A Big Advance In Roof Cleaning

Apple Roof Cleaning

Apple Roof Cleaning

Roof Cleaning Instructor
Guys, I THINK I have stumbled upon what will be a major advancement in a roof cleaning set up.
Imagine having NEVER to mix your chemicals again ?

Here is how it works on our trucks.
Here at Apple Roof Cleaning we use flatbed trucks.

Previously, we had 500 and 600 gallon tanks, premixed with TSP, Chlorine, and water.

We do from 3 to 5 roofs a day, and mostly shingle.

Now, let's say we have 2 shingles, THEN a big tile roof.
This previously meant we had to re fresh our mix with more Chlorine.

Not anymore !!!

Here is what we now do.

We got rid of the one big tank setup, and are going to a dual tank setup.
One 250 gallon Chlorine tank, and a 325 water tank.

ALWAYS pull from the TOP of your tanks guys, bulkheads leak!

We use PVC feed tubes in our tanks, the one in the chlorine tank feeds an inch or so off the bottom, the water feed is 6 inches from the bottom so the undissolved TSP is not sucked up.

You DO use TSP I hope ?

Coming out of the suction of our pump, we use a TEE connector that splits the feed into 2 lines.

In each line after the TEE and going to the twin tanks is a very special type of valve.

These twin valves CONTROL flow!

Yes, this means we have the ability to totally vary the strength of our mix for the requirements of ANY Roof Cleaning Job!

Rinsing our pumps/hose is simple, we just shut off the Chlorine valve, and pull straight water.

I am considering adding a THIRD tank for Sodium Hydroxide.

The combo of TSP/Water, Chlorine and Caustic is an "old school" house wash and general cleaning solution handed down from the "old timers" on the Delco board.

In this case, I would simply use a three way valve coming from my pumps suction, three feed lines to my 3 tanks, and 3 of the inline "special valves" we have found.

The caustic tank can be simply "turned off" when not needed simply by closing the valve.

I am NOT sure a Shurflo type pump has enough "Pull"to do this ?
John Blues will NOT work!

The reason WHY a John Blue will not work is because a John Blue is a Positive Displacement pump that must have a bypass hose going back into a tank to UNLOAD pressure, or it will blow a head.

I ALMOST was not going to post this, and keep it my little "secret" for my close friends and I.

WHY did I post this ?
Here is why.

Sometimes, I feel I get little respect for all my pioneering efforts to advance the state of the art in roof cleaning.

I guess it is my own fault for "staying put" over on Delco, but my local friends hang out there.

When I did finally start going to other board, few knew of me, and I saw certain people suggesting what I considered obsolete methods, and being handed stupid titles like "God's and Guru's"

The OLD Apple Roof Cleaning system consisted of a high GPM, low pressure Shurflo pump, and 5/8 hose.

I haven't suggested a small 1.8 GPM Shurflo pump in 10 years!
And, never with small 3/8 hose.

Can you imagine my shock leaving Delco, and going to other boards, and finding people promoting a system I abandoned 10 years ago ?

Few knew anything about me, and I almost had to fight the entire board to get people to at least TRY my ideas.

Now, most have gone to the bigger hose, and the faster pumps we suggested.

Several here, and at other boards, have tried my suggestion of DUAL Shurflo Type pumps in parallel, with great results.

At the local Tampa Roof Cleaners meeting, I unveiled to the roof cleaning world the Plasic Hose Reel swivelhttp://forums.thegrimescene.com/showthread.php?t=7849

The pictures are in the thread link above.

AND, I have even more information to share with everyone in the near future.

As most of you know, the moderators position of this forum has been vacated, and we are w/o full time moderation.

I have emailed Grant, and "applied".
I am "looking" for a new home, and I would be honored if Grant considers me for the job.

Chris
 
Wtf...............................

Apple Roof Cleaning said:
Guys, I THINK I have stumbled upon what will be a major advancement in a roof cleaning set up.
Imagine having NEVER to mix your chemicals again ?

Not anymore !!!

Here is what we now do.

We got rid of the one big tank setup, and are going to a dual tank setup.
One 250 gallon Chlorine tank, and a 325 water tank.

ALWAYS pull from the TOP of your tanks guys, bulkheads leak!


You DO use TSP I hope ?

Coming out of the suction of our pump, we use a TEE connector that splits the feed into 2 lines.

In each line after the TEE and going to the twin tanks is a very special type of valve.

WHY did I post this ?
Here is why.

Sometimes, I feel I get little respect for all my pioneering efforts to advance the state of the art in roof cleaning.



Chris
Click to expand...

Chris,

I like the way you "discovered" a new way in mixing chemicals with a "dual tank set up".

I posted this set up weeks ago, your "pioneering ways", seems alot like what I have been working on. Though it is not exactly the same it makes me wonder, WTF.....................
 

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Chris, I think you would make a great moderator for this forum. I think you have a lot to offer and have a good since of humor. I personally like the fact that you run high flow pumps like we do. We can all gain from each others ideas. One thing I like about your posts is you speak from expierence, it was good talking to someone who has tried many pump, tank & hose configurations. The only way to make things more efficient is to never stop thinking and testing.
 
Last edited:
Pure-Pressure said:
Chris,

I like the way you "discovered" a new way in mixing chemicals with a "dual tank set up".

I posted this set up weeks ago, your "pioneering ways", seems alot like what I have been working on. Though it is not exactly the same it makes me wonder, WTF.....................
Click to expand...


Friends of mine have been doing this for years.
 
Pure-Pressure said:
Chris,

I like the way you "discovered" a new way in mixing chemicals with a "dual tank set up".

I posted this set up weeks ago, your "pioneering ways", seems alot like what I have been working on. Though it is not exactly the same it makes me wonder, WTF.....................
Click to expand...
And who responded to your post, telling you ONE way to do it by varying the size and length of the suction hoses ?

I admit, I could have told you about my valves instead of suggesting different diameters/lengths of intake hoses, but I have been working on this system for years.

I wanted to "save my bullets" for this post.

I think we also suggested to pull from the top too ?

I am remembering the post quite clearly now.

In it, Don Phelps suggests you use your pump to pull straight Chlorine into your water tank!

We suggested caution against exposing any pump to straight Chlorine.

Using two different feeds for pumps is not new.
Using a pinch valve is, to the best of my knowledge.

Chris
 
taselton2 said:
Friends of mine have been doing this for years.
Click to expand...

Mine too Tim!
The dual tank idea is nothing new, it's the implementation with the pinch valve, and pulling from the top that is.

In 14 years of doing this, I have never seen it doen this way.

But, I am sure several of our brothers have a system that works for them.

Did 4 roofs today Tim, made us 1750 dollars!

Cold called one too.

The neighbor lady was a lookin, and lookin leads to likin, likin leads to luvin, and luvin leads to buyin, LOL

Slammed her azz, there on the spot.

She tried to shop, said she just gettin prices!

Funk that, I said the price is TODAYS PRICE, right here, right now!

I REEK of Chlorine from workin the ground, gotta rinse the "equipment" off before it gets on my "HOSE" LOL

Chris
 
taselton2 said:
Chris, I think you would make a great moderator for this forum. I think you have a lot to offer and have a good since of humor. I personally like the fact that you run high flow pumps like we do. We can all gain from each others ideas. One thing I like about your posts is you speak from expierence, it was good talking to someone who has tried many pump, tank & hose configurations. The only way to make things more efficient is to never stop thinking and testing.
Click to expand...

IF Grant makes me a moderator, I will "stay here" and try and teach, AND learn from all of you.
I really feel all of us is smarter then one of us, and I would love someone to learn me sumtin.

I really injoyed a talkin to a good ol boy like you Tim.

I think you's a gonna go placez with your idears.

You have a dreem man, follow that mutter to the end, and I can see a sellin franchizez in yer future.

Hey, do I do a good Russ, LOL
 
Apple Roof Cleaning said:
IF Grant makes me a moderator, I will "stay here" and try and teach, AND learn from all of you.
I really feel all of us is smarter then one of us, and I would love someone to learn me sumtin.

I really injoyed a talkin to a good ol boy like you Tim.

I think you's a gonna go placez with your idears.

You have a dreem man, follow that mutter to the end, and I can see a sellin franchizez in yer future.

Hey, do I do a good Russ, LOL
Click to expand...

Just came off a 24hr shift, had a haz-mat at a state building today. People seem to like mixing chems and falling out when I'm on duty. We shut the whole building down for a couple. You did $1750.00 and I played fireman, I will be back in it tomorrow. Finally got my box brackets welded, I will post a pix when I can. Pinch valve? Never heard of that, at first I thought it might be something from your singles club mettings. Keep tweeking and testing!
 
taselton2 said:
Just came off a 24hr shift, had a haz-mat at a state building today. People seem to like mixing chems and falling out when I'm on duty. We shut the whole building down for a couple. You did $1750.00 and I played fireman, I will be back in it tomorrow. Finally got my box brackets welded, I will post a pix when I can. Pinch valve? Never heard of that, at first I thought it might be something from your singles club mettings. Keep tweeking and testing!
Click to expand...

You too Tim!
If we all put our heads together, we can figure out this puzzle!
I am going to invite some of MY buddies to post here.

Some got turned off to the 'clicks' on The You know what board.
And, that is NO slam on some of the fine people that board either.

I like it over here Tim, it;s cool and laid back, and we all have fun.

Gotta go Wal Mart calls me, and one customer paid CASH!

Money talks bro, mine says "good bye" ....
 
Apple Roof Cleaning said:
IF Grant makes me a moderator, I will "stay here" and try and teach, AND learn from all of you.
I really feel all of us is smarter then one of us, and I would love someone to learn me sumtin.

I really injoyed a talkin to a good ol boy like you Tim.

I think you's a gonna go placez with your idears.

You have a dreem man, follow that mutter to the end, and I can see a sellin franchizez in yer future.

Hey, do I do a good Russ, LOL
Click to expand...

hey thats awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!how and where did ya leaen to speak alabamian
 
russ s said:
hey thats awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!how and where did ya leaen to speak alabamian
Click to expand...

Some of eur best freens have bean from allabamma!
Warm, good people, with big hearts, like you Russ!

Tim knows, I HATE this Tampa rat race.
My deceased dad, who was a Tennessee farm boy, called Floridians, Floridiots, LOL

I will not go that far ...

I luv Boiled Peanuts, and NOT the GD Jumbo one's either.
Them ain't peanuts ..
 
taselton2 said:
I'm with you on this one. We pre-mix all our solutions.
Click to expand...

That's all we do Tim, so the Vari Flow system meets our needs.

I have been really considering building a pressure washing rig on a dedicated truck.

Then, maybe putting a guy on it who does only pressure washing ?

Almost every roof I clean needs P/W services.

I USED to work closely with P/W operators who did NOT also do roofs, and we helped each other.

But you KNOW how it is ......
Everyone always THINKS the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, LOL

So, almost all my old P/W buddies now clean roofs, and that's cool.

But, they are also now my potential competitors:eek:

For SOME reason, i just no longer feel as "comfortable" sending them to clean my repeat customes houses.

So, why not go after the business myself ?
 
Apple Roof Cleaning said:
And who responded to your post, telling you ONE way to do it by varying the size and length of the suction hoses ?

I admit, I could have told you about my valves instead of suggesting different diameters/lengths of intake hoses, but I have been working on this system for years.

I wanted to "save my bullets" for this post.

I think we also suggested to pull from the top too ?

I am remembering the post quite clearly now.

In it, Don Phelps suggests you use your pump to pull straight Chlorine into your water tank!

We suggested caution against exposing any pump to straight Chlorine.

Using two different feeds for pumps is not new.
Using a pinch valve is, to the best of my knowledge.

Chris
Click to expand...

i fried two pumps with straight 12.5 %
 
Nothing like a soft sale!:rolleyes:
 
russ s said:
i fried two pumps with straight 12.5 %
Click to expand...
Amen to that!
Any chemical resistance table clearly shows the degree of chemical resistance is directly proportional to the strength of the chemical!

THIS is why I "attack" what I see as dangerous recommendations.

A 1.8 GPM open flow, a Shurflo will only be doing about 1 GPM "transferring straight Chlorine into a tank.

That means to transfer 50 gallons, the poor pump will be exposed to STRAIGHT CHLORINE for almost an hour!!

IF I were selling pumps, this would be a good way to do it, LOL
 
Apple Roof Cleaning said:
Guys, I THINK I have stumbled upon what will be a major advancement in a roof cleaning set up.
Imagine having NEVER to mix your chemicals again ?

Here is how it works on our trucks.
Here at Apple Roof Cleaning we use flatbed trucks.

Previously, we had 500 and 600 gallon tanks, premixed with TSP, Chlorine, and water.

We do from 3 to 5 roofs a day, and mostly shingle.

Now, let's say we have 2 shingles, THEN a big tile roof.
This previously meant we had to re fresh our mix with more Chlorine.

Not anymore !!!

Here is what we now do.

We got rid of the one big tank setup, and are going to a dual tank setup.
One 250 gallon Chlorine tank, and a 325 water tank.

ALWAYS pull from the TOP of your tanks guys, bulkheads leak!

We use PVC feed tubes in our tanks, the one in the chlorine tank feeds an inch or so off the bottom, the water feed is 6 inches from the bottom so the undissolved TSP is not sucked up.

You DO use TSP I hope ?

Coming out of the suction of our pump, we use a TEE connector that splits the feed into 2 lines.

In each line after the TEE and going to the twin tanks is a very special type of valve.

These twin valves CONTROL flow!

Yes, this means we have the ability to totally vary the strength of our mix for the requirements of ANY Roof Cleaning Job!

Rinsing our pumps/hose is simple, we just shut off the Chlorine valve, and pull straight water.

I am considering adding a THIRD tank for Sodium Hydroxide.

The combo of TSP/Water, Chlorine and Caustic is an "old school" house wash and general cleaning solution handed down from the "old timers" on the Delco board.

In this case, I would simply use a three way valve coming from my pumps suction, three feed lines to my 3 tanks, and 3 of the inline "special valves" we have found.

The caustic tank can be simply "turned off" when not needed simply by closing the valve.

I am NOT sure a Shurflo type pump has enough "Pull"to do this ?
John Blues will NOT work!

The reason WHY a John Blue will not work is because a John Blue is a Positive Displacement pump that must have a bypass hose going back into a tank to UNLOAD pressure, or it will blow a head.

I ALMOST was not going to post this, and keep it my little "secret" for my close friends and I.

WHY did I post this ?
Here is why.

Sometimes, I feel I get little respect for all my pioneering efforts to advance the state of the art in roof cleaning.

I guess it is my own fault for "staying put" over on Delco, but my local friends hang out there.

When I did finally start going to other board, few knew of me, and I saw certain people suggesting what I considered obsolete methods, and being handed stupid titles like "God's and Guru's"

The OLD Apple Roof Cleaning system consisted of a high GPM, low pressure Shurflo pump, and 5/8 hose.

I haven't suggested a small 1.8 GPM Shurflo pump in 10 years!
And, never with small 3/8 hose.

Can you imagine my shock leaving Delco, and going to other boards, and finding people promoting a system I abandoned 10 years ago ?

Few knew anything about me, and I almost had to fight the entire board to get people to at least TRY my ideas.

Now, most have gone to the bigger hose, and the faster pumps we suggested.

Several here, and at other boards, have tried my suggestion of DUAL Shurflo Type pumps in parallel, with great results.

At the local Tampa Roof Cleaners meeting, I unveiled to the roof cleaning world the Plasic Hose Reel swivelhttp://forums.thegrimescene.com/showthread.php?t=7849

The pictures are in the thread link above.

AND, I have even more information to share with everyone in the near future.

As most of you know, the moderators position of this forum has been vacated, and we are w/o full time moderation.

I have emailed Grant, and "applied".
I am "looking" for a new home, and I would be honored if Grant considers me for the job.

Chris
Click to expand...

How is this working in the Tampa Florida Roof cleaning Market Chris
 
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