Roof Cleaning Setup Advice

[Paul Kassander]

For what you are looking at doing I would recommend the gas powered system for you David. It has the flexibility you are looking for and the power to do the job. Setting up a dual gun system is easy as well.

 

[Christopher]

That gas system sounds interesting Paul, how high/far will it spray?

Thanks.

 

[mike barrett]

Tell us about Mike's gas powered pump, it sounds interesting.

Hey Chris it's a Udor Tau 35 up to 435 psi 11.1 gpm it is gear driven on a Honda 6 hp( i think)
I bought it back around 1992 when I was cleaning a lot of roofs 3-4 a day. Back than roof cleaning paid a lot better. If I remember right it can shoot 50-60 feet and on a four story building it sprays the same as a one story. After about 13 years I had to replace the manifold and some other parts. It owes me nothing I made a lot of money with that set up.
There were no air pumps back than. I'll try to find a picture of it or dig it out of the shop and take a pic.

 

[Christopher]

Thanks Mike.

That sounds like a great pump, especially if it lasts years and years.

 

[mike barrett]

Thanks Mike.

That sounds like a great pump, especially if it lasts years and years.

Flushing any pump with fresh water will extend the life.
Over the years I have heard of pumps only lasting a few months, I'll bet they were not flushed out at the end of the day.

 

[Paul Kassander]

Same as what Mike just described. We make them with the Udor Zeta or the new shurflo gear drive pumps. We typically build them with the Honda gx200 electric start for convenience but we can do a pull start as well.

 

[mike barrett]

Same as what Mike just described. We make them with the Udor Zeta or the new shurflo gear drive pumps. We typically build them with the Honda gx200 electric start for convenience but we can do a pull start as well.

I love the pull start on small engines, simple and never a dead battery.
The pull start saved the day a few times when the battery went dead on my 18 hp honda.

 

[CL Scott]

Hey Chris it's a Udor Tau 35 up to 435 psi 11.1 gpm it is gear driven on a Honda 6 hp( i think)
I bought it back around 1992 when I was cleaning a lot of roofs 3-4 a day. Back than roof cleaning paid a lot better. If I remember right it can shoot 50-60 feet and on a four story building it sprays the same as a one story. After about 13 years I had to replace the manifold and some other parts. It owes me nothing I made a lot of money with that set up.
There were no air pumps back than. I'll try to find a picture of it or dig it out of the shop and take a pic.

Flushing any pump with fresh water will extend the life.
Over the years I have heard of pumps only lasting a few months, I'll bet they were not flushed out at the end of the day.

Any piece of equipment that pays for itself and still performs is a good piece of equipment! It's important to flush downstream injectors, I can imagine how much more it would be for 12V pumps. Good info here.

 

[Christopher]

I love the pull start on small engines, simple and never a dead battery.
The pull start saved the day a few times when the battery went dead on my 18 hp honda.

Been there and done that many times with my 21hp Vanguard on my Hotsy.

 

[Rance]

Been there and done that many times with my 21hp Vanguard on my Hotsy.

Is that anything like kick starting a Harley? LOL

 

[AC Lockyer]

Here is a SoftWash Systems Cradle Skid System with two 50 Gallon Softwashing systems, 100 gallon water buffer tank with 9 gpm electric rinse pump and a full Pure Water system. All in a 6 foot truck bed.

AC

 

[Apple Roof Cleaning]

Hey Chris it's a Udor Tau 35 up to 435 psi 11.1 gpm it is gear driven on a Honda 6 hp( i think)
I bought it back around 1992 when I was cleaning a lot of roofs 3-4 a day. Back than roof cleaning paid a lot better. If I remember right it can shoot 50-60 feet and on a four story building it sprays the same as a one story. After about 13 years I had to replace the manifold and some other parts. It owes me nothing I made a lot of money with that set up.
There were no air pumps back than. I'll try to find a picture of it or dig it out of the shop and take a pic.

Well, back when we used UDOR pumps for cleaning roofs, I was still working, and I ALWAYS flushed the pumps out, after each and every job.
I did this because I knew these pumps were never specially designed for chlorine use.
They all have stainless steel valve springs, and that is just one weak spot in them (there are several).
Thin stainless steel is NOT good for sodium hypochlorite use.
All the Udor pumps failed for me, despite promptly rinsing them out, and they all failed quickly too.

My "goal" was to design a roof cleaning system that NEVER NEEDS RINSING !

I have succeeded in achieving my goal a long time ago, and I have shared my discoveries with the roof cleaning world.

Rinsing your pumps out after every use costs you money! In 2 to 300 feet of hose, there is a considerable amount of chemical you piss away, each and every time you rinse.
If you take this chemical loss, and multiply it times 3 to 4 times a day, times 6 days a week, that chit adds up!
Not to mention the extra time it can take to hook a garden hose up to the pump, and then put the hose away again.

Our entire roof cleaning system, from the tanks, to the pumps, to the hose, are all made out of chemically resistant materials specially designed to not require any rinsing.

 

[bighals]

Our entire roof cleaning system, from the tanks, to the pumps, to the hose, are all made out of chemically resistant materials specially designed to not require any rinsing.

Could I trouble you to repeat this discovery for those of us that didn't catch it the first time?

 

[Apple Roof Cleaning]

Could I trouble you to repeat this discovery for those of us that didn't catch it the first time?

I have been on the Internet teaching roof cleaning, long before there were any other forums, including this one.
I always helped people, for free.
However, a few years ago, my son and brother who work for me pointed out that if I spent 1/2 the time on our tampa roof cleaning business as I do on these forums, we would be "rich".
So, to get them off my back, and help pay the bills for my 2 forums, we started offering premium memberships.
LOL, now we have a considerable amount of paid members, who get quite angry when I "give away secrets they pay for" for free.
I hope you understand ?
Premium Memberships come with unlimited telephone consultations with me, besides total access to the hidden sections to our forums.
http://roofcleaninginstitute.org/index.php?/store/

 

[mike barrett]

"Rinsing your pumps out after every use costs you money! In 2 to 300 feet of hose, there is a considerable amount of chemical you piss away, each and every time you rinse.
If you take this chemical loss, and multiply it times 3 to 4 times a day, times 6 days a week, that chit adds up!
Not to mention the extra time it can take to hook a garden hose up to the pump, and then put the hose away again."

When cleaning 3-4 roofs a day I only rinse at the end of the day. On my set up you don't need to hook up a garden hose but even if you did, everyone has a hose out to rinse plants!
When flushing your pump and hose/hose reel out simply put your wand/nozzle in your roof mix tank and let it spray back into the tank and you don't loose any mix. I let it flush while I am putting away equipment and a final plant rinse.

 

[Apple Roof Cleaning]

"Rinsing your pumps out after every use costs you money! In 2 to 300 feet of hose, there is a considerable amount of chemical you piss away, each and every time you rinse.
If you take this chemical loss, and multiply it times 3 to 4 times a day, times 6 days a week, that chit adds up!
Not to mention the extra time it can take to hook a garden hose up to the pump, and then put the hose away again."

When cleaning 3-4 roofs a day I only rinse at the end of the day. On my set up you don't need to hook up a garden hose but even if you did, everyone has a hose out to rinse plants!
When flushing your pump and hose/hose reel out simply put your wand/nozzle in your roof mix tank and let it spray back into the tank and you don't loose any mix. I let it flush while I am putting away equipment and a final plant rinse.

Very true!
But we have flatbed trucks, and employees will seldom if ever climb up on a flatbed, to stick the hose/wand back in the tanks.
Regardless, it is a moot point, because we no longer have to rinse.
In fact, it has been so long since we have ever rinsed our roof cleaning system out, it all seems like a distant memory to me.

How's business up there Mike ?
I hope you are as busy as we are, here in Tampa.
What are you using for roof cleaning, these days ?
Did you ever get you an air pump yet ?

 

[Rapid HotClean]

I have been on the Internet teaching roof cleaning, long before there were any other forums, including this one.
I always helped people, for free.
However, a few years ago, my son and brother who work for me pointed out that if I spent 1/2 the time on our tampa roof cleaning business as I do on these forums, we would be "rich".
So, to get them off my back, and help pay the bills for my 2 forums, we started offering premium memberships.
LOL, now we have a considerable amount of paid members, who get quite angry when I "give away secrets they pay for" for free.
I hope you understand ?
Premium Memberships come with unlimited telephone consultations with me, besides total access to the hidden sections to our forums.
http://roofcleaninginstitute.org/index.php?/store/

Chris, I don't think anyone should have a problem with that. Besides, I've seen you share a ton of good (free) advice on these boards.

 

[HighTide]

For what you are looking at doing I would recommend the gas powered system for you David. It has the flexibility you are looking for and the power to do the job. Setting up a dual gun system is easy as well.

I ended up taking Paul's advice and with over 300,000 s.f. of roof tiles, a dual gun setup is desired. We begin this massive job in one week and are really excited about it. I should receive the Water Dragon setup later this week along with a Titan hose reel, ag hose, a lot of Roof Snot and a bunch of other supplies. Thanks Paul and Bill!!
http://shop.powerwashstore.com/Water-Dragon-Low-Pressure-High-Volume-Applicator-5407-5407.htm

 

[Doug Rucker]

I ended up taking Paul's advice and with over 300,000 s.f. of roof tiles, a dual gun setup is desired. We begin this massive job in one week and are really excited about it. I should receive the Water Dragon setup later this week along with a Titan hose reel, ag hose, a lot of Roof Snot and a bunch of other supplies. Thanks Paul and Bill!!
http://shop.powerwashstore.com/Water-Dragon-Low-Pressure-High-Volume-Applicator-5407-5407.htm

You a wise man. Your gonna love it.

 

[Apple Roof Cleaning]

Chris, I don't think anyone should have a problem with that. Besides, I've seen you share a ton of good (free) advice on these boards.

Thanks Ted!