Power Entry


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Old 04-15-15, 11:10 AM
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Power Entry

I plan to wash the exterior of the house with my gas driven pressure washer and I would like to know how close to the power entry / meter I can go. In the attached picture you can see my setup

And if I can’t go close enough, how about the mist from the spray gun – how far I should be?
 
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Old 04-15-15, 11:24 AM
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It's water proof, not an issue.
 
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Old 04-15-15, 11:45 AM
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Not exactly -- the outdoor enclosures are rated type 3, which is water-resistant for falling and wind-driven precipitation, but not a pressure hose spray. I think you should wrap the meter enclosure with plastic and tape during the power washing. The conduit itself will be fine, but make sure there aren't cracks in it or in the hub connection to the meter base which would allow water to flow inside. Don't spray the wires and don't spray into the weatherhead at the top of the conduit. Avoid the connection points on the wires as they are sometimes wrapped in insulating tape or plastic covers, but that has often come off leaving some exposed, live metal. If you're up on a ladder or scaffold around the wires, clearly mark them with plastic warning tape and wear a plastic hardhat. A fiberglass ladder is strongly preferred.
 
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Old 04-15-15, 12:28 PM
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I'm with ibpooks on this one and in general you have to be careful with hose directed water and very careful with a pressure washer. Clapboards, electric meters, vinyl siding, soffit vents and many other things on your home are designed to handle water falling down or being blown around by wind. Water coming from a hose can do something very unusual... go uphill quite a distance. In general it's better to spray in the direction with gravity (down) which is the way water would naturally go.
 
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Old 04-16-15, 08:14 AM
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Never liked to play around with electricity so to be safe I will not go closer than 10' from the entry with the pressure washer and I will do the rest manually. No ladder / scaffolding is involved, all will be from the ground

Thanks
 
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Old 04-16-15, 10:20 AM
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What kind of siding is that?
 
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Old 04-16-15, 12:53 PM
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About 10' from the ground up its brick and above its aluminum
 
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Old 04-17-15, 06:19 AM
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I wouldn't even use a power washer at all, but would use a good house wash product that can be applied with a pump up sprayer and rinsed with a garden hose. Power washers can drive water past the siding into areas of the wall that should never get wet and cause all kinds of water related problems.
 
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Old 04-17-15, 11:35 AM
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I'm considering hand wash, thanks

Just bought the pressure washer and I know it has adjustable spray pressure. When I assemble it I will see the minimum pressure and take it from there. Problem with the hand wash is that I need ladder / scaffold to get to the pick of the house so I hope the pressure washer may spray to the top part and do the rest by hand
 
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Old 04-18-15, 06:35 AM
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Problem with the hand wash is that I need ladder / scaffold to get to the pick of the house so I hope the pressure washer may spray to the top part and do the rest by hand
I think you'll find that you will also need a ladder or scaffolding with a pressure washer.
 
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Old 04-18-15, 10:25 AM
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You will need ladder and/or scaffold or else a very long extension wand. Pressure washing upwards on lap siding, regardless of the material, is a poor practice as it can (and will) allow water to enter under the siding.
 
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Old 04-18-15, 12:09 PM
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It’s understandable, never done it before so when the time comes I will have to find the best way to do the job
 
 

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