The question we need to ask is if it is possible to clean pool tiles with a pressure washer without any damage? To clean the tiles of a swimming pool is in itself not difficult, but there is some hard work involved in doing it.
But there is an easy way out, and that is to use a pressure washer to help you get the job done faster. That is, if you do it right, you can get away with the pressure washer without damaging the tiles of the pool.
So without further delay, let’s see how to clean pool tile with pressure washer and how to go about it without damaging the tiles of your pool and in less time.
Is It Possible To Wash Pool Tiles With a Pressure Washer?
Pool tiles are made from either ceramic or porcelain, and a pressure washer can easily damage them. But if you know how to do it, you can wash pool tiles with a pressure washer without damaging the pool tiles.
You can start by cleaning away all the debris that is in and around the pool and remove all dirt from the pool. In most pools, you will find tiles inside the pool at the top in one or two or even more rows of tiles.
Most of the time, the tiles will accumulate some calcium and algae in and around the pool. To get all the dirt off from the tile, you will need a lot of effort and some chemicals to help remove it.
To clean the tiles of your pool with a pressure washer is much cheaper than to replace the tiles with new ones. That is why you need to clean them and do it right without cracking the tiles of your pool.
You do not need a lot of pressure, so when you clean the tiles, you can set it at low pressure. By using low pressure with the pressure washer, you will help prevent damage to the pool tiles.
Luckily for us, a pressure washer is strong enough to clean away all types of grime and dirt that accumulate on the tiles. But unfortunately, it is also strong enough to damage the pool tiles, so you need to take extra care.
How To Clean Pool Tiles With a Pressure Washer: A Detailed Guide
So here is how to clean pool tiles with a pressure washer without damaging the tiles.
You should do a test run on a spot that is not too much in the eye and see if there is any damage. If there is damage, you should adjust the pressure so it will be lower and try another test run until there is no damage.
As soon as you see that you can clean the tiles without damaging them, you can do the rest of the tiles.
Focus on the tiles that have a lot of calcium build-up on them and repeat them in a set pattern.
This will work great for the inside tile of your swimming pool and keep yourself steady using a ladder inside the swimming pool.
You do not need to remove all the water from the swimming pool to complete this cleaning operation. Only remove enough water from the pool to leave the tiles at the top exposed for you to clean it all.
You should try to avoid the areas where there are caulk joints that can be damaged by the pressure washer. After cleaning an area, you can use a very low-pressure of fine water spray to clean away all the dirt from the tiles.
Some pressure washers come with pressure adjustment knobs included so you can adjust the pressure of the motor to where you want it.
But most entry-level pressure washers do not come with the option to adjust the pressure of the motor. This can be done by selecting different types of nozzles and can easily be interchanged on most commercial pressure washers.
For fragile pool tiles, you should use a pressure washer of around 2000 Psi and test it before you use it.
Another way to keep the pressure low is to adjust the distance you hold the wand away from the tiles. The further it is from the tiles, the lower the pressure will be; a reasonable range is around 3 feet away from the tiles.
Use the right type of nozzle that will exert the least amount of pressure; ask for advice when you purchase the pressure washer.
You should not stay too long on one spot when you clean the tiles of your pool, and you can always come back later.
Even if you are using very little pressure and is the right distance away from the surface, there might still be some damage. You should take care not to stay too long on one spot and instead be very patient when you clean the pool tiles.
Do not use any chemicals when you wash the tiles with a pressure washer, as it may damage the internal parts of the washer. Water alone should be enough to remove away the calcium as well as the algae that accumulate on the tiles.
Reminder
Always make sure the pressure is set to the lowest setting before you start using it on the fragile tiles of your pool. And if you use a steam pressure washer, make sure the heat is not set too high and stay away from that steam.
Conclusion
There are many professional pool cleaning services that will not charge a lot to get your pool cleaned. But on the other hand, if you buy a pressure washer for yourself, you do not need to pay for the services again.
This all depends on you; if you are a do-it-yourself type, the best thing is to buy a pressure washer for yourself. But if you do not have the time, just make use of the professional people out there to get it done for you.
