Pressure Washing FAQ: Straight Answers From a Local Crew

Pressure washing uses high pressure water to blast dirt off hard surfaces like concrete and pavers. Soft washing uses low pressure, about like a garden hose, plus a cleaning solution that kills mold, mildew and algae at the root. We soft wash houses and roofs and pressure wash concrete. Using the right method on each surface is what keeps your property safe.

Nope. As long as we can get to the outside of the house, the outdoor spigot works and pets are inside, you can be at work. We’ll text you when we’re on the way and when we’re done, with photos.

We hook up to your outdoor spigot. Most homes only see a few extra dollars on the water bill. If you don’t have a working spigot, let us know when you ask for your estimate and we’ll plan around it.

Most house washes and driveway cleanings are done in a few hours. Bigger homes, roofs and commercial jobs can take longer. We’ll give you a time estimate with your quote.

Close windows and doors, move cars out of the driveway, and move grills, patio furniture and anything fragile away from the house if you can. Keep pets inside. That’s it, we handle the rest.

Yes, The Pressure’s On is fully licensed and insured. Property managers and HOAs can ask us for a certificate of insurance.

Since 2007. We started in South Florida, brought the business home to East Tennessee in 2022 and made Maryville our base.

We’re based in Maryville and work all over Blount, Knox, Loudon and Sevier County, including Maryville, Alcoa, Knoxville, Farragut, Lenoir City, Louisville, Friendsville, Rockford, Seymour and Townsend. Don’t see your town? Call or text and ask.

Yes. Office hours for estimates are weekdays, but our service is available 24/7. A lot of our commercial work happens at night so businesses can stay open.

It depends on the size of the job, what’s being cleaned and how dirty it is, so we give every customer a free estimate instead of a one size fits all price. Tell us about the job in the free estimate form and we’ll get back to you fast with a real price.

Yes. No cost and no pressure to book. Most estimates go out the same day or the next.

No surprises. The price we quote is the price, unless you ask us to add something while we’re there.

For most homes, a few details and photos are enough. For bigger or trickier jobs we may stop by to look. Either way, you get a real number before we start.

Usually, yes. Doing your house, driveway and sidewalks in one visit saves setup time, and we pass that on. Ask for everything you want in one estimate.

Yes. Plenty of homeowners do a yearly house wash, and many businesses want monthly or quarterly service. Ask us about a schedule that fits.

We wet your plants and grass before and after cleaning and rinse well, so the cleaning solution is diluted and washed away. We cover delicate plants when needed. Taking care of your landscaping is part of the job.

Keep pets and kids inside while we work. Once everything is rinsed and dry, it’s safe to go back outside, usually the same day.

High pressure can, which is why we don’t use it on siding. We soft wash houses with low pressure that won’t force water behind the siding, strip paint or etch the surface.

Not if windows and doors are shut. Soft washing doesn’t use the kind of pressure that forces water past seals. Let us know about any leaky windows or doors before we start.

We work around them carefully and avoid spraying directly into outlets, fixtures and electrical boxes. Point out anything you’re worried about and we’ll take extra care.

Most of it soaks into your lawn or runs off like rain does. On commercial jobs with storm drain rules, tell us what your property requires and we’ll plan around it.

That’s mold, mildew and algae. East Tennessee’s humid summers and shady lots are perfect for it, and the north side gets the least sun. Soft washing kills it at the root so it stays away longer than just rinsing it off.

Once a year is right for most homes around here. Shady, wooded lots near the creeks and the Smokies may need it more often.

Yes. Each one gets the right mix and pressure. Brick and stone can hold red clay stains and mildew, and log homes need a gentle touch.

That chalk is oxidation, the paint breaking down. Washing removes dirt and mildew, but heavy oxidation can’t be fully undone without repainting. We’ll tell you honestly what to expect before we start.

In most cases, yes. Red clay splashes up after hard rains and stains siding, brick and foundations. Fresh stains come off easily. Old, set in stains may lighten a lot but not always disappear.

Yes. Painters want a clean surface, and a clean house photographs better and looks better to buyers. It’s one of the cheapest ways to boost curb appeal.

Mostly an algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles and spreads across the roof over time. It’s really common on East Tennessee roofs.

Pressure washing a roof can. Soft washing is the low pressure method the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association recommends for removing algae. If you’re worried about a specific warranty, check your shingle maker’s guidelines and we’re happy to go over them with you.

Never. High pressure knocks the granules off shingles and shortens the life of your roof. We soft wash roofs, which kills the algae and lets the rain rinse the rest away.

A soft washed roof usually stays clean for years, because we kill the algae instead of just rinsing the top layer. Shady roofs under big trees can come back sooner.

Usually, yes. Algae and moss hold moisture and can shorten a roof’s life. Cleaning costs a small fraction of a new roof and makes the whole house look newer.

Yes. Soft washing kills moss and lichen. Thick growth may take a few weeks of rain to fully fall away after treatment.

We can lighten most oil stains a lot, and fresh ones often come out completely. Old stains that have soaked deep into the concrete may leave a shadow. We’ll be honest about it before we start.

Red clay and tire marks usually come right off with our surface cleaner. Rust from fertilizer or sprinklers needs a special treatment. Tell us what you’re seeing and we’ll let you know.

Not the way we do it. We use a surface cleaner at the right pressure, which cleans evenly without etching the concrete or leaving the zebra stripes you get from a wand.

Right away for walking. Most driveways are dry enough to park on within an hour or two.

Sealing helps concrete and pavers resist stains and mildew. If you plan to seal, cleaning first is a must. Ask us and we’ll talk through your options.

Yes. We use the right pressure so we clean the pavers without blasting out the joints. Some joint sand may need topping off afterward, and we’ll tell you if it does.

Yes. The main ingredient in our cleaning solution is the same kind of chlorine used to treat pools, and we rinse well and keep runoff out of the water. You don’t need to drain your pool.

Yes. That’s algae, and it’s what makes pool decks dangerous. Pool deck cleaning kills it and makes the surface safer to walk on.

Yes. We adjust pressure and cleaners for each surface so we don’t damage soft stone or the finish on stamped concrete.

Spring, right before pool season, is the most popular time. A second cleaning after summer keeps algae from taking over during the wet months.

Not when it’s done right. We use low pressure and a wood safe cleaner for deck and fence cleaning, not a high pressure blast that tears up the wood fibers.

Yes. Composite decks get mold, mildew and dirt too. We clean them gently to remove the growth without damaging the surface.

Let the wood dry completely, usually two or three dry days. Your stain maker’s instructions are the final word.

Yes. Vinyl fences turn green on the shady side just like siding, and they clean up like new with a soft wash.

Curb cleaning means pressure washing the concrete curb in front of your home so it’s bright white again. It’s quick, affordable and makes the whole house look sharper from the street.

Tire marks, road grime, mildew and runoff from the street and yard all build up on curbs over time.

Yes, and it’s a great way for a neighborhood to look its best. Call or text and ask about doing your whole street.

Restaurants, retail stores, big box stores, offices, gas stations, apartment complexes, HOAs and parking garages. See our commercial pressure washing page for more.

Yes. We regularly clean at night and on weekends so your doors stay open and customers never see us.

Yes. Dumpster pads, drive-thru lanes, gum on sidewalks, grease by kitchen doors and stained entryways are all regular jobs for us.

Yes. Monthly, quarterly or yearly, whatever your property needs. We can work around your property manager’s or brand’s cleaning rules.

Yes. Ask when you request your estimate and we’ll send one to you or your property manager.

Light rain doesn’t hurt the cleaning, and we can still work. If a big storm rolls in, we’ll reschedule and text you.

Spring and early summer are the most popular, after the pollen and before outdoor season. Fall is great too, before the holidays. In East Tennessee we can work most of the year.

Yes, on days when it’s warm enough that water won’t freeze on surfaces. We’ll pick a good day with you.

It depends on the season, but we move fast. Ask for your free estimate and we’ll give you the next open date.

We don’t leave until it looks right. If we missed a spot, call us and we’ll come back and take care of it.