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GymRat

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Posts posted by GymRat

  2. Posted · Report reply

    If I have a short distance and only need a small length of hose, my first section on my hose reel is 50', so I disconnect this section of hose and plug it into the quick connect at my pressure washer. This saves me the time of taking 200' of hose off of my reel, or having it tangle up on the reel. Just another way of doing things.

  4. Posted · Report reply

    I drained all the water from my pressure washer pump last year before I put it up for the winter and had it in a building where it could not freeze. The other day when I turned on the supply water to it, water leaked out of the pump like crazy. I pulled the pump down and looked at all the seals and o-rings, but nothing really looked worn. I coated all the seals and o-rings in silicone and re-assembled the pump and now it does not leak.

    I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem, and would it be better to keep the pump wet with a antifreeze solution over the winter to keep the seals from drying out?

    I guess I could pull the pump down and silicone the seals for the winter, but is this overkill?

    Thanks, John :)

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Do you also include complete roof cleaning with the price of a housewash.

    No, I do not include roof wash with the price of a housewash. I do not beleive most people would consider this as part of a house wash. I always try to sell this option unless the roof will need to be replaced in the near future.

    I know some will argue the point of the roof being part of a housewash, but I do not. Just my .02 worth

    :lglolly:

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Do you guys include gutters in the house wash price?

    What is your technique on gutters... Spray with XJ, brush and rinse?

    Matt

    I will factor the price of cleaning gutters into the housewash price as well as front steps and walkway. I don't like my name to go on a housewash with bad curb appeal. My opinion is the homeowner will never tell that he was cutting cost by not wanting to pay extra for these options.

    I mix my gutter cleaning solution in a bucket, apply with a extension brush, then rinse.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    I also have been using citracleen for the past year and have been pleased with its results, but always looking for new products to try if anyone has tried citracleen and think they have found something that works MORE BETTERER.

    I have always Xjetted my solution which consists of 1gal citracleen, 1 to 2 gallons 12% chlorine, a dash of dawn and a dash of water softener in a 6 gallon bucket topped off with some high quality h20.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    I'm going to buy another cold water machine to clean mainly residential houses and concrete.

    I a'm looking at a 3500psi - 8gpm machine vs a 5,000psi - 5.5 gpm.

    I didn't know if I would have a lot of problems with the supply for 8gpm. I do have a 200 gallon float tank mounted in my trailer I can use, but that would confine that machine to my trailer. I was wondering if the higher pressure machine would make flat work with my surface cleaner faster.

    Thanks, John:lgsideway

  14. Posted · Report reply

    When I first built my roof cleaning rig, I used one of those battery packs you speak of and it worked ok for doing a few roofs before recharging. I used this setup for about 6 months before switching over to a marine deep cell battery. The problems I had with the pack is it will start running the shurflo pump at a much slower speed as it weekens and I believe that caused some pre-mature pump failures. I replaced two shurflo pumps in one month. I have not had this pump failure problem since switching to the marine battery. Hope this helps.

    John

  16. Posted · Report reply

    I believe the lime green ball has to be illegal and any strike that occured while using this ball is null and void LOL.

    Glad Joshua had such a good time bowling with dad. Keep spending as much time with him and he will stay that great boy and best friend you have.

    Had my son in for the holidays (he is 23) and we still enjoy playing sports, doing projects or just any guy things together.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Also consider that in my tiered plans, I am upselling additional service. Hand brushing anything holds value for the customer. I think if one is just giving that service away they diminish that value. Also remember that I am cleaning the gutters and they are coming up 50-75% better with just my basic housewash. If they want "Armor-All" then most people expect that costs more.

    I agree with not giving that service away, because of the labor intensity of brushing badly streaked gutters.

    I use this service as a selling point of doing a complete job and a reason my prices are higher than the splash and dash people in my area. In other words I can charge more because I spend a few extra minutes brushing the gutters and it is a big marketing tool when the neighbors see this.

    John

  18. Posted · Report reply

    For those that would definitly upcharge for (exterior) gutter cleaning.black streak removal......

    Just for sake of discussion. How would you handle a customer that wanted the house washed, but would not go the increased price for doing gutters?

    1)Would you do them anyway?

    2)Would you stand by your price and only accept the work to wash the house and leave the gutters?

    3)Would you not do the job at all?

    I will turn down the job if the gutters have bad black streaks that I know will not be cleaned with my normal house wash. I just don't want my name on a job that is not complete.

    I always include brushing of the gutters if I deem it necessary in the price of a housewash if this is the only way I believe they will come clean.

    My take on the whole gutter thing, is if I know they will stand out like a sore thumb if not brushed, then they will be added in the price of a house wash. If I have it as a add on and the customer chooses not to take that option, I doubt they will tell the neighbors the reason the gutters look bad is because they were to cheap to pay the extra. They will just put the blame on you, which is bad advertisement.icon10.gif

  21. Posted · Report reply

    I have always used regular grade gas in all of my cars, boats and small engines unless the owners manual recomends otherwise.

    I have always understood that High-test gas can be bad for your motor! High octane implies that more energy is available but it actually produces no more then regular. Higher octane in fuel raises it's burning temperature and requires higher compression pressure to burn efficiently. Using higher octane in a normal engine results in incomplete combustion, less power, carbon fouling of the cylinder and, most important, wasted money.

    Most new cars also have knock sensors that will adjust the timing to keep the vehicle running smooth.

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Nice looking house Jeff, and I agree with you Michael on how crazy the housing industry has gone.

    We just bought this house in June and we got it for a steal at a little over 200,000 in the Virginia area. It is over 3500 square foot with an attached garage, 4 bedrooms, 2 full kitchens and 4 full baths.

    I would rather take multilple beatings instead of moving again!!!

  23. Posted · Report reply

    I was in the audio video business back in the 80's and found that there was only about 4 manufactures of TVs. The name brand companys basically put their name and warrantys on the merchandise. Yes , they also had some input into the specs of the units, but my point is , most tvs are made by the same maufactures no matter the brand name.This may have changed since my time in the business, but I doubted. Find a model you like with the warranty and price you like, and it will probably be just as reliable as most other units.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks for the help, and yes Tony I do have the M-5 and hope that does a pretty good job. I have discussed my concerns with the home owner of the results due to the siding condition.

    I had considered brushing (bumping the price of the wash way up) the house board by board, but thought it would probably be just a temporary fix and would chalk again in a few months, and may leave a very uneven look.

    I will probably take Tonys advice and go at it with my regular house wash with the M-5 and keep it at wide spray and keep my distance.

  25. Posted · Report reply

    I have a single story rancher to clean that has the worst chalking problem on the vinyl siding I have seen so far. The siding is baby blue and is chalking on all sides. I don't know if this was caused by the previous house cleaning or just by the elements and cheap siding.

    I would like to know if anyone has any good methods of cleaning that helps to rid the house of chalk. I normally xjet on my house wash which includes 12% and citracleen and wax. Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks in advance, John

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