3 Things That Can Go Wrong Pressure Washing Apartments

What’s up guys—Coty from Southeast Softwash here, and today we’re in Nashville, Tennessee, helping out some buddies on a massive apartment complex softwash job. It’s a great-paying gig—but like any job of this size, there are some serious pitfalls that can mess you up if you’re not prepared.

In this post, I’m going to break down the 3 biggest gremlins that can creep up on you during apartment complex softwash jobs. These are the things we’ve run into over and over again, and if you don’t handle them right, they can eat your profits, cause customer issues, or straight up shut down your operation mid-job.

Let’s get into it.

Gremlin #1: Exposed Electrical and HVAC Equipment

When you're washing multi-unit properties, you often find neglected infrastructure—especially HVAC units and electrical connections. Unlike a homeowner who might maintain their own setup, renters usually don’t pay attention to these areas. Property managers? They might not even live in the same state.

🔍 What We Found:

HVAC disconnects with no covers
Exposed electrical wiring in the grass
Sensors and panels hanging wide open
Active disconnect boxes in dangerous locations

Imagine a disconnect box wide open in a breezeway with wires showing—that’s what we walked into.

This stuff is bleach-sensitive, and your sodium hypochlorite (SH) mix is highly conductive. If you spray near these components without protection or notification, you could blow circuits, damage systems, or worse—cause a safety hazard.

✅ What to Do:

Always perform a pre-inspection walk-around
Photograph and document exposed electrical and HVAC units
Communicate concerns to the property manager
Make it clear in your contract: you are not responsible for pre-existing damage

Gremlin #2: Water Supply Issues

Water supply is a constant challenge on commercial jobs, especially at apartment complexes. Unlike residential homes with easy access spigots, apartment complexes rarely have exterior water access. Why? They don’t want people washing cars or using water without permission.

🚧 What Happened on This Job:

No outdoor spigots were active
Only working source? A washing machine hookup inside a vacant unit

We got lucky this time, but on other jobs, this could’ve brought the project to a halt.

✅ What to Do:

Scout the property beforehand to locate water access
Bring your own water (like our 100-gallon custom tank on the Lumomax Pro Skid)
Consider bringing hydrant keys if allowed by local ordinance
Ask the property manager ahead of time about available supply points

If you book a big softwash job and show up without water… congratulations, you’re now losing money until you find a fix.

Gremlin #3: The "Stuff" You Can’t Control

Now, I joked in the video and called this one "crackheads," but the serious takeaway is: people and property left in your way can mess up the job fast.

Here’s What We Mean:

Foot traffic during spraying
Personal property on balconies or walkways
Cars parked in your wash zones
Uninformed residents walking into active chemical mist

You can’t control when people open their doors or let their cats wander onto the balcony mid-job. If your bleach mist lands on a car or a resident’s shirt, guess who they’re blaming? You.

✅ What to Do:

Communicate clearly with the property manager
Require pre-job notices be sent to tenants
In your contract, state that areas not cleared will be skipped
Don’t get roped into multiple return trips to redo missed spots

If they don’t prep the area, you skip it. It’s in writing. Simple as that.

Apartment Complex Softwash Jobs Are Profitable—If You’re Prepared

These 3 gremlins—electrical hazards, water supply problems, and logistical chaos—can easily derail a multi-building softwash job. The good news is, if you expect them and have a standard operating procedure in place, you’ll move fast, stay safe, and keep your margins fat.

Want to Learn How to Land These Jobs and Do Them Right?

If you're looking to start or grow a softwashing business and land these $5K–$20K+ commercial contracts, you need to know more than just how to pull the trigger. You need to know how to quote, protect yourself, and market like a pro.

That’s where the SESW Softwash 101 Class comes in.

🎓 What You’ll Learn in Softwash 101:

Equipment setup and chemical ratios
Quoting residential and commercial jobs
Job site strategy and logistics
Real-world safety, contracts, and property protection
How to build and grow a scalable softwash business

👉 Click here to check out the SESW Softwash 101 Class

It’s the perfect first step if you’re ready to start softwashing professionally—or take your current operation to the next level.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let These Gremlins Eat Your Profits

This Nashville apartment job was a great one, but it had plenty of challenges. Luckily, we’ve been through this before. If you’re new to softwashing or moving into commercial jobs, take this advice seriously.