Dual-Gun with Comet Pump?
- Thread starter gregsfc
- Start date
Guy Blackmon
Roundtable Host 2009
Believe me, there isn't an advantage to it.....Look at it this way.....You have 1 really fast guy or 2 slower guys........Higher gpm helped us build our little company.......we run Six 8 gpm units......I can remember when we had just 1.
Just Saying....
As the OP of this thread back in April, I'm reading this discussion with particular interest, because we have to decide as a crew how high to go on the gpm range to not only maximize efficiency, but to also maintain our bodies over the long haul. An 8K gpm machine is expensive (may not be an option anyway, because the boss has to sign off on it), and it may end up being too much stress on some of our crew, so we have to select carefully. Not sure about a 5.5 machine; we have 4's right now, and one of the guys thinks its too much to handle already, but he's quitting in December any way.
Our main mission where I work is not pressure washing, but it is an essential step in our operation to raise trout at a hatchery. It is currently the cog in our system that slows down what we call "fish work"; that is moving fish around the hatchery as they grow and distributing them to tail waters and reservoirs when they reach the desired length. It takes us about 25 minutes to lift and weigh, load and empty a raceway of trout that then needs to be cleaned to accept a new batch of trout, but it takes us about 2 hrs to pressure wash one. What we do currently to keep up on pressure washing is to get ahead on this task. We'll pressure wash 3 or 4 ahead all the time, but the problem with that method is that they start getting dirty again, because sometimes that's a week or two ahead, and we end up having to clean them a second time with brushes before putting more trout back in them. This takes another 10 minutes per raceway and is a physically stressful task, because we're scrubbing walls and floors, and I keep telling the boss this is double work, and we should avoid this when possible.
We have guys over 50 year old and will be doing this until retirement. We'll soon be two people short, and so eventually, once we work through the bureaucracy, we'll have two new workers. We can't necessarily hire the most physical and young folks in the future, because there is a federal hiring system that almost ensures veteran hires; and most-likely, disabled veteran hires; and most likely the ones with the most experience come up with the highest scores. None of us signed up as professional pressure washers, but it is an integral part of our jobs. We stand on a slick, algae-covered raceway; pull 100' of hose as we move along and walk as we clean for 100' of floor and walls, and then its often on to the next raceway, so this needs to be not-so-wearing on our bodies. On the other hand, if we can get the speed of completion way, way up; maybe 30-40 minutes to complete one raceway, the body wear factor may be reduced due to less time holding the gun. If for instance, we could put two people on two machines, doing 2 raceways, and both are completed in 45 minutes, we could turnaround and fill them back up in 45 minutes, using those same two individuals if necessary, because it takes two individuals to move fish around anyway. That's the normal routine I'd like to lobby to the boss, but we've got to get to that point so as never to do this double work routine we're doing now.
Personally, for myself, I'm all for the most powerful-blasting machine we can get and manage for quick work, and that's why I've joined this forum. But on the other hand, I don't want to be the only one in the crew pressure washing, because everyone else can't handle it, especially as I get on up in to my 50s and 60s. I don't want to be spending all my time humped over a gun. But it would be cool to be able to pressure wash a raceway in 45 minutes or less, and that's my eventual goal.
I appreciate the discussion. It's very helpful to our team's future..Probably a demonstration from a dealer or a professional of both a 5.5 and an 8 is what we need to truly learn what would work best for us. I'd also like to know how different equipment accessories might speed us up with any level of GPM and PSI. Things like a turbo nozzle, sweeper, or trolley-type sprayer may help us or maybe not, but we don't really know the best way to tackle this bear.
Our main mission where I work is not pressure washing, but it is an essential step in our operation to raise trout at a hatchery. It is currently the cog in our system that slows down what we call "fish work"; that is moving fish around the hatchery as they grow and distributing them to tail waters and reservoirs when they reach the desired length. It takes us about 25 minutes to lift and weigh, load and empty a raceway of trout that then needs to be cleaned to accept a new batch of trout, but it takes us about 2 hrs to pressure wash one. What we do currently to keep up on pressure washing is to get ahead on this task. We'll pressure wash 3 or 4 ahead all the time, but the problem with that method is that they start getting dirty again, because sometimes that's a week or two ahead, and we end up having to clean them a second time with brushes before putting more trout back in them. This takes another 10 minutes per raceway and is a physically stressful task, because we're scrubbing walls and floors, and I keep telling the boss this is double work, and we should avoid this when possible.
We have guys over 50 year old and will be doing this until retirement. We'll soon be two people short, and so eventually, once we work through the bureaucracy, we'll have two new workers. We can't necessarily hire the most physical and young folks in the future, because there is a federal hiring system that almost ensures veteran hires; and most-likely, disabled veteran hires; and most likely the ones with the most experience come up with the highest scores. None of us signed up as professional pressure washers, but it is an integral part of our jobs. We stand on a slick, algae-covered raceway; pull 100' of hose as we move along and walk as we clean for 100' of floor and walls, and then its often on to the next raceway, so this needs to be not-so-wearing on our bodies. On the other hand, if we can get the speed of completion way, way up; maybe 30-40 minutes to complete one raceway, the body wear factor may be reduced due to less time holding the gun. If for instance, we could put two people on two machines, doing 2 raceways, and both are completed in 45 minutes, we could turnaround and fill them back up in 45 minutes, using those same two individuals if necessary, because it takes two individuals to move fish around anyway. That's the normal routine I'd like to lobby to the boss, but we've got to get to that point so as never to do this double work routine we're doing now.
Personally, for myself, I'm all for the most powerful-blasting machine we can get and manage for quick work, and that's why I've joined this forum. But on the other hand, I don't want to be the only one in the crew pressure washing, because everyone else can't handle it, especially as I get on up in to my 50s and 60s. I don't want to be spending all my time humped over a gun. But it would be cool to be able to pressure wash a raceway in 45 minutes or less, and that's my eventual goal.
I appreciate the discussion. It's very helpful to our team's future..Probably a demonstration from a dealer or a professional of both a 5.5 and an 8 is what we need to truly learn what would work best for us. I'd also like to know how different equipment accessories might speed us up with any level of GPM and PSI. Things like a turbo nozzle, sweeper, or trolley-type sprayer may help us or maybe not, but we don't really know the best way to tackle this bear.
All depends what you are washing too. I have jobs where gpm has its advantages, and other jobs where it can be your enemy. Some jobs PSI is what makes the difference and gpm is not as important.
PSI lifts the dirt, GPM washes it away. Try to find the balance that works for you and go with that. Every job is different and can require a different approach as well, so don't apply a one size fits all mentality.