Another new guy

J

JustMidge

New member
Hey guys n gals, first off i want to thank everyone who helps make this forum possible. There is more info here than one can read, but I am putting a dent in it!
I have found answers to most of my questions but would like as much advise as i can get...

My goal is to start residential and slowly upgrade equipment until i am cleaning the college and all commercial work available. As of now i will not be able to do roofs or hot water cleaning but i can get by with housewashes and some driveways.

My Equipment- Honda 4GPM 4000 PSI 13HP cold water PW
a 24" steel eagle SC, both used but in working order.
I just ordered a 10GPM 5000PSI Gun and 48" lance
I have Simple Cherry, F9 Barc, cling-on, f13 gutter and some pump up sprayers.

Obviously I down want to pump up hand spray every house, so I think i am going to go with Downstreaming. On pressuretek i am looking at the GP high draw downstreamer kit for a 3-5GMP machine and a Downstreamer 4way nozzle set...
I have tried to contact bob but no dice, Just curious if that DS and 4way will work and allow me to DS stop, switch over a nozzel, and rinse without going back to the truck?

I know its a stupid question but you guys know all so let me have it, Thanks!
 
BTW the reason i am not doing roofs is I first have to pay off the equipment i have and then upgrade to the Fatboy bandit and a 75 gal chem tank for it, I only have the big 275 gallon one now...


And the House mix i plan to use will be 3 Gallons of water 1.5 gallons of 12.5( if i can find it, most i can find is 8% without ordering it) 1-1.5 cups of simple cherry and 1-2 oz of cling-on and DS with it...
 
You are on track here. Your surface cleaner is a little big for your 4 gpm setup as an 18" - 21" surface cleaner would be better. It will work but you will have to walk really slow or go over some areas twice. I would make the housewash mix 3 gallons of water with simple cherry, then add 2 gallons of 12.5 sh. If the house is really dirty, go with 2 gal of water and 3 gals of 12.5 (we have crazy mildew/mold/algae covered houses here in Florida that need a stronger mix). If you can only get 8%, then go with 3 gallons of it. Adding Cling-on isn't needed for house washing but works great on cleaning roofs. I have been using simple cherry for last 3 years. If you left a message for Bob at PressureTek, he will call you back. I called him today about a product and he called me back within 30 minutes. Bob rocks! His 3-5 gpm downstream will work great for your setup--get at least one backup downstreamer. I keep several backups of EVERYTHING on hand--you never want the lack of a piece of equipment to keep you from making money if it breaks or stops working correctly!
 
Great advice David.

I would not get the fatboy pump just yet as you are new to the business, you can get by with a 2gpm or even a 5gpm Delavan until you have more experience because the more gallons per minute, the more likely the runoff off of the roof and the more likely you will be killing grass and plants, even with a helper watering that area where you are up above cleaning the roof. Understand that you really need someone on the ground watering, almost flooding the yard as plants and grass are rinsed as you are cleaning the roof, please don't try to take shortcuts on this as this is very serious. I know some guys on the site don't use a helper but until you have a lot of experience, why take the chance?

I still know a few guys that use only 2 or 3gpm pumps for roof cleaning, just to keep the runoff down and they can control how fast they clean a roof this way. It is just your personal preference as to how you do this. If you only have a roof or two per day when you get busy, this will still do the job for you. When you get many roofs per day to do, you can then buy the bigger pump if you need to.

As for the chemical tank, you can get by with a 50 gallon tank or even a clear (white) 55 gallon drum, might have to fill it with chemical and water a couple times on the bigger roofs but this will help keep your costs down. I bought a 60 gallon tank from Tractor Supply for about $129.00 that is about the size of a 55 gallon tank lying down and most important, no bulkhead fittings to leak over time, just the large cap on top.

Good Luck.
 
Thanks for the advice, I thought about ordering two just in case but i'll do it for sure now.
I read alot about people using gain dishsoap to cover up the bleach smell and i thought to get a more sudsey affect, I think the SC will cover the smell but i wasn't sure of the clinging ability.

As for the SC I bought it with the PW before i found this site and began to find out what i really need, but It's better than nothing, slow and steady wins the race.
HighTide said:
You are on track here. Your surface cleaner is a little big for your 4 gpm setup as an 18" - 21" surface cleaner would be better. It will work but you will have to walk really slow or go over some areas twice. I would make the housewash mix 3 gallons of water with simple cherry, then add 2 gallons of 12.5 sh. If the house is really dirty, go with 2 gal of water and 3 gals of 12.5 (we have crazy mildew/mold/algae covered houses here in Florida that need a stronger mix). If you can only get 8%, then go with 3 gallons of it. Adding Cling-on isn't needed for house washing but works great on cleaning roofs. I have been using simple cherry for last 3 years. If you left a message for Bob at PressureTek, he will call you back. I called him today about a product and he called me back within 30 minutes. Bob rocks! His 3-5 gpm downstream will work great for your setup--get at least one backup downstreamer. I keep several backups of EVERYTHING on hand--you never want the lack of a piece of equipment to keep you from making money if it breaks or stops working correctly!
Click to expand...
 
Alright, It just seemed as the best built all in one but your right it probably is too much for what i need now. I am looking at this 7800 Series 2GPM 60PSI pump from pressure tek, it seems to fit my initial needs and is much more affordable.


As for the runoff I am still reading intpo bagging downspouts or redirecting the runoff. I just watched a video today of the applesause cleaning crew do a house and the entire time they had a guy on the ground with a water hose.
I've read to pre wet the grass plants trees ect. so they drink the water and will basically be too full to drink the runoff. Wet the grass the entire roof cleaning session and finishes with a rinse of all the plant life after you rinse the roof. As long as there is nothing harmful for the plants to drink or dry onto them, they should be fine.

Ill look into tractor supply but will probably go with a 55 gallon drum at first.

Thanks for all the advise
Christopher said:
Great advice David.

I would not get the fatboy pump just yet as you are new to the business, you can get by with a 2gpm or even a 5gpm Delavan until you have more experience because the more gallons per minute, the more likely the runoff off of the roof and the more likely you will be killing grass and plants, even with a helper watering that area where you are up above cleaning the roof. Understand that you really need someone on the ground watering, almost flooding the yard as plants and grass are rinsed as you are cleaning the roof, please don't try to take shortcuts on this as this is very serious. I know some guys on the site don't use a helper but until you have a lot of experience, why take the chance?

I still know a few guys that use only 2 or 3gpm pumps for roof cleaning, just to keep the runoff down and they can control how fast they clean a roof this way. It is just your personal preference as to how you do this. If you only have a roof or two per day when you get busy, this will still do the job for you. When you get many roofs per day to do, you can then buy the bigger pump if you need to.

As for the chemical tank, you can get by with a 50 gallon tank or even a clear (white) 55 gallon drum, might have to fill it with chemical and water a couple times on the bigger roofs but this will help keep your costs down. I bought a 60 gallon tank from Tractor Supply for about $129.00 that is about the size of a 55 gallon tank lying down and most important, no bulkhead fittings to leak over time, just the large cap on top.

Good Luck.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, but what do you mean by inhouse?
Right now they are just using the janitorial crew renting local PW from the local supply store. They DO NOT know what they are doing...
Rance said:
Welcome to PWI. David and Chris both give good advice. Good luck on contract at Murray State. It's inhouse. They have decent equipment.
Click to expand...
 
JustMidge said:
Thanks, but what do you mean by inhouse?
Right now they are just using the janitorial crew renting local PW from the local supply store. They DO NOT know what they are doing...
Click to expand...
If they are using their janitorial crew, that would be inhouse. Most use their maintenance crew. I never said they knew what they were doing. Most places that do there own PWing are not equipped and lack the knowledge of doing it right. I saw the PW's two used up and two newer ones. Maybe those were rentals and they were pulling my chain. But I saw the equipment there. If you can get in with them go for it. I hope you can. It's a big campus with lots of housing as well. It would be a good contract. As for roof cleaning I use a ground man most times and when I don't I use oscillating sprinklers to do my watering. Lots of dirty roofs in Murray!
 
Welcome to PWI!
 
Welcome and again, that's awesome advice. I've only been here a couple of weeks and this sight has helped me tremendously... I have the nozzles - they keep us on the ground! No telescoping pole needed!

I made the same call to Bob. He's awesome! Being new I never used simple cherry, I went with the Elemonator smell mask/surfactant.

I also have a 4 gpm unit with a Honda GX390! Here is the downstream nozzle set: http://pressuretek.com/dostnokit.html

If you don't have the injector, here it is: http://pressuretek.com/adamsinjector.html

Here's my set up:

 
Yes there are many dirty houses, I just hope that people are willing to pay to get them clean.
I look at the university everyday as more and more potential. Seems i need a bigger insurance claim and to put a bid in on the big contracts, all new to me but bring it on. Thanks for the heads up.

Rance said:
If they are using their janitorial crew, that would be inhouse. Most use their maintenance crew. I never said they knew what they were doing. Most places that do there own PWing are not equipped and lack the knowledge of doing it right. I saw the PW's two used up and two newer ones. Maybe those were rentals and they were pulling my chain. But I saw the equipment there. If you can get in with them go for it. I hope you can. It's a big campus with lots of housing as well. It would be a good contract. As for roof cleaning I use a ground man most times and when I don't I use oscillating sprinklers to do my watering. Lots of dirty roofs in Murray!
Click to expand...
 
Thank you, everyone has recommended your advise, and from reading your posts i understand why.
If you want to PM me any links, videos, info that you find useful it would be much appreciated instead of me bombarding you with questions.

Doug Rucker said:
Welcome to PWI, if I can help you in any way just let me know
Click to expand...
 
Nice rig man, I actually watched one of your videos yesterday and liked it because we have a lot of the same equipment. I am going to call bob back, I didnt leave a MSG because i didnt want to waste his time with questions he has answered 100 times, I am going to check out that eliminator though it seems to be getting good reviews.

Awesome that you are using the same nozzle set, im going to pick it up. Did you get the 4GPM set?
Last question, you linked the GP high draw, from what i see it is basically the same injector as the GP high draw kit with the house, just without the hose?
Just curious, thanks again for all the help guys.



CL Scott said:
Welcome and again, that's awesome advice. I've only been here a couple of weeks and this sight has helped me tremendously... I have the nozzles - they keep us on the ground! No telescoping pole needed!

I made the same call to Bob. He's awesome! Being new I never used simple cherry, I went with the Elemonator smell mask/surfactant.

I also have a 4 gpm unit with a Honda GX390! Here is the downstream nozzle set: http://pressuretek.com/dostnokit.html

If you don't have the injector, here it is: http://pressuretek.com/adamsinjector.html

Here's my set up:

Click to expand...
 
I got the 2-3 & 4 gpm kits. I have a simpson msv3024 I got from costco when I started out washing cars. (How I saved up to pay for the hot unit.) Now it can soap rinse or push my surface cleaner- much slower rinse. Basically its a backup. Bob pointed out northern tool included the wrong size injector so I got the 2.1 from them (GP). So I have no experience with any other injector. My nozzle sets came w chem hoses. Both sets of rinses nozzles are the same. Get a high pressure ball valve and if you have a tank, a Hudson float valve and install kit. It will save time and trips to your trailer and machine. You can even soap and rinse low with it- no gun needed. Tips from Doug Rucker.
 
Was just looking at the High pressure ball valves and reading up on which will work best for me, I am not a plumber lol.
As far as the float valve its making sense now and after a couple jobs ill be getting it, and the instalation kit from Bob, thanks again.

CL Scott said:
I got the 2-3 & 4 gpm kits. I have a simpson msv3024 I got from costco when I started out washing cars. (How I saved up to pay for the hot unit.) Now it can soap rinse or push my surface cleaner- much slower rinse. Basically its a backup. Bob pointed out northern tool included the wrong size injector so I got the 2.1 from them (GP). So I have no experience with any other injector. My nozzle sets came w chem hoses. Both sets of rinses nozzles are the same. Get a high pressure ball valve and if you have a tank, a Hudson float valve and install kit. It will save time and trips to your trailer and machine. You can even soap and rinse low with it- no gun needed. Tips from Doug Rucker.
Click to expand...
 
JustMidge said:
I am not a plumber lol.
Click to expand...

Ever since I put a tank on my trailer, I've become a plumber! (How good of a plumber still has yet to be determined! - No leaks though!)
 
Ha, no leaks? your a pro then, if i can plumb my whole rig ill be ecstatic.
Feels good to do it yourself.

CL Scott said:
Ever since I put a tank on my trailer, I've become a plumber! (How good of a plumber still has yet to be determined! - No leaks though!)
Click to expand...
 
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