Camelot

Just got off the phone with Roger...I'm heading down to pick up some NMD80 tomorrow...thanks fellas... - John

Trey - I had the same exact problem...it lasted for a while, then the heat stopped! I brought it to a local repair guy and after taking the burner apart, he realized that one of two things happened. Either a piece of paper flew into my exhaust while I was driving (it's an open trailer) or more likely, some of the interior insulation burned off. In either scenario, the paper (or insulation) burned inside the unit causing it to smoke like crazy! What you have to be careful of is that sometimes the ash settles in between the two "nodes" that create the spark inside your burner and prevents it from firing. The ash then gets doused with diesel (or kerosene) and lays in there all nasty...LOL. The good news is that once we cleared the ash out of the burner it worked fine. Hope that helps. - John

Jeff - Sorry 'bout your son's noggin...but make no mistake, I've got one of each, and my girl has spent far more time in the ER than my son! Hope he's OK. - John

And I'm a big Carolina Panthers fan, but is ANYONE as excited as I am about hockey season starting? I am a die hard Rangers fan and LOVE and respect the sport of hockey. Any other puck heads out there or am I alone on this board? :lgjump:

What great hockey stories! I spent my youth playing tons of street hockey...getting road rash, miles of stitches, and pretending I was some of hockey's finest. Scott - we are the same age, so I can truly relate to those names you posted! I, too, grew up watching those guys! What memories...I thought I was the biggest Rangers fan in history until I heard your broken ankle story...yeesh...training camp has started...just a few weeks til' the puck drops! Go Rangers!

Sorry Celeste, I was born and raised in NY...moved down 12 years ago. I'm one of those...ahem..."darn" yankees...LOL. I bleed blue for the Rangers, BUT I do enjoy watching the Hurricanes! Hey Larry, you just got a GREAT GM in John Davidson...a real hockey guy...should be fun to see what the Blues do this year with him.

If my customer isn't home, I do the job as scheduled and bill them. Seems to work without a hitch so far. - John

Holy crap...that was awesome. Just read it out loud to my wife...she's carving my headstone...LOL

Rock on brother...good work...

I have submitted a proposal to do a 95 unit condominium complex. I have met with the property manager, who took my proposal to the community board meeting for approval. All of the condo units are 2 stories. The building rep suggested to the board that they NOT be cleaned from the ground (ala X-Jet) because it will damage the siding or go behind the siding. Using a cherry picker is out of the question because of the terrain, plus I've never used one, so I'm uncomfortable with it (it will also increase my price significantly because I would have to rent one). I want to sell them on the XJet...any ideas or literature that will help make the sale? Thanks folks. - John

Thanks Dan - but the perception would still be that I shooting chemicals at 8 billion psi under the siding whether I'm using an Xjet or downstreaming...My goal is to keep my feet on the ground. They are under the impression that it MUST be sprayed perpendicular to the siding to avoid having water go under it.

Here is how my morning went...6:53AM first child knocks on the bedroom door, wanting to know if he can go downstairs and watch TV...6:56AM second child knocks on door - she has the same request...7:07AM first fight breaks out over who is going to watch cartoons and who is going to play XBox...7:15AM first child realizes that Mommy bought dougnuts (sees supermarket receipt on kitchen counter) this is a RARE treat...7:16AM second child is sent by the first to ask if they could have doughnuts for breakfast, rejected she goes and explains to the other that they can't...7:20AM fight number 2 starts over TV/Xbox - much crying ensues...7:32AM both children commence ripping kitchen apart looking for doughnuts that they can't eat...7:34AM fight number 3 breaks out over where the doughnuts are (that they can't eat) and who is going to go ask Mommy and Daddy where they are...7:35AM Mommy has had enough and, at the top of her lungs, explains that neither is allowed to have TV, XBox, or doughnuts for the day, but they DO need to clean their rooms because it's Sunday and that's what we do on Sundays...clean rooms...unbelievable crying ensues...7:39AM Daddy gives up the fight for sleep and goes downstairs to enforce the rules... These are two FANTASTIC kids by any standards, and they STILL drive me crazy on occasion (like today)...but I wouldn't trade them in for the WORLD...kids can be the greatest joy in life...even when they can't have doughnuts...

Hey everyone! I got a good shot at getting my first big condominium complex and I'm FREAKING out...LOL. I'm very comfortable with the quoting and the work itself, but I have NO contract...Does anyone have a decent contract I can use for this, and can I, ummmmmm, "borrrow" it? If anyone can email me something I would REALLY be grateful. Thanks so much. - John john@camelotpressurewashing.com

Celeste - you're a lifesaver...thank you, thank you, thank you!

Aw C'mon guys...I'm desperate here...LOL!

Don - I like to mess around on the side with creative writing...short stories, etc. This method that you mentioned is actually called a "poor man's copywrite" and from what I understand, it will actually stand up in court. I know some folks that have written amateur novels and mailed them to themselves for this purpose. It just may work... - John

Here are some pictures of the screens in question. They are 7 years old and the home owner told me he had a cat a while back and that sometimes it perched on the windowsill and leaned against the screens. He wants them replaced (5 or 6) as the home is on the market and he's sure the inspector will make him replace the screens. The torn screen is the worst...the rest have discolored spots with small tears in the center of the spots. There is no rhyme or reason as to which ones are facing the sun or not...very strange. Any advice? Thanks so much for any replies...

Thanks Ken, Jon, Balázs...I appreciate it.

FYI - I met with the homeowner today and explained that I presented the pictures to a group of professionals that I belong to. I explained my theory on the cat claws and the nylon screen. I also told him while I didn't believe that I was the CAUSE of the problem, that during the course of using fantastic cleaning methods and products, his screens were cleaned like they should have been and the white spots were stress areas from the cat claws. He saw the logic and agreed that this was probably the case. As a gesture of good faith, I offered him $50 towards fixing the screens and gave him the name of a local hardware store that would help him have them done. He was very agreeable and we both walked away feeling good about what we had done. Thank you all so much for your helpful insights and suggestions. I was truly in a pickle and you all helped me out of it! Thanks again. :lgkick:

OK...I received a call from a Grime Scene member this afternoon that clarified quite a bit for me, and may help others as well...He has decades of experience working with metal and offered some great insight! He explained that about 8-9 years ago, the window screen industry came out with a new screen that was essentially a nylon product that was "wrapped" in a steel covering. At the time, it was cutting edge for screens and became the norm for the industry for about 2-3 years before people realized the flaw it had...evidently, the steel covering would develop a layer of rust. Since 99% of people never touch their screens once they are installed, the screens looked seemingly fine from a distance. However, when the screen is "stressed" the rust comes off and exposes the nylon below which will absorb housewash, whiten, and possibly fray. This theory makes perfect sense to me. So while I didn't necessarily "cause" the issue, I certainly brought it to light when the housewash did it's job...clean. So I think I will do what Ken suggested and offer to have his screens repaired while offering him a "credit" of $50 or so to offset the cost. I think this may be a fair and equitable solution for both parties. I will propose this to him tomorrow and keep you posted. Thanks for all of your insights and help! You live and you learn. - John

I don't know if the screens were like this or not...unfortunately I did not take pictures. I don't want to call the guy a liar...he IS a customer and he sincerely believes that I caused this issue. I wish I had some literature that I could show him proving that the house wash mixture would not be corrosive like this. I rinsed with an xjet (close range nozzle on first floor) and I simply can't believe that I would cause damage like this with it. I also didn't have any written contract (my fault), so I am sort of stuck. I'm not the handiest guy in the world, so I wouldn't even risk "rescreening" his frames myself...If I decide to replace them, any ideas as to where I could have them done?

couple more...

HELP! 3 weeks ago, I washed a customer's house. It's a vinyl home, 2 story, nothing unusual about it. I used Rowlett's Citracleen mix and 12% bleach. This is the same mixture I've used on a million houses. I received an email from this particular home owner this afternoon stating that he has screens with "segments falling off the frames" and others with areas that are "disappearing." He also said that the deterioration gets worse daily. Is this possible using this mixture? I've never had any issues like this and have certainly never ruined anyone's screens. Does anyone have any literature that might help me prove that this can't happen? Any help would be VERY appreciated. I'll obviously need to contact him quickly. Thanks everyone. - John

I have a little more clarification...I just spoke to the home owner...He explained that right after I left, his wife noticed "holes" in the screen that have worsened over the last 3 weeks as if acid was eating at them. I contacted Steve Rowlett and he has assured me that this scenario is impossible using his mixture. I am heading there tomorrow to take digital pics...

Thanks for responding Jeff and Beth! I will be going out there tomorrow, so I will make sure to take some digital pictures and post them on this thread. Have either of you ever heard of this happening?