Hey, Iv'e been working on an idea for introducing the soap AFTER the pump and not having to add it to the mix itself. I've been looking to downstream decks with my pressure washer,... and thought that maybe you could sort of downstream soap into the roof mix using the same principle,..because downstreaming is triggered by low pressure,..which roof pumps are.
So I found one of those Miracle Grow applicators and using a garden hose, I placed the Miracle Grow container about 4-6 feet from the spigot(which would be the pump)... and then attached another 50' garden hose to the outlet side of the container rigged up my actual roof wand onto the hose. It made excellent soap and it doesn't really use that much. I think on a typical house roof there would be plenty of soap inth container. You could even add another one inline if you wanted.
I am not up and running here yet,..still to cold,..so I haven't field tested it, but I see no reason yet why it wouldn't work. They make these applicators for general uses also,...I seen one at Tractor Supply the other day and it had an even bigger container.
Might even be able to use a tee and and just use a hose going into a bucket of soap,..more like actual downstreaming. Or even a regular downstream injector,..would just have to be big enough.
It's so easy to rig into your existing hose's that it won't hurt to try it. If anyone does, report back here. I think it may need messed with a little but I think it may have possibilities. I will be trying it soon though,...I hope!!
I was using Dawn Original Blue.
Jeff
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 02:05:32 PM
Funny today I was thinking about adding the soap at another time so it didn't weaken the SH. Your idea sounds good. Setting it up inline after the pump would be easy.Tropo is a very handy guy I will mention it to him unless he reads it first.
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Hey, Iv'e been working on an idea for introducing the soap AFTER the pump and not having to add it to the mix itself. I've been looking to downstream decks with my pressure washer,... and thought that maybe you could sort of downstream soap into the roof mix using the same principle,..because downstreaming is triggered by low pressure,..which roof pumps are.
So I found one of those Miracle Grow applicators and using a garden hose, I placed the Miracle Grow container about 4-6 feet from the spigot(which would be the pump)... and then attached another 50' garden hose to the outlet side of the container rigged up my actual roof wand onto the hose. It made excellent soap and it doesn't really use that much. I think on a typical house roof there would be plenty of soap inth container. You could even add another one inline if you wanted.
I am not up and running here yet,..still to cold,..so I haven't field tested it, but I see no reason yet why it wouldn't work. They make these applicators for general uses also,...I seen one at Tractor Supply the other day and it had an even bigger container.
Might even be able to use a tee and and just use a hose going into a bucket of soap,..more like actual downstreaming. Or even a regular downstream injector,..would just have to be big enough.
It's so easy to rig into your existing hose's that it won't hurt to try it. If anyone does, report back here. I think it may need messed with a little but I think it may have possibilities. I will be trying it soon though,...I hope!!
I was using Dawn Original Blue.
Jeff
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 02:05:32 PM
Good Idea Jeff,
I have messed around with this principle before and you have reminded me to do so again. Thanks
The MAIN reason to do this is that SURFACTANTS like DAWN work AGAINST the Roof Cleaning Solution (SHC and BORAX, TSP, etc.) and it ACTUALLY WEAKENS the Overall mix, unless applied at the time of the job.
Not pre-mixed, because, as you well know the SHC activity decreases relatively rapidly after the DAWN is introduced into the Roof CLEANING MIXTURE.
By adding the SURFACTANT at the last possible moment BEFORE application, this allows MAXIMUM potency of Your Roof Cleaning BREW.
With the RIGHT DS injector, this DS SOLUTION may lower chemical costs as well?
Thanks Again for bringing this back to my memory banks Jeff.
I will be sure to keep you posted if I "dial in" a downstreaming injector solution that works really well
-- Edited by Roof Clean USA Georgia 229-227-0000 on Wednesday 25th of March 2009 10:20:14 AM
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Hey, Iv'e been working on an idea for introducing the soap AFTER the pump and not having to add it to the mix itself. I've been looking to downstream decks with my pressure washer,... and thought that maybe you could sort of downstream soap into the roof mix using the same principle,..because downstreaming is triggered by low pressure,..which roof pumps are.
So I found one of those Miracle Grow applicators and using a garden hose, I placed the Miracle Grow container about 4-6 feet from the spigot(which would be the pump)... and then attached another 50' garden hose to the outlet side of the container rigged up my actual roof wand onto the hose. It made excellent soap and it doesn't really use that much. I think on a typical house roof there would be plenty of soap inth container. You could even add another one inline if you wanted.
I am not up and running here yet,..still to cold,..so I haven't field tested it, but I see no reason yet why it wouldn't work. They make these applicators for general uses also,...I seen one at Tractor Supply the other day and it had an even bigger container.
Might even be able to use a tee and and just use a hose going into a bucket of soap,..more like actual downstreaming. Or even a regular downstream injector,..would just have to be big enough.
It's so easy to rig into your existing hose's that it won't hurt to try it. If anyone does, report back here. I think it may need messed with a little but I think it may have possibilities. I will be trying it soon though,...I hope!!
I was using Dawn Original Blue.
Jeff
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 02:05:32 PM
Good thinking Jeff ! Always good to keep your mind active about improvements to roof cleaning. Hopefully, the new Surfactant/thickener will work out well ?
Yea Chris, I was thinking about the possibility of the new thickener you spoke of, and that would be preferable to the idea I have,..but I'm just sitting around waiting for warmer weather and decided to mess around with the idea.
Straight Dawn Mike. Seems to work well, and from what I can see these things are mostly plastic, so they should hold up ok for a while. Easy enough to try.
It actually works better when used at the end of the hose the way they are designed to. Just didn't wnat to carry that canister around. Easy enough to adapt nozzled to it though.
Jeff
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Wednesday 25th of March 2009 09:15:42 AM
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Yea Chris, I was thinking about the possibility of the new thickener you spoke of, and that would be preferable to the idea I have,..but I'm just sitting around waiting for warmer weather and decided to mess around with the idea.
Jeff
KEEP thinking Jeff Some SHC Catalysts I am looking at MIGHT need chemical injection ? ALWAYS good to think, and plan.
It ain't cold here! I think it's a sound idea! I will get a set up and try it soon! I'll post what I think of it. I'm going off on a 2 day Bass fishing trip with my other son Jeremy [not the one who works with me] at Lake Okeechobee tomorrow morning. While i'm gone my son is doing a perfect, very blackened tile roof on a business in North Port, Friday morning, but I want to be there for the test myself, so it will have to wait until next week. Monday and Tuesday are both fully scheduled with pressure cleaning jobs [no roofs] so it will be the 1st roof job I get next week! I really think you have something simple, cheap and workable here! Thanks for sharing the idea! Chuck in Florida
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Hey, Iv'e been working on an idea for introducing the soap AFTER the pump and not having to add it to the mix itself. I've been looking to downstream decks with my pressure washer,... and thought that maybe you could sort of downstream soap into the roof mix using the same principle,..because downstreaming is triggered by low pressure,..which roof pumps are.
So I found one of those Miracle Grow applicators and using a garden hose, I placed the Miracle Grow container about 4-6 feet from the spigot(which would be the pump)... and then attached another 50' garden hose to the outlet side of the container rigged up my actual roof wand onto the hose. It made excellent soap and it doesn't really use that much. I think on a typical house roof there would be plenty of soap inth container. You could even add another one inline if you wanted.
I am not up and running here yet,..still to cold,..so I haven't field tested it, but I see no reason yet why it wouldn't work. They make these applicators for general uses also,...I seen one at Tractor Supply the other day and it had an even bigger container.
Might even be able to use a tee and and just use a hose going into a bucket of soap,..more like actual downstreaming. Or even a regular downstream injector,..would just have to be big enough.
It's so easy to rig into your existing hose's that it won't hurt to try it. If anyone does, report back here. I think it may need messed with a little but I think it may have possibilities. I will be trying it soon though,...I hope!!
I was using Dawn Original Blue.
Jeff
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 02:05:32 PM
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Serving Englewood Rotonda North Port Cape Haze Venice Port Charlotte Punta Gorda Boca Grande Charlotte and Southern Sarasota Counties in Florida.
Thanks Chuck, I will be interested in seeing how it works. Yea, I won't be roof cleaning for at least another week probably, Winter seems to have a grip here. Not real bad but just too cold for my liking.
I used a garden hose and spigot for my testing, and it seemed to work well. If you can try it both ways,..canister placed inline near the pump and also used as the nozzle itself, the way they are designed to be used. I think the biggest drawback will be the flow restriction, although it didn't seem like much when I tested it, but like I said,...that's not the real world.
Tractor Supply sells one that looks like it would be ok. And it's only $6.99. I think it has a lbigger container on it. These things probably come in all froms and fashions so there may be some testing to see which ones are best for our uses.I will be trying the one from TSC myself as as soon as I get an opportunity.
Hose End Applicator (This one would be ideal placed inline near the pump, 96 0z. capacity)
Here's another type that looks like it can be used with any gallon jug. Not sure if the nozzle end is adaptable though. But I'm sure there is one somewhere with this design that does have an adaptable nozzle end.
Here's a Gilmour model made for chemical application with adjustable mix ratios: Pretty expesive though, and not sure if that nozzle spins out for inline application.
I know they make these things for car wash soaps as well, may be more suited for our needs.
I just looked at the Miracle Grow specs. It says output is: 1 gal every 11-15. So if my calculations are correct ( I failed math) that is approximately 4 gallons a minute. Not sure about the one from TSC. I'm also going to try some sort of tee as an introduction method, basically like a downstream injector. But considering we're only concerned about low pressure application, having the ball bearing stopping valve is unnecessary. So a simple tee design reduced at the draw end may even work. Jeff
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Thursday 26th of March 2009 05:14:58 AM
I'll probably try the HD model and the Tractor Supply model. I like the idea of the HD model holding a gallon. If it works, like we think it will, then the Gilmore style would be nice-if it could be attached to a gallon container? I'll post my results with a bunch of pictures. Thanks, Now i'm going fishing for 2 days! Chuck
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Serving Englewood Rotonda North Port Cape Haze Venice Port Charlotte Punta Gorda Boca Grande Charlotte and Southern Sarasota Counties in Florida.
Thats great Jeff I was thinking the same thing backwards LOL, adding the SH through downstream. As I read these posts I realized that any check valve would probably work for this so it could be made of brass! Then you could just use a 2-5 gallon bucket with a plastic bulk head installed or just run a hose out the top. (this meathod will require adding a little water to the dawn to thin it I think) If you use the tee and no check valve wont it send SH solution into your dawn bucket when you are not pulling the trigger ?? Those dinky ball bearing injectors for pressure washer are just mini check valves anyway. If 2 much Dawn is comming into the mix you could just add more water to the dawn and less to the main solution.
Yea, you're right about the tee. Didn't think of that!! Good to know our group here is on the ball. Oh wait,...um,....I was just testing you,..Ha, Ha. No Really, good catch on that,...I would have realized it the hard way. Like your thinking on the check valve!!
Jeff
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Thursday 26th of March 2009 04:49:54 PM
Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:
I'll probably try the HD model and the Tractor Supply model. I like the idea of the HD model holding a gallon. If it works, like we think it will, then the Gilmore style would be nice-if it could be attached to a gallon container? I'll post my results with a bunch of pictures. Thanks, Now i'm going fishing for 2 days! Chuck
Yea, experiment Chuck, I think this will be doable by some method. Always take time to get away!! I actually do most of my fishing in the Winter months now. I was never a Trout fisherman but seeing how they're a cold water fish, and Central, Pa is flowing with Trout streams,.....and cabin fever can set in,...I took a liking to Winter fishing!!
Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 wrote:
I'll probably try the HD model and the Tractor Supply model. I like the idea of the HD model holding a gallon. If it works, like we think it will, then the Gilmore style would be nice-if it could be attached to a gallon container? I'll post my results with a bunch of pictures. Thanks, Now i'm going fishing for 2 days! Chuck
I wonder if we can use this idea or a derivative of it for a homemade check valve for injecting soap? Homemade injector idea
Add a tee on top and a reducer for the suction on the bottom. Actually, there are several pvc store bought check valves, will need to be modified, but I will be working on it.
Jeff
(side note:) The Tractor Supply canister is junk!! The Miracle Grow was a lot better!!
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Sunday 29th of March 2009 07:57:08 AM
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
I wonder if we can use this idea or a derivative of it for a homemade check valve for injecting soap? Homemade injector idea
Add a tee on top and a reducer for the suction on the bottom. Actually, there are several pvc store bought check valves, will need to be modified, but I will be working on it.
Jeff
(side note:) The Tractor Supply canister is junk!! The Miracle Grow was a lot better!!
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Sunday 29th of March 2009 07:57:08 AM
I would encourage you to KEEP on this Jeff ?
All of us MAY find it useful one day as we get better roof treatment chemicals.
It will be totally cool to have a small tank of roof treatment chemicals we can inject at will into our hoses when treating roofs
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
I wonder if we can use this idea or a derivative of it for a homemade check valve for injecting soap? Homemade injector idea
Add a tee on top and a reducer for the suction on the bottom. Actually, there are several pvc store bought check valves, will need to be modified, but I will be working on it.
Jeff
(side note:) The Tractor Supply canister is junk!! The Miracle Grow was a lot better!!
-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Sunday 29th of March 2009 07:57:08 AM
I would encourage you to KEEP on this Jeff ?
All of us MAY find it useful one day as we get better roof treatment chemicals.
It will be totally cool to have a small tank of roof treatment chemicals we can inject at will into our hoses when treating roofs
Here at Roof Clean USA tm
Shown below is the rear of the T-Rex -MEGA- Mobile Roof Cleaning System with one of the guys, looking the rugged "Certified Roof Cleaner" part.
On the T-Rex MEGA Roof Cleaning System, we CUSTOM "built in" a proprietary version of an inline manifold that will allow pre-emulsified CONCENTRATED TSP solution and either A pre-mixed BORAX solution or Alcohol to be introduced along with the SH and H20 via pinch valves via up to (3) THREE, separate chemical tanks.
We are still perfecting the manifold delivery system and although we have had some success, the metering needs more testing to be able to be cost-effective and accurate.
A work in progress to develop the Ultimate and best, SAFE, non-pressure, low pressure Roof Cleaning Methods for ourRoof Clean USA tm - Thomas County and Thomasville,Georgia and Tallahassee, Florida Roof Cleaning Customers.
Kind of on these same lines has anyone heard of the ground man using miracle grow to neutralize the SH.
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ALG Contracting Owner Chuck Drane Non Pressure Roof Cleaning Bowling Green Ky 270-535-3882 chuck@algclean.com www.algclean.com  Roof Cleaning Kentucky, Roof Cleaning Bowling Green, Roof Cleaning South Central Kentucky