When Nic Luttman started his power washing business, EcoFresh Power Wash, in June of 2021, he knew he wanted to work for himself and he wanted to run his business on morals, a strong work ethic, and create a good company culture. EcoFresh Power Wash is an exterior cleaning company that specializes in house washing, concrete cleaning, wood staining, and more. “I didn’t know a lot about running a business in the beginning, so I took 6-8 months to learn. I researched, joined Facebook groups, and talked to as many people as I could,” he said.
“I try to provide a really good customer experience,” he said. EcoFresh Power Wash uses environmentally-friendly products to do their cleaning. Because they don’t use harsh chemicals, it’s safe for kids, pets, and lawns. “We do the job right,” he said. “We use the best products available, and offer guarantees on multiple services.”
“Power washing is a generic term that everyone uses, but what I do for residential homes is actually soft washing,” he explained. “It’s a low-pressure, high-volume approach. We let the soap and chemicals do the hard work, not the water pressure.” Power washing can cause a lot of damage if done improperly. “These machines are powerful,” Luttman shared. “They’ll tear up screens, cause oxidation on vinyl siding, and damage many other surfaces. You don’t want someone inexperienced power washing your house.”
Luttman believes good communication is the key to good customer service. One of the most common residential jobs they handle is deck and fence staining and surface restoration. “I like to lead with education because wood staining is a process. There are multiple steps that must be taken to clean wood properly and moisture levels must be right, so weather can be a factor,” Luttman said. Depending on the size of the job and the weather, wood staining projects can take several days or a week or more. “We use a 3-step process to ensure the wood gets properly cleaned. Then, we use an environmentally friendly oil-based stain that doesn’t just coat the wood, but penetrates to offer protection for several years,” he explained. Depending on what stain customers choose, they offer up to a three-year guarantee on all wood staining. “Once I explain the process, my customers understand why it might take a bit longer,” Luttman said. ”But they know they are getting a quality job with quality products and they appreciate that difference. Communication is critical to customer satisfaction.”
Speaking of being at the mercy of the weather, you may wonder if power washing is a seasonal job. Luttman said he can power wash in temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Because half of his business is commercial, he schedules out much of his commercial work in the winter months. “We have to work around the weather,” he said, “but commercial customers aren’t as worried about that as our residential customers.” Luttman landed a contract with KU Athletics and cleans the football stadium and other areas. “We clean the stadium once a year, and with six people it takes about two weeks,” he laughed.
Luttman grew up in Meriden, KS near Lake Perry. He attended Jefferson West High School. In 2017, he met Jordan and they recently bought the house he grew up in. They welcomed a son, Weston, in 2021 who is now 15 months old. “I love this area,” he said. “It’s got that small town feel, but it’s close to both Topeka and Lawrence. I can serve both towns and never have to drive more than 20 or 30 minutes either way.” In his free time, he likes to hunt waterfowl and fish and enjoys cooking on his Blackstone grill and smoking meat. “I love cooking!” he said. “I wanted to go to culinary school, but for now, I just enjoy hosting people.”
Today, EcoFresh Power Wash serves both Topeka and Lawrence. “If I keep building my reputation, I hope to add three or four full-time employees and expand my area of service in 2023.”
“It’s hard to find good customer service. We’re a pressure washing business, but we consider ourselves a customer service business first.”
