John Orr

When I first started, I carried pre-posted postcards in my truck and addressed them to houses that I saw were dirty. As I recall, I did get some response.

Are you running a direct or belt (or gear) drive machine? Direct drives do not draw very well due to the speed at which they spin.

A 1/4" hose barb screwed into a 1/4" quick connect with female threads will draw well and give you height. There are a number of air chucks that can be used as well that will allow you to vary distance, draw and pressure. The most important item would be a downstream injector that is built to withstand harsh chems. It is possible to purchase a ceramic ball to replace the standard steel ball and the spring will eventually fail. So, either keep a rebuild kit or carry a spare downstreamer. I like the idea of having a downstreamer "clip", but wonder about the weight on the end of a lance, though a 1/4" quick connect on the gun, as well as a quick connect lance (foundations, decks, edging drives/walks and rinsing) would work. Hmmm, I'm due for some more Simple Cherry, so I might just have Bob put a "clip" in my box. Since I started 10 years ago, I have always looked for ways to work smarter and faster since time is money.

The best way to make your ds'er and hoses last is to run water through the pick-up after each use. Doing this will also clear the hose quicker, allowing for faster rinsing.

I'm assuming the stucco is a darker color? If left for any length of time, the darker colors are the worst. In fact. it appears that the egg actually erodes the finish - at least on this one house I did recently. Normally, on any stucco (I guess I'm actually referring to Dryvit) if cleaned soon after application, normal housewash mix always takes it off for me. Security cameras with a few highly visible signs and tell them to stop giving Clark bars at Halloween!

Ron, that has got to be the best-dressed roundtable I've ever seen! I'm still hoping to make ACR on March 6.

Hey Ron! Thanks for resurrecting this thread. I had forgotten Dan's post CLEANING COMPOUNDS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS. Excellent info.

Hey Tony, I call all the rain we've had fertilizer! BTW, 45 is fine for me...as long as its not too windy.

I would hope that we are all able to learn from the past. As most of you know, the roots of the ***** germinated in the "poop" of the PWNA, so I don't fear the smell, as long as I'm doing all that I can to clean it up!

Now THAT'S funny!

My 8 gpm machine came with 9.0 nozzles for one-man operation and 4.5 nozzles for two-man. So at least for my machine (HydroTek) using smaller nozzles to lower gpms is ok. As for 4 gpm hot vs. 5 gpm cold...for what you're washing, I'm tempted to say 4 hot. As has been said, grease cleans much faster with heat. As has also been said, buy as many gpms as you can.

You will NEVER regret choosing more gpms. If by having more gpms you are able to clean faster, will you actually use more - or less - water? Hmm... Also, remember that (assuming you have a bypass tank) changing tip sizes - not just the color, but the orifice size - you can reduce flow or decrease pressure. I run 8 gpm/3000 psi, but generally use a 12.0 or larger tip to lower pressure while keeping the gpms. Feel free to call me if I can help.

The short answer is yes. Some houses are dirtier and some are cleaner - they average-out. In my area, there are no (well, VERY few) grading issues.

An old thread, but a good one. Since this poll was published, I have started giving 90+% of my housewash estimates over the phone. I realized that I was charging based on size anyway, but a sq ft price makes it standardized. The further away, the higher the per sq ft price. As I have become busier with fewer "holes" in my schedule, my time became my most valuable asset which I could not afford to give away on estimates. So, either I had to raise prices or find more time. I've been doing it this way for about two years and it absolutely works...for me. Oh yeah, I also give roof and fence cleaning estimates the same way. (Decks usually require an in-person visit.)

If possible, the screens should be removed or raised an inch or two to allow the bug body parts to rinse-out. Since leaving the screens in (if they can't be raised) will allow them to be cleaned along with the window, most of my customers will leave them in and just wipe-out the sills after.

I posted the following in another thread, but thought it deserved its own, as well as a poll to guage reaction. The following list is certainly not complete, but I feel strongly that the timing is right. Do you agree? Beth and Rod, May I suggest that now is the time for the the creation of a new pw org? With your creation of the e-zine and the apparent self-destruction of the other org, it would appear that the stars have aligned. A few suggestions for the new org: 1) $99/year dues for contractors with up to 2 or 3 employees 2) Require verification of insurance/licensing to maintain membership (I am a ServiceMagic contractor and they do this - it keeps out the "riff-raff") 3) Include subscription to e-zine in membership 4) New Org to sponsor regional events 5) Create a logo that will look really good on our business cards/signs/stationary/websites 6) Have TGS host an org forum - rather than create a new bbs. Open to all, but require all who participate to identify names/locations I do not know if you guys are up to the challenge, but I truly believe that the above suggestions would attract many of us that would not join the other org. They address several of the specific objections to the other org and offer several additional benefits.

What's wrong with 39*? I washed a house/deck/drive today.

Isn't that similar to what the scorpion told the frog after the frog helped him across the river?

Thank you Beth for the props...I think. There is already a rowdy bunch swarming my house even as I type this. Wait...Oh, its the roofers...I better check the mirrors! William, there are a few who have remained consistent in our beliefs over the years...I just wish you weren't one of them! :banghead: :rotfl: :lgwave:

We Colonists always feel WE know how to do everything better. ;) Though as I understand it, moss and lichen (I refer to them as 3-dimensional fungus) are the big issues for your customers - not so much algae like we have.

Very nice, pics load fast. I like the video. Very informative, though obviously made by the manufacturer. I like the accent too!

We got about 1/8" of snow last night! WooHoo! Milk and bread are selling-out fast! May declare a state of emergency...call out the National Guard.

Seriously, when cleaning around fish ponds, I cover them (charge extra), shut off the pump (So if anything gets in, it won't be circulated and the water can be charged.) and use nothing but chlorine (I downstream) out of a clean container. Downstreamed chlorine has never been a problem for me and fish.

Are they like the those goats that fall over when scared? Don't the goats eventually get up? If given time, will the fish revive?

Thanks for the reminder John. With all the surgeries I had last Fall, I must have forgotten. Some of the best $$ I've ever spent.