House washing without a trigger-gun or x-jet

FCPWLLC

Senior Moderator
Last edited by a moderator:
I have a question, does the mold go away or just turn color?

Cleaning agents extract colors... so is it clean or just changing colors.

Good tip for guys wanting to save money.

Now does anyone that uses X-jet have a pro and con to ball valves verse x-jet?

This is a question on PWI can handle.
 
I watched that dam Video 9 times.
I just LOVE it!
Here's Ya a Midi File to play in the background ?
http://www.shgresources.com/music/statesongs/ky.mid

Michael, when you first start, you are downstreaming, right ?
Then, when you throw the ball valve down, and walk away, are you then switching the machine to pressure ?
What pressure and gpm is that machine ?
I bet I could clean me a LOT of Pool Cages with that ?
 
Michael, you did lie to us about ONE thing, LOL
You said "No guns were used in this video"
What about the one under the seat ? :confused:


Hey JUST kidding Man.:)

We are being forced here in Florida to go into the exterior cleaning business.
I just had one of my guys watch the video with me.

His response ?
"Shoot Boss, I can do that"
He thinks it a great idea Michael, and wonders if it will shoot up far anough with enough pressure to clean swimming pool cages/screen rooms.

He also wanted to point out to you that the roof in the video LOOKED dirty, in his opinion?
 
I have a question, does the mold go away or just turn color?

Cleaning agents extract colors... so is it clean or just changing colors.

Good tip for guys wanting to save money.

Now does anyone that uses X-jet have a pro and con to ball valves verse x-jet?

This is a question on PWI can handle.

the only con i can see is that the xjet saves your hose and QCs. this way the chem still goes in your hose. but i really like this idea. i dont know what ratio of soap he uses but i know the xjet you can make it stronger than your normal down streamer. but i like good thinking.
 
the only con i can see is that the xjet saves your hose and QCs. this way the chem still goes in your hose. but i really like this idea. i dont know what ratio of soap he uses but i know the xjet you can make it stronger than your normal down streamer. but i like good thinking.
Hi Kevin, I am sure Michael will jump back in here in a minute.
I think am X Jet would ba a pain in the axx myself ?
Having chemical buckets to carry around and all.

Another question I have for Mike is WHY downstram at all ?
He has chemical pumps.
Why not just use a seperate small tank with house mix in it, and use his chem pumps to apply it ?
Then, use the ball valve on the pressure washer to rinse with ?
 
Hi Kevin, I am sure Michael will jump back in here in a minute.
I think am X Jet would ba a pain in the axx myself ?
Having chemical buckets to carry around and all.

Another question I have for Mike is WHY downstram at all ?
He has chemical pumps.
Why not just use a seperate small tank with house mix in it, and use his chem pumps to apply it ?
Then, use the ball valve on the pressure washer to rinse with ?
That would work 2 and it would save your hose and QCs. i guess there is many ways to get the end result wich is a clean house. use what works best for you and we should always keep our eyes and mind open to new ideas.

this is a good one
 
That would work 2 and it would save your hose and QCs. i guess there is many ways to get the end result wich is a clean house. use what works best for you and we should always keep our eyes and mind open to new ideas.

this is a good one
I am looking at ways to clean houses, fast!
Since I have 2 guys, someone suggested TWO pressure washers.
One to downstream only, and a high GPM one to follow behind and rinse with.
One guy leads with chemical, and the other one waits a minute, then pressure rinses.
Or, how about this ?
A remote control switch mounted on the trailer using one pump.
Spray on side with chemical, click the remote, and pressure water.
No, that might not work because you can't regulate pressure, and the freaking 300 foot of hose takes time to flush.

The more I think about it, the more I am leaning to TWO machines, since I already have 2 Guys.

But I MAY not even need that ?

The Vari Flow Two Tank System is fixing to be field tested here real soon.

IF it works like I HOPE it will, I will simply use my chemical pumps to wash houses with.

My pumps are 15 GPM each, and two of them are "coming to the party" :D

If all goes as planned, I will be able to dial in almost any chem/water ratio I want.

One 300 gallon tank can have straight 12 percent in it, and the other tank can be water, TSP/Borax, simple cherry, surfactant, or whatever.

Each pump pulls from it's own tank.

The outputs of the two pumps are combined into one hose.
The speed of the individual pumps determine their flow and pressure.

I can control this easily.

The more I think about this, the more I am THINKING I do not need any downstreaming.

I might just take Russ's advice, and get me a high GPM pressure washer, and use Mike Kreisel's excellent idea of a simple ball valve to rinse with ?
 
I watched that dam Video 9 times.
I just LOVE it!
Here's Ya a Midi File to play in the background ?
http://www.shgresources.com/music/statesongs/ky.mid

Michael, when you first start, you are downstreaming, right ?
Then, when you throw the ball valve down, and walk away, are you then switching the machine to pressure ?What pressure and gpm is that machine ?
I bet I could clean me a LOT of Pool Cages with that ?

There is no switching to pressure.I believe Michael has gone around to shut off the chemical flow to the downstreamer.
 
I love the idea of using two guys and two machines, although this is twice as much hose to keep out of the flower beds and to unwind and reel in. I have been working on a remote control system to turn an electronic valve on and off to control downstreaming so we won't have to walk back and forth to the trailer constantly to start on stop downstreaming. I have a 4 channel remote that turns hot water on and off, starts and stops the machine, and controls the downstream valve. Was having some problems with range when behind the house, but just got my extended range antenna today! When and if all the bugs are worked out I'll give more details.
 
I love the idea of using two guys and two machines, although this is twice as much hose to keep out of the flower beds and to unwind and reel in. I have been working on a remote control system to turn an electronic valve on and off to control downstreaming so we won't have to walk back and forth to the trailer constantly to start on stop downstreaming. I have a 4 channel remote that turns hot water on and off, starts and stops the machine, and controls the downstream valve. Was having some problems with range when behind the house, but just got my extended range antenna today! When and if all the bugs are worked out I'll give more details.
Antenna's are MY thing Bro.
I have been a Ham Radio Guy for 27 years.
There MUST be a way to extend range.

You always want ANY antenna as HIGH as possible.
Tell me the frequency of the transmitter/receiver unit, and possibly I can suggest something ?

Again, the problem I see with downstreaming is that even IF you switch it on and off, the hose is full of soap/chemical still, isn't it ?

Another idea I had was to simply use a Dual Hose, like a welding hose for an acetlyne torch ?

One hose fed by pressure, the other by soap/chemical ?

You would need two machines, but this could be Da Bomb ?

Now, we gotta find someone making DUAL pressure hose.
Actually, only ONE side of thwe hose need be pressure hose.

What do ya think about that ?

This will allow ONE guy to do it all.

At the moment, all we mainly do is clean roofs.

But I want to get into house cleaning, and still carry the desire we all have to be the best at what I do.

This means having the best possible equipment.

It really is nice to have so many friends I have shared my roof cleaning knowledge with to help me in our new venture.
 
The only real issue I have with the x-jet is the amount of pressure. For brick, concrete etc it is fine but is more than is needed for vinyl. Plus lugging around and extra chem container sucks. I was just demonstrating that down-streaming IS effective and not out of reach for folks. Some make it out to be more complicated than it is.

I have cleaned with the delavan too. It requires more mix to be hauled. Down-streaming usually only requires 4-5 gallons of mix for most houses.

The bal-valve thing is great on single story homes. Some 2 story homes can be done if the wind isn't too bad. I like the gun and Large oriffice tips best. Hands down, I can clean a house faster than anyone with an x-jet. I've done it with an x-jet every way you can and it is too slow, wastes chem, and just uses too much pressure, keeping you on your toes when there is oxidation present. Also, more and more, the guys I see with the $99 house wash specials, more times than not, are x-jetting Wal-Mart bleach with no soap. I quickly became the tool of choice for the low-ballers. It gets used with $200 Home Depot machines daily.

That ball-valve is the best money a guy can spend in this business. I D-S chems onto Driveways and rinse with it also. It is a great time saver and will out last any gun when D-Sing chems. I have one on the end of every hose we own.
 
The only real issue I have with the x-jet is the amount of pressure. For brick, concrete etc it is fine but is more than is needed for vinyl. Plus lugging around and extra chem container sucks. I was just demonstrating that down-streaming IS effective and not out of reach for folks. Some make it out to be more complicated than it is.

I have cleaned with the delavan too. It requires more mix to be hauled. Down-streaming usually only requires 4-5 gallons of mix for most houses.

The bal-valve thing is great on single story homes. Some 2 story homes can be done if the wind isn't too bad. I like the gun and Large oriffice tips best. Hands down, I can clean a house faster than anyone with an x-jet. I've done it with an x-jet every way you can and it is too slow, wastes chem, and just uses too much pressure, keeping you on your toes when there is oxidation present. Also, more and more, the guys I see with the $99 house wash specials, more times than not, are x-jetting Wal-Mart bleach with no soap. I quickly became the tool of choice for the low-ballers. It gets used with $200 Home Depot machines daily.

That ball-valve is the best money a guy can spend in this business. I D-S chems onto Driveways and rinse with it also. It is a great time saver and will out last any gun when D-Sing chems. I have one on the end of every hose we own.
I ordered 2 300 ft rolls of the hose we talked about Mike.
Mean and Green.
Did not have red, so went for the florescent green 5/8.

I still do not see why the Delevan can't be used to apply chemicals with a small dedicated tank ?

But since I do not know anywhere near a smuch as you about cleaning houses, I am sure there is a reason you downsteream instead.

Maybe it is to just use the same hose, instead of two ?

I plan to loook at all my options, and see how the vari flow system works.

But I LOVE your ball valve rinsing idea!

What do you think of a single, dual hose Mike ?
Read this ? http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6626374-description.html
 
Antenna's are MY thing Bro.
I have been a Ham Radio Guy for 27 years.
There MUST be a way to extend range.

You always want ANY antenna as HIGH as possible.
Tell me the frequency of the transmitter/receiver unit, and possibly I can suggest something ?

Again, the problem I see with downstreaming is that even IF you switch it on and off, the hose is full of soap/chemical still, isn't it ?
What we do is switch off the chemical a little before we're done soaping that side of the house. It really doesn't take that long to run through 200 feet of hose. The part I hate is watching my guy walk at a snails pace back and forth to the trailer, thus the fixation on the remote control. The extended antenna I ordered in designed for the receiver I have, which I believe is 315mhtz? It is a dipole antenna and has a 9 foot cable that attaches it to the pc board. It is supposed to give it a 1200 foot line of site range. We will see what happens when I get the house between the trailer and the remote.
 
I would love to try something less expensive and more convenient than the x-jet. My issue is this: Most of the houses in my area are two story with full attics, effectively making them three stories at the gable ends. Many have 12:12 pitch roofs, making the gable ends pretty high. I need something that can reach that height without ladders, even when there is some wind. If this type of setup can be made to reach that height, it would be great. Otherwise, I guess I keep looking.
 
ya'll overthinking this process

Hey Chris, I'll be over in Largo in July doing some commercial property. We'll have to meet up.
BTW ya'll overthinking this process.

flushing a hose of chemical takes 20 seconds tops ( with our pumps at least )
Running chems through the hoses really doesn't damage the hoses if rinsed. The hoses get ruined from dragging them around long before any chem would get to them.
As far as the QC's, most of them are crap to begin with and get worn from the on-off of all the wands/surface cleaners and such.
In the PWing side of this biz you almost need a spare warehouse with you, You can't afford to break down at 3 AM and leave the job.
We carry so many spare parts it ridiculous. Our ball valve blow out in about 3 months. That really sucks. They are $35 each.

Oh, house wash mix and a pool cage is a no-no. No soap over a pool. :)
 
I would love to try something less expensive and more convenient than the x-jet. My issue is this: Most of the houses in my area are two story with full attics, effectively making them three stories at the gable ends. Many have 12:12 pitch roofs, making the gable ends pretty high. I need something that can reach that height without ladders, even when there is some wind. If this type of setup can be made to reach that height, it would be great. Otherwise, I guess I keep looking.

Low-Pressure Down Streaming can easily reach those heights.

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-NoU_t1p4Qs"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-NoU_t1p4Qs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
 
What we do is switch off the chemical a little before we're done soaping that side of the house. It really doesn't take that long to run through 200 feet of hose. The part I hate is watching my guy walk at a snails pace back and forth to the trailer, thus the fixation on the remote control. The extended antenna I ordered in designed for the receiver I have, which I believe is 315mhtz? It is a dipole antenna and has a 9 foot cable that attaches it to the pc board. It is supposed to give it a 1200 foot line of site range. We will see what happens when I get the house between the trailer and the remote.
A dipole antenna provides Unity Gain, and receives and transmits in all driections.
A Yagi, or beam antenna provides more gain in ONE direction, at the expense of others.
A 3 element Yagi will have a beamwidth of 75 degrees in ONE direction.
a 315 MHZ Yagi is quite small.
One could simply be pointed in the general direction of where you are working.
It will triple range!

Another cheap and easy way to more reliable reception is to simply increase the HEIGHT of the antenna.

Get that puppy as high up as the cable allows!
 
Low-Pressure Down Streaming can easily reach those heights.

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-NoU_t1p4Qs"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-NoU_t1p4Qs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Wow, I am SOLD!
Michael, what kind of Power Washer is that ?
Is it a big one ?
What is it's GPM and Pressure Rating ?
 
Hey Chris, I'll be over in Largo in July doing some commercial property. We'll have to meet up.
BTW ya'll overthinking this process.

flushing a hose of chemical takes 20 seconds tops ( with our pumps at least )
Running chems through the hoses really doesn't damage the hoses if rinsed. The hoses get ruined from dragging them around long before any chem would get to them.
As far as the QC's, most of them are crap to begin with and get worn from the on-off of all the wands/surface cleaners and such.
In the PWing side of this biz you almost need a spare warehouse with you, You can't afford to break down at 3 AM and leave the job.
We carry so many spare parts it ridiculous. Our ball valve blow out in about 3 months. That really sucks. They are $35 each.

Oh, house wash mix and a pool cage is a no-no. No soap over a pool. :)
So WHAT to clean a pool cage with David when p/w ?
We clean em chemically with Love and water now.
 
Back
Top