The Case Against Using Small Diameter 3/8 Hose

Apple Roof Cleaning

Roof Cleaning Instructor
Is Apple Roof Cleaning Right ? Is 3/8 Hose Wrong ? -

If you are contemplating getting into the roof cleaning business, conventional "wisdom" would have you believe that a shurflo 60 psi pump at 1.6 gpm is the "right choice".
This is wrong.
The real reason many don't like the faster 45 psi 3.6 gpm pump is because they are choking it with 3/8 hose.
See For Yourself With This Calculator http://www.connel.com/freeware/flowcalc1.shtml
Always remember, the more GPM a pump can deliver, the more pressure is required to move it through a restrictive hose, and up onto a roof.
This can readily be seen by reading this link, and utilizing the flow loss calculator.

Here is a quote from a pressure loss page """ Remember that with water pipes bigger is always better. You can never have a pipe that is too large, so when in doubt use a larger size! Anybody that tells you otherwise is wrong, and you should be careful when taking irrigation advice from them. You can not "squeeze" more pressure out by using a smaller pipe, in fact the opposite happens and the pressure is reduced. When you place your thumb over the end of the hose to make it spray, you are not increasing the water pressure. The water shoots farther because you are increasing the water velocity. The pressure is actually reduced slightly by your thumb. OK? The principle is referred to as a nozzle effect, and it is what makes a sprinkler spray water over long distances. It's not easy to understand, but please trust me on this, it is correct.""""'

A big hose is always better, always.
It is time for you guys to "un lean" what you have been taught by well meaning, but misinformed people, who are merely repeating what they have been "taught".

The reason the 60 psi 1,6 gpm shurflo 'works better" through a 3/8 hose is two fold.
#1 - it has 15 more psi then the 45 psi pump
#2 - it is only trying to move 1.6 gpm, instead of 3.6 gpm.

As can be seen from the calculator, you are losing a whole bunch of pressure and flow with a smaller hose.

Apple Roof Cleaning has been recommending BOTH the 100 psi shurflo pump, and the 45 psi as well.
We feel that it's nice to have both!
The extra pressure comes in handy on tall roofs, or when you need to really shoot a solution way up there.'
We know from experience that you will wind up using the 45 psi pump most of the time, because it rocks, as long as you use at least 5/8 hose.

There is no need to fear a big hose, and no need for expensive hose either.
5/8 or 3/4 Garden hose, with plastic ends, will take the chemical and pressure just fine.
Just cut the metal parts off, and replace with good quality plastic, and use Teflon tape.
Dont go more then two hundred feet.
The shorter the hose, the less restriction, and the better it will spray.

What I am sharing with you is common knowledge on Most other boards, and it took a while for them to "come around" too.
However, when confronted by the laws of Physics, it was quite hard to 'fight it'.
Sometimes it's hard to 'UnLearn" things, especially when they are perpetuated by well meaning, but misinformed people, like some internet roof cleaning " Guru's ? " :confused:

My preacher, when preaching the bible, always ask us to turn to the scripture he is quoting, and challenges us to examine the word.:eek:

Before you take anything here in this forum from any "guru", Including Myself, as "Gospel Truth" , I challenge you to investigate for yourself ? :eek:

Not only will your pump spray better, it will cycle on and off much less, making it last much longer. :)

But, like I said, investigate for yourself ? http://www.connel.com/freeware/flowcalc1.shtml
 
When I Switched To The 5/8 .....wow ,what An Output Difference.

Hands Down Doubled The Performance
When I Switched To The 5/8 .....wow ,what An Output Difference.

Hands Down Doubled The Performance

Yeah, a lot of brothers simply do not realize just what a difference it makes.

Another reason I do not care for 3/8 hose is ot will easily slice up a shinhgle roof when it gets under the shingles!

The smaller it is, the easier it is to get underneath and in between shingles, and slice before you know it!
 
Chris

On another thread I read someone using two 60psi 1.6gpm shurflos and 3/8 hose, actually there's a video. What your saying is using the 45psi 3.6gpm with 5/8 would put out more love. Is your wand also a larger diameter so your not restricting the flow? Also what size nozzle do you use?
 
Chris

On another thread I read someone using two 60psi 1.6gpm shurflos and 3/8 hose, actually there's a video. What your saying is using the 45psi 3.6gpm with 5/8 would put out more love. Is your wand also a larger diameter so your not restricting the flow? Also what size nozzle do you use?
Barry, big hose is better, and it is always better.
The diameter of a wand is almost of no concern, because it comprises such a small part of the overall pump restriction.
Even a small diameter 4 foot wand is of no concern, because you only have 4 feet of "restriction" in the overall length of your wand/hose combo.

One 45 psi 3.6 GPM pump, even with 5/8 hose will not equal two 1.6 GPM 60 PSI pumps.

This is because the two pumps have 60 PSI to Push the combined output of 3.2 GPM

IMHO, the Shurflo pumps are kind of obsolete anyway.
The new Delevan is currently the cat's meow in an inexpensive roof cleaning pump.

It can easily be turned up to 100 PSI, comes stock at 60 psi, and is rated for 5 GPM flow.

With a 5/8 hose of no longer then 225 feet, it is going to be a hard pump to beat!

You can make anything shoot!

That is simply a function of increasing mixture velocity by reducing nozzle size to the optimum configuration for your flow and pressure.
 
You Yankees have it rough, Russ.
 
I am new to this board, I talked with chris a few days ago and he referred me here. I would like to say thank you to him for some of his advice and help. The 5/8 hose is so much better, omg what a difference. Thanks chris.
 
I am new to this board, I talked with chris a few days ago and he referred me here. I would like to say thank you to him for some of his advice and help. The 5/8 hose is so much better, omg what a difference. Thanks chris.
WELCOME BRO !
Now, you can tell all the ladies you really HAVE the "big hose" :)
 
welcome buddy and thanks to Chris for a referral once again , help us out and fill out your signature , welcome and thanks again

if you have any trouble with the signature just ask , oh and by the way I love my 5/8 too !
Thanks Russ!
I probably get 5 calls a week from nice people just trying to feed their fasmilys.

They want to learn about roof cleaning, so I send em here.

That way, they can ask ALL of us.

Daddy always said "All of us in smarter then one of us".
 
Yea Russ, I have been trying to work on the signature part of the forum but I seem to be doing something wrong, hopefully I will have it figured out soon. Also I was using another cleaner for roofs. I will not say what brand but had issues with everything not coming off. I had a roof like this yesterday, today I tryed the applesauce mix for the first time, omg wish I would have done it so much sooner. I will be using this as much as possible, if not all the time. I just need to get the run off worked out but it was nice to see what it could do. Thanks again, chris.
 
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