How Long Does it Take to Pressure Wash a House?

Published by Ahmad Jamal on March 11, 2023 | Last updated on May 15, 2023

The exterior of your house is coated with various substances that build up over time.

Outside factors like rain, wind, dust that nearby cars scatter, and similar frequently stain the exterior, and since it’s an essential cleaning chore, you should know How Long Does it Take to Pressure Wash a House.

Additionally, once it inevitably becomes clearly visible, cleaning the house is much more affordable and manageable than repainting it (if the façade is still healthy).

And there is no better way to do it than with a pressure washer.

In this CleanersAdvisor guide, you’ll be able to tell how long does it take to pressure wash a house, a small house, a pretty dirty house, and more!


How Long Does It Take to Pressure Wash a House?

Let’s get down to the main point here, we’re all eager to know how long does it take to pressure wash a house, and here’s the answer:

You can clean your house with a pressure washer in about one to three hours. However, that will heavily depend on multiple factors, such as:

  • size of the house;
  • number of stories;
  • design of the house;
  • the severity of stains;
  • pressure washer model you use;
  • how skilled you are with the tool, etc.

Let’s look into these factors to get a more precise estimate of how much time you should set aside to complete the job.

How Long Does it Take to Pressure Wash a House

How Long Does It Take to Pressure Wash a Small House?

Generally speaking, you know How Long Does it Take to Pressure Wash a House, but does it differ for smaller sized houses? Yes it does.

It will take around 30 minutes to one hour to pressure wash a 1500-2000 square foot house. So naturally, bigger houses will require more time to get all the dirt out. In addition, the number of stories will influence your expected time to clean. 

A two-story house will be a bit more demanding as there are places a lot harder to reach. In addition, you will need extra equipment to handle it. An important thing to mention is to not use a ladder. Apart from the fact that you will be unstable since you are handling the hose, the pressure can easily push you back. 

Consider purchasing a telescoping wand to clean surfaces you can not reach with your pressure washer. These extensions will add 12 to 24 feet of length (3,5 to 7 meters), making cleaning multiple-story houses much easier and safer. In addition, you will not lose a lot of pressure when attached. 

If that still is not enough, you can opt for the alternative of installing a scaffold. 


How Does Design Influence Pressure Washing a House?

The most common materials for building a house are brick and concrete, which are entirely safe for pressure washing. However, if the surface you are about to clean is made of wood (a cabin or wood siding), you should proceed cautiously. High pressure can easily damage wooden surfaces, so using a pressure washer between 1300 and 2400 PSI is advisable. Furthermore, you should use the correct nozzle – the 25° nozzle is the best for cleaning wood. On the other hand, you can safely clean concrete with the 15° nozzle.

Another thing that you should be cautious about is decorations. If your house has decorations made up of marble, ceramics, granite, or similar, you should avoid pressure washing those surfaces as it is a lot easier to damage them compared to other sturdier surfaces. 

Changing the nozzle, working your way around the decorations, or reaching some spots in crevasses can result in more time needed for cleaning. In those cases, getting everything sorted will take an additional 15-30 minutes.


How Long Will It Take to Pressure Wash a Very Dirty House?

The severity of the stains will drastically impact the time needed to clean a house thoroughly. More severe buildups of dirt, mud, moss and other stains can get close to the three-hour mark.

That can depend on your house’s location. For example, if you live close to a highway or in an area known for strong winds or often rainy periods, the exterior will be much more prone to getting dirty.

In any scenario, cleaning the exterior at least once every two years is advisable. Of course, you can judge when it needs more attention and if the cleaning should be performed more often.

How Long Does it Take to Pressure Wash a House

Which Pressure Washers Clean a House the Quickest?

The medium-strength pressure washers (2000-2800 PSI) are the most convenient models for cleaning any surface. However, electric pressure washers usually operate at 1200-1900 PSI; hence using an electric model requires more patience.

Gas pressure washers usually operate between 2000-2800 PSI, making them ideal for these jobs. More robust models are available with 3000+ PSI, but with that much power, they can easily strip paint or damage the surface if you are not careful enough. Sticking to the midrange is your best bet with a great efficiency-to-safety ratio.


Which Tools To Use When Pressure Washing a House?

Before starting, you should prepare all the necessary equipment to avoid interrupting the process. Firstly, you should take safety precautions as a strong pressure washer can injure you. Remember to equip safety goggles, earplugs, and non-slip footwear

Next, if you plan to use the telescoping wand, you should prepare it and keep it nearby. Finally, prepare a pressure washing detergent. Using one will make the job much easier than solely relying on water. Bear in mind that you should only use detergents made for pressure washers. Apart from other products being less effective, they can also damage the pressure washer, so you should avoid them entirely.


Conclusion

Pressure washing a house is a relatively easy process once you make the necessary preparations.

Always put safety first and thoroughly inspect the exterior to avoid damaging any fragile surfaces.

Finally, repeat the cleaning once every one or two years to maintain its shiny look and keep the job quick and simple.

If you have any questions regarding how long does it take to pressure wash a house after reading through this CleanersAdvisor guide, feel free to ask us in the comments section below, and we’ll be back with answers as soon as possible.

Moreover, if you’re a fan of video guides, here’s how to pressure wash a house: