I'm tying to work with an apartment complex for cleaning siding and shingles. I have the Softwash System rig in my pick-up. I have no other equipment - except for the ryobi pressure washer 7 hp, 3000 psi, 2.7 gpm that has been in garage for 4 years - I don't know if it will even start. I have no trailer or tanks. The complex has no hose bibs, however I see some of the red fire hydrants that stick out from the building. I will need to rinse the siding approx 25,000 sf 3 story building. 2 buildings.
Any ideas on how to solve my water problem
Ray Burke said
Mar 15, 2013
Tim, there are a couple of options available. Your municipality should allow you to rent a water meter for the hydrants. Check on the cost, sometimes this is a pretty expensive option. The other ting you could do is have them give you access to an empty apartment and hook up to the clothes washer water, those are garden hose threads.
John Smith said
Mar 16, 2013
Do they use pop up sprinklers? I would ask the office or maintenance before I rented a water meter. It seems very odd to not have water onsite
Mike Laskowski said
Mar 16, 2013
Rent a water trailer and rent a water meter if theres no other choice but if the have even oneclothes washer then you can run all your hose like Ray said. I have had to do this several times because of broken hose bibs and avoided the cost of a meter and trailer. Good luck!
AC Lockyer said
Mar 16, 2013
We always rented a meter and hooked up to a hydrant.
AC
Tim Teed said
Mar 26, 2013
These are condos and owned by individuals so hooking to laundry is not an option. The munincipality/water company does not allow hooking to hydrant with water meter. I would have to get water from water company. I was thinking I could use jugs of bleach and mix in my tank instead of carrying bulk bleach. Can I fill 100 gallon tank and spray directly from the 100 gallon tank with my generation 1 system? I'm only cleaning vinyl siding and everything is dormant. How many gallons of water to rinse? At some point I will get some roof cleaning at this comples and I will need to rinse thoroughly. Any recommendations for in the future for a set-up? should I buy a pressure washer, if so what type
Ray Burke said
Mar 26, 2013
Tim United rentals has a water trailer you can rent. I believe it's thousand gallon capacity. The other option is to talk to one of the condo owners And offer to pay for their water plus slide them an extra hundred dollars for the inconvenience.
Tim Teed said
Mar 26, 2013
Whats the best way to spray from the water trailer? Keep in mind I only have the softwash rig plus the cheap ryobi pressure washer. What set-up would you recommend going forward? The water trailer might work as I met a realtor who's husband works at one of the rental places - plus she is on the board of a different condo association that I am quoting.
Michael Derose said
Mar 26, 2013
Tim try calling rainy for rent. They have water tanks that range from 400 gallons to 10000 gallons. You can also look for someone who fills up pools to deliver water. I would also rent a belt drive machine to use as a gravity fed system from the tank. That is just one way. You have a tough situation there.
Greg Nash said
Mar 27, 2013
Look for backflows on property and hook to them.
Michael Derose said
Mar 27, 2013
Greg what is a back flow? Is it a connection off the sprinkler system?
Bill Booz said
Mar 27, 2013
You don't need a trailer, then you would need a pump. The hydrant is going to give you great pressure anyway for lots of hose. It should cost about $100 to run water and pay fees maybe even way less.
Bill Booz said
Mar 27, 2013
If you want a trailer you need a washer as well.
Tim Teed said
Mar 27, 2013
Utility won't let anyone use hydrants
AC Lockyer said
Mar 27, 2013
Tim Teed wrote:
Utility won't let anyone use hydrants
Sure they will. They have to. They are just being lazy and trying to scare you away so they dont have to do work. By law they have to provide a meter for you to use the hydrants and charge you for the water you use. You have a public water source. It's federal law.
AC
Greg Nash said
Mar 27, 2013
Water is not what costs the money its the deposit for the hydrant meter, on average its about 1500 dollars. We have them on our trucks for the areas we work the most. I will see if I have a picture of a backflow all commercial properties should have them, they are on the irrigation after the meters usually above ground.
Mark Fermoyle said
Mar 28, 2013
More fire department wisdom if you're going to use a hydrant for water. BE SURE to flow water out of the hydrant until it runs clear, then shut down and hook up your meter. You'd be surprised what amount of "junk" will come out of those things! We do this every time in order to protect our fire pumps on our Engines.
If it will mess up a fire pump, it will certainly mess up your roof pump!!
So, I'm looking at the two pics of BFPs and trying to figure out where on this manifold to hook up. Can you advise? Also, what size parts do I need to make that fitting when I go to Lowes? Looks like a brass nipple, but what size & thread. Obviously a male garden hose fitting, but what is the piece in the middle?
Thanks, Mark
Greg Nash said
Mar 30, 2013
depending on how big the backflow is there could be up to six ports that the fitting will thread into. the thread size is the same as a pressure washing wand.
Mark Fermoyle said
Mar 30, 2013
Thanks, I'll check it out tomorrow at Lowes. What are the specs on the middle piece?
I'm tying to work with an apartment complex for cleaning siding and shingles. I have the Softwash System rig in my pick-up. I have no other equipment - except for the ryobi pressure washer 7 hp, 3000 psi, 2.7 gpm that has been in garage for 4 years - I don't know if it will even start. I have no trailer or tanks. The complex has no hose bibs, however I see some of the red fire hydrants that stick out from the building. I will need to rinse the siding approx 25,000 sf 3 story building. 2 buildings.
Any ideas on how to solve my water problem
Rent a water trailer and rent a water meter if theres no other choice but if the have even oneclothes washer then you can run all your hose like Ray said. I have had to do this several times because of broken hose bibs and avoided the cost of a meter and trailer. Good luck!
AC
These are condos and owned by individuals so hooking to laundry is not an option. The munincipality/water company does not allow hooking to hydrant with water meter. I would have to get water from water company. I was thinking I could use jugs of bleach and mix in my tank instead of carrying bulk bleach. Can I fill 100 gallon tank and spray directly from the 100 gallon tank with my generation 1 system? I'm only cleaning vinyl siding and everything is dormant. How many gallons of water to rinse? At some point I will get some roof cleaning at this comples and I will need to rinse thoroughly. Any recommendations for in the future for a set-up? should I buy a pressure washer, if so what type
Whats the best way to spray from the water trailer? Keep in mind I only have the softwash rig plus the cheap ryobi pressure washer. What set-up would you recommend going forward? The water trailer might work as I met a realtor who's husband works at one of the rental places - plus she is on the board of a different condo association that I am quoting.
Sure they will. They have to. They are just being lazy and trying to scare you away so they dont have to do work. By law they have to provide a meter for you to use the hydrants and charge you for the water you use. You have a public water source. It's federal law.
AC
If it will mess up a fire pump, it will certainly mess up your roof pump!!
A couple of pics of backsflows.
Here you go
So, I'm looking at the two pics of BFPs and trying to figure out where on this manifold to hook up. Can you advise? Also, what size parts do I need to make that fitting when I go to Lowes? Looks like a brass nipple, but what size & thread. Obviously a male garden hose fitting, but what is the piece in the middle?
Thanks,
Mark