Hot washing in Bristol and Bath
Hot washing is not "pressure washing but warmer". Heat changes what the water can lift. On oil, grease, chewing gum, traffic film and heavy commercial soiling, hot water does chemically and thermally what cold water can only do by force — which means a better result at lower pressure, and less damage to the surface underneath.
When hot washing is the right call
- Forecourts and fuel aprons. Diesel film and oil drip lines do not move under cold water at sane pressures.
- Chewing gum on retail frontages. Heat softens it so it lifts rather than being blasted off in fragments.
- Commercial kitchens, bin stores and service yards. Grease, food residue and the smell that goes with them.
- Car park decks. Tyre rubber and hydrocarbon staining.
- Heavily soiled hard landscaping where cold cleaning would need force the surface cannot take.
When it is the wrong call
Heat does not make pressure safe. Bath stone, painted render, silicone render, pebbledash, lime mortar and roof tiles all need soft washing regardless of water temperature. Anyone offering a hot wash on a heritage stone frontage has misunderstood the problem. On organic growth — the green and black on render and roofs — a biocide with dwell time outperforms hot water and costs less.
Run-off, and the part that matters legally
Hot washing hydrocarbon-contaminated surfaces produces contaminated wash water. Letting it enter a surface-water drain is an environmental offence rather than an untidy habit. On forecourts, service yards and car park decks we contain and capture the run-off and remove it for licensed disposal. If a quote for that kind of surface does not mention containment, it is worth asking why.
How the work runs
- Photos or a site visit, and we tell you whether hot washing is genuinely the right method or whether a soft wash would do it better and cheaper.
- Written scope and fixed price, with the method stated.
- Scheduled work, out of hours where a site cannot close.
- Photo handover, and a 7-day rework window on every job.
Frequently asked questions
Will hot washing damage my block paving?
Not at the pressure and distance we run. The heat means we can use less force, which is generally kinder to block paving than a cold wash at high pressure. Joints still need re-sanding afterwards either way.
Can you hot wash render to get rid of the green?
We would not. Green on render is organic growth, and a biocide soft-wash kills it at the root so it stays away for years. Hot water removes what is visible today and leaves the organism, so it comes back faster — and on painted or silicone render, the pressure would damage the finish.
Do you need a drain on site?
Not for the water supply. For run-off on contaminated surfaces we bring containment and take the waste away rather than putting it down your drainage.
Can you work outside trading hours?
Yes, and on retail and hospitality sites that is usually how it is scheduled.
Related
Forecourt cleaning · Car park cleaning · Soft washing · Soft washing vs pressure washing · Prices