CCPC

Can someone tell me what ratio of water to chemical that an average downstream injector pulls for a 4gpm 3500 psi machine?

Has anyone heard of a kind of roof cleaning or sealing system called Rhino somthing or other? I have had a handful of people mention that name, but I can't seem to find any info on it. I'm not really interested in the system( I don't think ) I just want to be educated on the process or product. I think there is another contractor in my area using this product which would explain why I keep hearing about it. Thanks, Lance

It could be the same company, but the stuff I'm interested in finding out about is definitely a cleaner or sealer for residential asphalt shingles. Lance

Scott, I would really like to see that set up with the hose real. As a have stated on another thread, I am in the process of setting up for the X-Jet, and I am looking for ideas on a housewash setup. I came up with a pretty cool set up for roof cleaning using the X-J of which some of the ideas for its design came from others on this forum. Lance

The differences of opinion is what allows for the indepth detail that suports different methods of cleaning from contractor to contractor. If everyone agreed with everyone else this forum would surely be pretty boring, to say the least. Lance

Well said Jon

Mathew, Here is a great thread for marketing ideas that I just happened to be looking at last night. read all the posts it has wonderful ideas for people just starting out and for those who have been in the business for a while. I was looking last night because things have been pretty slow in the past couple of weeks for me as well. http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1463 Lance

Nathan, My quote from my previous post: "Using proper handling and a little common sense is all of the saftey you need." That was not directed to just the contractor, but to all aspects of job saftey including: the customer, the customers property, the customers pets, etc. I'm not trying to pick an argument, all I'm saying is that chems are only as unsafe as the contractor who's handling them. :) As far as customers being scared of chlorine, I will have to disagree with that. In most cases the customers are less worried about how I use chlorine then I am. Every once in while they will ask about their plants, but that's about it, at least around here. Lance

Nathan, What safe cleaners are you reffering to? Any chem that does a good job at removing algea and mildew is going to be "unsafe" in one way or another. Using proper handling and a little common sense is all of the saftey you need. 4 to 6 man hours for an average house? That sounds like a lot of time to me. I am currently not using the X-Jet and I am washing houses with the same kind of detail that you descirbed and an average house for me takes about 2-2 1/2 hours and I do an outstanding job! Lance

I have been meaning to post a question related to this topic. How do those you protect against this hazard? I usually make sure that the gaskets on the cover flaps have a tight fit. and do my best to avoid contact. Do any of you use somthing to cover the outlet? Dale, I am sorry to here about your almost disaster, but I guess the almost in this case is a really good thing.:)

I'm in process of incorparating the X-Jet into my house washing set up. I have heard others say that they are using 50' of chem hose which is what I am planning to use. My question is how will this (if at all) effect my ratio without the proportioners. At 4 GPM the water chem ratio is about 1.6:1 will the 50' of hose effect this ratio at all and if so how much?

The price difference for chlorine around the country is pretty amazing. For those of you who live up North 2 to 3 dollars a gallon seems to be the norm where as most of us down here in Florida are paying less than one dollar a gallon. Of course its all realitive, you guys up North are getting double and some times triple the rates that us Floridians are able to get. What sucks is for those of you in Georgia. I would have never thought it would be that difficult to get a good price on liquid chlorine. It seems that the pressure washing rates in Georgia are about the same as they are here in Florida, but I guess you all do have cheaper gas than us. Some people here in the Jacksonville area who have huge gas guzzelers will actually drive up into Kingsland to fill their fuel tanks up.

Mike ( Oneness), If you don't mind me asking, where are you buying your chlorine and at what price? Lance

Paul, If you only require .5 to 1% of chlorine for house washing then why not use the downstream injector? If my information is write, donwnstreams pull about a 1 to 10 ratio chem to water, so if I am using 12% chlorine that would give me about 1.2% chlorine using the downstreamer.

Dale, Thanks for the responce. My housewash mix is 2 parts 12% and 1 part Emulsifier Plus. I am not planning to use the proportioners instead I will just dillute the mix. How much do you think I shoud dillute with a 1.6 : 1 water to chem ratio? Lance

Travis, What are you using that is exactly like the X-Jet? Paul B., Was the 3 to 4% you mentioned for house washing or roofs? Lance

I got a call today from a local buddy of mine ( another local pressure cleaning contractor) who has a very large flat work job that has to be done before Sunday. He has obligations that will not allow him to be able to do the job, so he called me to see if I could swing it. This client is a huge commercial account for him and the work is to be performed at the home of one of the big wigs of the company ( Ponte Vedra, FL- Rich People). Any way, I talked with the guy handling the details of what needed to be done and I told him I could arrange to be there tommorow and take care it. I asked him for a rough despription of what was to be cleaned and how large the areas were and he gave me the details. The areas consist of mainly cool decking and tile (not to dirty) and the areas he rattled off on the phone were: 60x60, 100x60, 100x25, 60x20. It did not occure to me until tonight how many sq. ft. that actually is. roughly 13,300 ft. So now I will meet him at the gate of the community tommorow morning at 8:00 and he will show me the house and what needs to be done. My question is can I do that much flatwork in a day by myself? The concern is that this is a last minute thing that needs to be done by Sunday because big wig will arrive and there will be a party at that residents.

maybe with your equipment, but not with mine. Lance

Anyone know where I can find a replacement gas cap for a Honda engine. I'm having a hard time finding one. Lance

Tony, it is a 13hp. Alan, thanks for the info.

---Hydrogen---

Everything went great! The job turned out being a bit smaller than the estimated size I was told (ended up being about 9,800 sq ft ) and it was indeed very clean. In fact, alot of the cool decking and tile did'nt even require the surface cleaner, only a good rinse with a 95 degree tip. I don't do much work in Ponte Vedra, but I wish I did. Its almost hard to believe that some people actually have that much money. I should have taken a picture, but I did'nt think about till just now. Just a side note, Its funny how somtimes when I am in areas like this ( marsh Landing Country Club) I feel like the location, views, lanscape are'nt really that special its more like they built a community on the idea of making it a rich area and the rich people follow. I guess some people are more interested in a status name rather than a quality location.

I don't care what you are using to apply chem, if you want it done wright it will take some time and some detailed attention to certain areas. Many on this site claim to clean 2000 sq ft. houses in 1 hour solo. I consider myself to be an extermely fast paced individual and a 2000 sq ft house done right by myself is a 2 to 2 1/2 hour job.

I am using a 20" Rotoblaster no hot water 4 gpm. I was told that it is not to bad, but that they wanted it good and clean for a party on Sunday. I have never done this much flat at one job in a day so I am a little concerned about being able to finish by dark. I will meet him at 8:00 and follow him to the house. I figure that, previewing the area and small talk will kill at least 45 minutes to an hour. So, if I start at nine I have a good 10 or 11 hours of sunlight.

It really depends on how full they are. When they are packed full and have trees growing in them, you will probably find it easier to use gloves and a bucket, where as if they are not that bad I find pressure washing with a 95 degree tip and sending the leaves down the down spouts to be a fairly easy task. Keep in mind that when I do this I am usually cleaning the house as well.