damage to your driveway, roof, home, or business.

Myth 5: Pressure washing detergent isn’t safe for your home exterior.

Fact: EcoTek has specially formulated detergents for our power washers. We believe in reducing our total carbon footprint as much as possible. So, our technicians use just enough environmentally friendly soaps and solvents to minimize the impact of our services. Of course, we look out for our clients too. The detergent we use won’t harm children or pets and leaves your home or business sparkling clean without damaging brickwork, siding, or concrete surfaces.

EcoTek stands out among pressure washing companies for our attention to detail and 100% satisfaction guarantee. From vinyl siding to brick pavers, we can help you come clean with 

professional soft washing or power washing services.

The power washing pros at EcoTek will provide an upfront estimate and help you determine which services are viable for our highly effective cleaning methods. We stand out among other power washing companies for our customer care and service. If you’re interested in power washing services for a Baltimore home or power washing a Norfolk, VA commercial location, our team has the experience, knowledge, and resources to get the job done right.

Call EcoTek today for power washing services in Maryland, Virginia and DC.

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What Are the Black Streaks on My Roof? Can Soft Washing Remove Them?

Black streaks on your roof are a harbinger of bad news, unfortunately. There’s nothing good to say about Gloeocapsa Magma, a hardy blue-green algae species that easily multiplies and spreads. Detrimental to your roof from any way you look at it, black streaks caused by Gloeocapsa Magma can really cause some damage to your shingles—and if left unchecked, it can reduce the expected lifespan of your whole roof.

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Should I Soft Wash My Commercial Building or Property?

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You only get one chance to make a first impression, and this includes the impression your business (and the commercial building housing it) makes on customers, clients, vendors, and even members of the community. That’s reason enough in itself to keep your exterior clean through commercial soft washing.

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What’s the Difference Between Power Washing, Pressure Washing, and Soft Washing?

If you’ve looked into getting your roof or other areas of your home’s exterior cleaned by a professional, then you may have heard the terms “power washing,” “pressure washing,” and “soft washing” tossed around. While they may all sound fairly similar, they aren’t all the same thing. Each of these is used to describe a specific type of power cleaning technique useful in different situations — each with its own distinct advantages.

What Is Power Washing?

Power washing is not the same as pressure washing, although the wash equipment used for each looks very alike. The most significant difference between power washing and pressure washing is heat; power washing requires heated water — usually warm but sometimes hot. Power washing equipment allows the cleaning professional to change water temps as they work. A power washing machine includes pumps for pressurizing and heating the water used for cleaning. As you might imagine, hot water can be a more effective cleaning medium than cold, but it can also damage vinyl siding and some other exterior surfaces.

Power washing is best for:

  • Stubborn stains, such as from oil and grease
  • Removing gum from surfaces
  • Removing mold and mildew when heat is required
  • Cleaning durable surfaces
  • Getting rid of stuck-on grime and debris

What Is Pressure Washing?

Like power washing, pressure washing relies on high-pressure water to remove dirt, grime, and other gunk from surfaces — save for the heat. Pressure washing is an excellent option for many home exteriors, but pressure can be too much for some of the more delicate surfaces you may need cleaned. This includes those that are fragile or porous, such as wicker or bamboo. Professional pressure washers are more powerful than their hardware-store counterparts.

Pressure washing is best for:

  • Hard, solid surfaces
  • Stone, tile, fencing, and concrete
  • Some types of roof cleaning

What Is Soft Washing?

Soft washing is a type of cleaning method that uses a soft spray with a low PSI and a soft washing nozzle that reduces the force of typical pressure washing. Additionally, soft washing involves using special chemical agents in the water to help provide a thorough clean by breaking down biological materials such as moss, algae, and mold. Soft washing methods are usually recommended for delicate surfaces, including asphalt roofs where black streaks resulting from algae develop. The lowered pressure (and special cleaning agents) remove these invasive algae without damaging the granular surface of the shingles or causing harm to plants in the yard, masonry, and painted surfaces.

Soft washing is best for:

  • Painted, aluminum, and vinyl sidings
  • Brick, stone, masonry, or stucco
  • Fiberboard
  • Glass and windows

Contact Us for Professional Power Washing, Pressure Washing, and Soft Washing

Ready for professional cleaning solutions for your home’s exterior? Count on EcoTek Power Wash for all of your pressure, soft, and power washing needs. For more information about our services or the best time of the year to power wash a house, reach out to us today!