Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Safety around elecric service

Dan Dykstra · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I am not an electrician but I will put my 2 cents in. I tape all outlets, try to never spray mix onto power lines coming into the home. Cover all outside lights so no mix comes in contact. Any bares wires found are taped up.

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Like Dan said we tape or bag the majority of the homes outlets , and take extra care around old recessed lighting and power lines. The salt content in SH makes it something like twenty more times conductive than just plain water. We also trash bag every meter box, on every house. There are too many old homes that have broken down seals around the main lines going into the socket. The mix and rinse water can find its way directly into someone's panel box, inside the house, and that will cause a major issue.

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Covering outlets is a must for us now. A few years ago outlets were getting fried. The ones that went were not installed properly so water got in. It wasn't as simple as resetting the GFI. The outlets had to be replaced. I'm thankful that is something I can do easily.

Good post.

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I blew a meter box a few years ago. It was not pretty and could have ended very badly for everyone involved. I do not want to post pics in a public forum. We weren't even spraying the box, we were spraying the top edge of a two story building and the water ran down. Boxes should be sealed, but they are not always!!!!

Ed Thompson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Been there and then some with the frying of exterior outlets and lights. I use liberated home depot bags w/ tape.

Barry Landis · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We start bringing along shower caps and re-usable bowl covers to place around lights and receptacles.

-- Edited by Barry Landis on Friday 28th of March 2014 11:23:26 AM

Capital Roof Wash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Great tips guys. I never spray head on and let it flow down the wall like a water fall. This goes for rinsing as well as when I apply the Soft Wash solution during an exterior cleaning. Whenever I come up to an outlet or meter, I spray on an angle.

Barry, I will be going to Walmart tonight and picking up a few of those bowl covers! Thanks for that tid-bit of info!

Doug Rucker · Vender

Capital Roof Wash wrote:
Great tips guys. I never spray head on and let it flow down the wall like a water fall. This goes for rinsing as well as when I apply the Soft Wash solution during an exterior cleaning. Whenever I come up to an outlet or meter, I spray on an angle.
Barry, I will be going to Walmart tonight and picking up a few of those bowl covers! Thanks for that tid-bit of info!

We do the same as you Ray. We also tape all door hardware that looks new or looks like bleach could damage. Cover all cameras. Around meters we, we duct tape around top and sides and we never spray mix, only pressure wash using adjustable wand and water only. If needed we spritz some mix on using a pump up sprayer.

Steve Salley · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thank you for this posting. Art this should not get buried, as we have "lit" up some bad GFI circuits too.

I am really glad at the beginning of another season to put this back at the top of our safety list.

Great Post everyone.

Kind of scary when you think about how bad this could go...

Barry That is a really great suggestion. We will be wearing shower caps from now on! Oh you mean use them on the outlets. Sorry Never mind.

-- Edited by Steve Salley on Friday 28th of March 2014 07:46:22 PM

Barry Landis · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Steve Salley wrote:
Thank you for this posting. Art this should not get buried, as we have "lit" up some bad GFI circuits too.

I am really glad at the beginning of another season to put this back at the top of our safety list.

Great Post everyone.

Kind of scary when you think about how bad this could go...

Barry That is a really great suggestion. We will be wearing shower caps from now on! Oh you mean use them on the outlets. Sorry Never mind.

-- Edited by Steve Salley on Friday 28th of March 2014 07:46:22 PM

As I was typing, I figured I was setting myself up with the shower cap thing.

I actually seen someone post about using those bowl covers before somewhere.

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Wow I wasn't thinking about outlets and lights (we dont do to much house washing) but all great ideas guys. Its always better to err on the side of safety/caution and think of potential problems a head.

waxman18324 · Founding Member Rest in Peace

We use draw tight kitchen bags, when needed on gfi, cameras and wall mounted lighting.

Hank

Chris Mozick · Approved Exteior Cleaner

I use plastic bags and wrap them around All lights and outlets tape around Ll new door hardware too. Great tips and post guys.