jade47•5d ago

Rented a pressure washer and nearly washed my deck off its foundation

I rented a 4 GPM pressure washer from Home Depot in Buckhead last Saturday and I swear it was like holding a fire hose. I aimed at a dirty spot on my back deck and it gouged a 3 inch long groove right into the wood. I had to switch to a wider tip and stand way back, but even then I messed up two boards. Anyone else here had their deck wrecked by a rental unit with too much power?

2 comments

2 Comments

noah_palmer425d ago

Respectfully, the machine probably wasn't too powerful - rental units just need a lighter touch and the right nozzle. Sounds like you held it too close or stayed in one spot too long.

xena_taylor644d ago

But isn't it more about the water volume than just the PSI? I used a little electric washer on my fence last summer and even with the right nozzle and backing way off, it still ripped through some old paint. The rental units usually have those fixed nozzles that dump way too much water for fence work. You can't exactly control the flow like you can with a smaller unit.