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sweetwaterfish · Guest

Softwash Pump

Oct 18, 2010

Very nice what mix ratio did you use? How did it work on the dark cement?

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 18, 2010

You can tell that place is old but it looks like you cleaned it up well. Nice work. Did you downstream with a pw?

sweetwaterfish · Guest

Did not downstream. Ran it through my roof washing pump ( 110 V Meyers, 3/4 HP @ 10 GPM.

Took 120 Gallons of solution at about 3% SH, .5% detergent, and 96.5% H2O

Had to use a PW on the concrete, wanted an immediate impact. Concrete cleans at about 25% SH content, but too many ferns/tropical landscaping to spray that kind of mix.

Grizzly · Guest

Nice, Ray. Did you knock any paint chips down?

Guest

Nice job Ray, Not to knock the soft wash method but using a heat pressure washer with a soap nozzle is just as low pressure as a roof cleaning pump. I am looking to speed things up my self and have thought of using my roof cleaning pump for a same idea but when you have a soap nozzle in it is soft washing. Still nice work though.

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX · Guest

Without starting the "which method is better" debate, but IF you can do the same work with half the equipment, why lug it all around? We only use the pw with surface cleaner on concrete, and that's only if its really dirty. Chemicals will clean everything but oil and grease effectively/quickly.

Guest

I think the main benefit downstreaming has over dedicated pump system,...is you can simply switch nozzles and be applying rinse water with the same hose,...can't do that with a dedicated pump. And house,...unlike roofs really need to be rinsed and not just shot with chemicals,..there are alot more variables with house's than roofs. There can be a lot of debris,...along with general buildup of grunge that needs to be rinsed away after the chemicals are applied. Not to mention rinsing windows.

Just easier to do both steps with a PW,...simply by switching nozzles,...and it's still all soft washing.

Jeff

Matthew · Guest

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:

I think the main benefit downstreaming has over dedicated pump system,...is you can simply switch nozzles and be applying rinse water with the same hose,...can't do that with a dedicated pump. And house,...unlike roofs really need to be rinsed and not just shot with chemicals,..there are alot more variables with house's than roofs. There can be a lot of debris,...along with general buildup of grunge that needs to be rinsed away after the chemicals are applied. Not to mention rinsing windows.

Just easier to do both steps with a PW,...simply by switching nozzles,...and it's still all soft washing.

Jeff

Unless I misunderstood you I can do that with a softwashing dedicated pump.
I can switch any nozzle I want and I can choose to run chems and/or water.
Just requires two tanks.

The question is pressure.

I will admit I prefer to use a 4010, or 2510 with my pressure washer for most houses.
But, It can be done with a fatboy or flojet and certainly with the air models.

Now concrete on the other hand requires a pressure washer and I would love to see someone prove me wrong. I clean a lot of bare concrete driveways and even a 50/50 mix with TSP isn't going to be as clean as a PW and DS'ing.

Guest

Yes Matthew, I agree you can switch tanks,..but that requires going back to the supply tanks and opening and shutting valves. where as all you need to do with a PW is stand in the same spot and switch nozzles.

Sure you can use any nozzle you want,...irrelevant point though considering it doesn't change over to fresh water by simply changing nozzles,....you will still be shooting whatever is still coming out of the hose,...until you go back and switch tanks.

May be ok for guys who mostly do roofs,...but for guys doing a lot of houses,...switching tanks all the time would get old real quick.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Tuesday 19th of October 2010 05:48:30 PM

Matthew · Guest

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:

Yes Matthew, I agree you can switch tanks,..but that requires going back to the supply tanks and opening and shutting valves. where as all you need to do with a PW is stand in the same spot and switch nozzles.

Sure you can use any nozzle you want,...irrelevant point though considering it doesn't change over to fresh water ,...by simply changing nozzles,....you will still be shooting whatever is still coming out of the hose,...until you go back and switch tanks.

May be ok for guys who mostly do roofs,...but for guys doing a lot of houses,...switching tanks all the time would get old real quick.

Jeff

Of course. No arguments there.

A softwash only rig can do vinyl siding and such and still make money doing houses, but you need a good old PW most days.

We make as much with them and without them.

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX · Guest

And with my last point, we do mostly roofs and only wash the house on about 50%. But that being said, a house is easily rinsed with a water hose by a 2nd person.

Now, to be honest, I've never down streamed before. But even when you change nozzles don't you still have chem in the line for a minute or so? Using a dedicate pump doesn't really require running back to the truck as long as you have a second guy on site to rinse.

Guest

I do agree with Jeff on the pw machine, I do understand about carry around a big machine but then again that is why I have a big truck. I do a lot of everything so it is good to have it all in one truck and be versitale.

Guest

Never said it couldn't be done Scott,..but with varying water pressure from residence to residence,...and also considering customers may be on a well,.... and the need to have a second hose makes it way impractical if you're washing houses at all in my opinion,....but I could see roofing guys picking up an extra buck by doing this with the machine at hand.

The PW is just a better choice for house washing,...and easily makes up for any space it may be taking up.
I actually never use a customers' water,...I always rinse surroundings with my PW and my own water.
I know what I'm getting every time that way and it just makes me feel better when I roll in.

Jeff

Andreas · Guest

Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:

Never said it couldn't be done Scott,..but with varying water pressure from residence to residence,...and also considering customers may be on a well,.... and the need to have a second hose makes it way impractical if you're washing houses at all in my opinion,....but I could see roofing guys picking up an extra buck by doing this with the machine at hand.

The PW is just a better choice for house washing,...and easily makes up for any space it may be taking up.
I actually never use a customers' water,...I always rinse surroundings with my PW and my own water.
I know what I'm getting every time that way and it just makes me feel better when I roll in.

Jeff

Jeff,

Are you rinsing the landscaping with your own water while you roof wash? If so how much water do you go through? Was wondering as many of our customers have their outside water connections shut off by this point. Might be worth me picking up an extra tank.

Guest

Yes Andreas,...I use my own water on every job. As to the amount,...it varies,...but I haul 300 gallons to every job, and I have never ran out. 150 gallons average I'd say,....but as I said it can vary greatly. I try and do my roof cleaning in the morning hours,...before the Sun really gets out, so that alone saves a lot of water.

You don't need a wand,...just the trigger handle and a big 0 degree nozzle and a fan pattern,..like a soap nozzle.

Jeff

Guest

i agree downstreaming is the fastest way to clean houses if thats what your doing. I know personally i can get 4 to 5 2 story house done in one day using the soft washing nozzle and the use of hot water and the right chems really speeds up the cleaning process.

As far as chem coming out the hose after you change nozzles it is only for about 20-30 seconds depending on the gpm's of the machine

Sarasota Roof Cleaning · Guest

Love your truck....good job....well done.....that is what a pro should look like....well done!!!

Sarasota Roof Cleaning · Guest

Roof Cleaning of Virginia Beach, VA 757-650-7456. wrote:

Nice job Ray, Not to knock the soft wash method but using a heat pressure washer with a soap nozzle is just as low pressure as a roof cleaning pump. I am looking to speed things up my self and have thought of using my roof cleaning pump for a same idea but when you have a soap nozzle in it is soft washing. Still nice work though.

Great looking truck....well done...this is what a pros truck SHOULD look like.......great job....keep it going!!

orlandoroofcleaner · Guest

My softwash pump will wash a house just fine but Im much faster with my pressure washer. I will use my chem pump if its only some mildew on a wall.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"