People often ask me "Chris, what is the best brand of air pump".
Honestly, I have used Yamada, Versa Matic, Wilden, and ARO, and saw little "difference" between brands.
Jim Wilden invented the air pump many years ago, his patents expired, and he got copied, just like competitors copy us.
An air pump is a quite simple device, and as long as the diapraghm matierial are chemically resistant (Santoprene, Teflon) and the pump body (Kynar, Polyproplyne) you are good to go
All Flow Pumps do have a longer warranty, I am told.
The Polyproplyne/Santroprene pump Gary just bought SHOULD be rinsed out after use. This is because SOME Polyproplyne is fiberglass filled, in an attempt to make it stronger.
I have a 1/2 inch Wilden with santoprene diapraghms that we used for nearly a year with NO Rinsing. This is because the Wilden Poly Pumps are unique in that they use no fiberglass filling in their poly bodies to make them stronger.
Instead, Wilden uses pure virgin Poly for their poly pump body that is insanely thick
A 1/2 inch Wilden Poly Pump makes a 1/2 inch Yamada or All Flow Poly Pump look like a Toy by comparison.
A Poly Pump is OK, but if it is not Virgin Poly, and fiberglass filled, it must be rinsed, or the fumes from the roof cleaning chemicals will attack the fiberglass, and weaken the pump body, over time.
We used a 1/2 inch Yamada Poly Pump for nearly 6 months with NO Rinsing, because I like to torture pumps
It did last 6 months, then leaked all over. It is NOT rebuildable anymore, because it's body has been compromised.
The 1/2 Wilden Poly was never rinsed, it made it 11 months, it's diapraghms simply wore out. Some new diapraghms, and it is good to go. It sits still broken, in my garage, never to be used by us again.
We have switched to 1 inch air pumps because quite simply, they are better.
They have less pulsing, shoot better, spray faster, and last longer. A 1 inch air pump, with a compressor of 13 hp or more is the best roof cleaning pump system I know of, within reason.
We use a Wilden 1 inch air pump made out of a special metal called Hastelloy. It has Teflon Diapraghms. I would have preferred Santoprene, but it is what it is.
I bought it used off Ebay for around 400.00 (it sells new for nearly 3000.00)
It just sits there and works, cleaning tile roofs every day, 6 days a week, big ones too. I have had it over a year, and it was used when I bought it
It is capable of nearly 49 GPM flow, so it is LOAFING at the flow requirements for roof cleaning.
LOL, it sounds like it is "Farting" as it runs.
Because the diapraghms in the larger 1 inch pumps move less for a given flow, they last longer.
A 1/2 inch pump goes whoop whoop whoop whoop as it works, the 1 inch pumps just "Fart" every 20 seconds or so, depending on nozzle size.
I look at pumps like brand new pick up trucks. What is a "better truck", Ford, Chevvy, or Dodge ?
I say the one you can get the best deal on, because they are all good.
Just be sure the materials the roof cleaning pump is made from are compatable, and you are good to go.
Went and picked up my air compressor yesterday. Gonna do a little clean-up and repainting the next couple days, and then I'll post some pics. Runs like a new one, but does need 2 new mufflers.
Your garden house on your house. The pressure on it is the same if you barely turn it on, or if you turn it on full force. The only difference is the flow. We all know it will shoot. farther if its turned on full force.
Now if you run a fatboy, or a 1/2 air pump, the pressure is about the same. The flow rate is somewhat different. 5-7gpm versus 12-14gpm. Air shoots farther, if you have it set up with the proper size hose.
Then bring a 1" air pump into the picture with a 35-38gpm flow rate and you see what I am hoping for. Time will tell. Stay tuned.
They way I see it, IF I only open the ball valve slightly, I will be very close to what I have now. IF I need to shoot 50-60+ ', I should be able to do that also. ???? Yes or NO??
They way I see it, IF I only open the ball valve slightly, I will be very close to what I have now. IF I need to shoot 50-60+ ', I should be able to do that also. ???? Yes or NO??
Gary
That's what I do Gary if I need to go farther I open the ball valve full throttle!
I tried that but was not happy with the results, plus thet were too cumbersome to use.
I tried that too Gary, It's a pain in the butt, lol I remember years and years ago when I just started pressure washing I bought the telescoping wand, what a joke, then I bought several 2' extensions and started connecting them, lol. all you gotta have is a big azz pressure washer, thats all you need, just like your going to have a monster roof cleaning unit.
I tried that but was not happy with the results, plus thet were too cumbersome to use.
I tried that too Gary, It's a pain in the butt, lol I remember years and years ago when I just started pressure washing I bought the telescoping wand, what a joke, then I bought several 2' extensions and started connecting them, lol. all you gotta have is a big azz pressure washer, thats all you need, just like your going to have a monster roof cleaning unit.
I once had a Pontiac GTO Clyde, with a 389 tri power carbs. 3 two barrel carbs. Most of the time, it ran off of one 2 barrel carb. BUT, when you put your foot into it, hold on tight!
You won't "need" all the flow from a 1 inch roof cleaning pump all the time.
But it is nice to know it is there, when you DO need it!