This is my first post since joining the soft wash community and I'm hoping you all can help me out. I'm soft washing down in Southwest Florida and I'm doing all tile roofs. I've had tremendous success using a 4% sodium hypochlorite solution but when I tried using a 4% augmented solution I don't get the same result and end up adding more sodium hypochlorite and going back over areas I've all ready done costing me time and money. I'm using a 56% percent calcium hypochlorite powder I picked up at the local pool supply company. Can anyone offer me any suggestions on what I can do to make the augmented solution as good as a the non-augmented solution?
One more question. Can the pumps on the soft wash skid be rebuilt? I used to have pumps rebuilt when I worked in commercial printing but we weren't pumping sodium hypochlorite.
Thank You for any help you can offer.
Eric Owen said
Nov 3, 2014
Ryan,
Your CH is to low 56%you would have to use more witch takes more time.
Try Leslie's Pool Store theirs is 73%.
Hope this helps.
Bob Riddick said
Nov 4, 2014
Welcome Ryan. You can get rebuilding kits for the Flo Jet pumps. We deal with Russ Johnson at Southside Equipment. Once they are rebuilt, we get another month or so of good use.
And I agree with Eric. Your % is too low.
AC Lockyer said
Nov 4, 2014
Ryan,
Also you are at the end of swim season and the 56% CH may be much lower in strength due to being on the shelf all season. Try ordering a stronger % online to get stronger and fresher CH.
AC
Ryan Harder said
Nov 4, 2014
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll get a higher percentage CH and give it a try. I'll post again with my results.
Vic Irish said
Nov 6, 2014
AC Lockyer wrote:
Ryan,
Also you are at the end of swim season and the 56% CH may be much lower in strength due to being on the shelf all season. Try ordering a stronger % online to get stronger and fresher CH.
AC
What is the shelf life of CH? I thought it was SH that lost strength over time...
Also, on the side of the Leslies 6 LB box, it says "Minimum 70% Available Chlorine"
Still learning,
vic
-- Edited by Vic Irish on Thursday 6th of November 2014 10:37:33 AM
Troy Layman said
Nov 6, 2014
Vic Irish wrote:
Panefully Clear Window Cleaning
vic
-- Edited by Vic Irish on Thursday 6th of November 2014 10:37:33 AM
LOL...great name Vic!
Question...do you have problems using CH with any calcium deposits anywhere? or does that just go back to rinsing before anything dries?
Vic Irish said
Nov 6, 2014
Troy Layman wrote:
Vic Irish wrote:
Panefully Clear Window Cleaning
vic
-- Edited by Vic Irish on Thursday 6th of November 2014 10:37:33 AM
LOL...great name Vic!
Question...do you have problems using CH with any calcium deposits anywhere? or does that just go back to rinsing before anything dries?
Hi Troy,
I can't make any testimonies, yet! I hardly qualify as a newby, though I am assembling all the necessary tools for softwashing.
Wanted to be going by now, but am determined not to rush it and harm, deform or kill someone or thing...
I have learned so much in here, and am thankful to all for your help.
On this one, though, I hope Brandon will take your serve, as he is very well acquainted with CH, and has been working with it for more than a year.
I believe we probably don't have to worry about deposits of CH, because we rinse most things. I'm more worried about calcium deposits building up in my chem tanks ;)
I thought up the name "Panefully Clear," but it was already taken by someone in CO. I use it anyway, though, until someone tells me not to.
May change business name to "Tri-City Softwash" whenever I leave my state job.
Lots of window cleaners around. Softwashing is an up and coming field, in my opinion.
vic
Tim Teed said
Nov 6, 2014
We were using 100% CH for awhile. I had no problems when I was working with crew with the rinsing. When it was my guys only doing the job, they would never rinse enough and sometimes residue left on window screens/glass. It is also difficult to rinse CH from wood decks. When I started I picked SH 100 gallons at a time and was always losing time picking up SH. That was when I started augmenting CH/SH and I didn't waste as much time getting SH. This year I started getting bulk SH delivered and it is very strong and it is now at my shop, so I switched back to 100% SH. In summary I would recommend augmenting for your roof mixes and SH only for decks and siding. You will not have any problems with plant damage using SH.
Troy Layman said
Nov 7, 2014
Vic Irish wrote:
Question...do you have problems using CH with any calcium deposits anywhere? or does that just go back to rinsing before anything dries?
Hi Troy,
I can't make any testimonies, yet! I hardly qualify as a newby, though I am assembling all the necessary tools for softwashing.
Wanted to be going by now, but am determined not to rush it and harm, deform or kill someone or thing...
I have learned so much in here, and am thankful to all for your help.
Vic...sorry, I really should have broken that comment about your company name and the question about CH in another individual section.
I thought up the name "Panefully Clear," but it was already taken by someone in CO. I use it anyway, though, until someone tells me not to.
May change business name to "Tri-City Softwash" whenever I leave my state job.
Lots of window cleaners around. Softwashing is an up and coming field, in my opinion.
vic
Others could verify, but I think with your company name versus what you said the other guys is, you're very safe. However, with the name "Tri-City SoftWash", I'm not sure that would carry over well into the non-educated customer world. Not a lot of people have any idea what softwashing is, so if they saw your name on a vehicle or web, the only word that speaks to what you do really is 'Wash', which is a very wide open service industry. I'd think a name that is a little more catchy and easily remembered would do better, or something that may have a rhyme to it, so either way if someone saw your company name on a vehicle it would be easy to recall later when they get home or to work and can type it into a web browser. I know I've seen company names that I wanted to talk to later and forgot the name before I was able to make a note. That's what's behind my thought here anyway.
Troy Layman said
Nov 7, 2014
Tim Teed wrote:
We were using 100% CH for awhile. I had no problems when I was working with crew with the rinsing. When it was my guys only doing the job, they would never rinse enough and sometimes residue left on window screens/glass. It is also difficult to rinse CH from wood decks. When I started I picked SH 100 gallons at a time and was always losing time picking up SH. That was when I started augmenting CH/SH and I didn't waste as much time getting SH. This year I started getting bulk SH delivered and it is very strong and it is now at my shop, so I switched back to 100% SH. In summary I would recommend augmenting for your roof mixes and SH only for decks and siding. You will not have any problems with plant damage using SH.
Thanks a lot Tim!
Question...in your last sentence, did you mean to say CH vs. SH?
Tim Teed said
Nov 7, 2014
We have gutters in our area, and especially if you are on the job, there will be no problem with SH. Its all about managing expectations and which plants you have to be especially careful around.
Vic Irish said
Nov 7, 2014
Troy Layman wrote:
"Others could verify, but I think with your company name versus what you said the other guys is, you're very safe."
When I get started softwashing, it could either be "Panefully Clear Window Cleaning and Softwashing" which is a bit long...
OR How about:
"Shamrock Softwash." I like the ring of that, and the way it ties into my personal handle "Irish." And we be fighting Mr. Moss and Lichen the results...
However, with the name "Tri-City SoftWash", I'm not sure that would carry over well into the non-educated customer world. Not a lot of people have any idea what softwashing is, so if they saw your name on a vehicle or web, the only word that speaks to what you do really is 'Wash', which is a very wide open service industry. I'd think a name that is a little more catchy and easily remembered would do better, or something that may have a rhyme to it, so either way if someone saw your company name on a vehicle it would be easy to recall later when they get home or to work and can type it into a web browser. I know I've seen company names that I wanted to talk to later and forgot the name before I was able to make a note. That's what's behind my thought here anyway.
Great thoughts, Troy. You are making me think, too!
Thank you,
vic
Vic Irish said
Nov 7, 2014
Tim Teed wrote:
We were using 100% CH for awhile. I had no problems when I was working with crew with the rinsing. When it was my guys only doing the job, they would never rinse enough and sometimes residue left on window screens/glass. It is also difficult to rinse CH from wood decks. When I started I picked SH 100 gallons at a time and was always losing time picking up SH. That was when I started augmenting CH/SH and I didn't waste as much time getting SH. This year I started getting bulk SH delivered and it is very strong and it is now at my shop, so I switched back to 100% SH. In summary I would recommend augmenting for your roof mixes and SH only for decks and siding. You will not have any problems with plant damage using SH.
Wow, Tim. Would love to see you and Brandon discuss SH vs. CH.
I have been wanting to go straight CH. Using boiling water to mix the CH at home so it thickens like Sweet Tea, then store it in a 208 gallon tank in my yard. Was wondering if we can carry more than 119 gallons of premade CH in truck, or if then it counts like liquid SH? Not sure how big a heating unit that would take to heat the water for that.
Life was complicated before, now you say straight SH is better. I would love to see a survey. Among bleach users that have used both SH and CH, who all uses both (roughly what % of the time), or who uses predominantly SH and who uses CH mostly?
Thank you for all your help in here, Tim. Much appreciate it!
vic
AC Lockyer said
Nov 7, 2014
Vic,
Any hypochlorite solution (liquid) is limited to 119 gallons. CH is great for home based businesses who can't store and buy SH in bulk.
AC
Vic Irish said
Nov 7, 2014
AC Lockyer wrote:
Vic,
Any hypochlorite solution (liquid) is limited to 119 gallons. CH is great for home based businesses who can't store and buy SH in bulk.
AC
Can't get any clearer than that. Noted and chiseled...
Thank you, AC!
vic
Tim Teed said
Nov 7, 2014
As far as performance, it doesn't matter which you use. When you are starting out and as the owner and you are doing the work either works well. Just find a source for your SH and work around it. Don't waste your time trying to heat the water or tying to reinvent anything. In general SH is easier to mix and use, and no questions from homeowners why there is residue on roof. We buy our SH from Univar and it is very strong. Before we switched to Univar, we sprayed roofs at 3%, After Univar those same roofs we use a 2% mix. We will on occasion still use CH if there are a lot of flowers and sensitive shrubs like hydrangea and japanese maple. Starting out it is easier to learn first with SH.
Vic Irish said
Nov 8, 2014
Tim Teed wrote:
As far as performance, it doesn't matter which you use. When you are starting out and as the owner and you are doing the work either works well. Just find a source for your SH and work around it. Don't waste your time trying to heat the water or tying to reinvent anything. In general SH is easier to mix and use, and no questions from homeowners why there is residue on roof. We buy our SH from Univar and it is very strong. Before we switched to Univar, we sprayed roofs at 3%, After Univar those same roofs we use a 2% mix. We will on occasion still use CH if there are a lot of flowers and sensitive shrubs like hydrangea and japanese maple. Starting out it is easier to learn first with SH.
Thank you, Tim!
I'm reading this until it is memorized... <grin>
One more thing until I have the CH world mastered.
Does CH get old when it is still dry? I have 24 one pound bags of Leslies CH, bought last January. Will it still be "fresh" next Spring?
vic
Eric Owen said
Nov 9, 2014
Vic,
Sooner or later you will have to get your feet wet. In your area withch is more cost effective Ch Or SH ?
Hear in FL SH is on every corner this is all about managing costumer expecttions and plant and property protection I use SH only and so far so good . And yes I have burned a few plants in my early days . But since yousing Plant Wash, and catching run off etc no problems.
Hope this helps .
Vic Irish said
Nov 9, 2014
Hi Eric!
Eric Owen wrote:
Vic,
Sooner or later you will have to get your feet wet. In your area which is more cost effective Ch Or SH ?
I always wanted to go with CH exclusive, but now realize that if I'm going to clean wood, I had better change those plans. Point being that I have not even priced SH, Eric. I'm live and learning. <grin>
Here in FL SH is on every corner this is all about managing costumer expectations and plant and property protection I use SH only and so far so good. And yes I have burned a few plants in my early days . But since using Plant Wash, and catching run off etc no problems.
We have SH in pool supply's here, I just haven't priced it yet. Other than Softwashapaloozas, I have more experience using the Plant Wash than any bleach.
Hope this helps.
Thank you, Eric. You guys are the best! Just a week ago, my plans were for CH only. I'm recovering but still learning,
vic
P.S. - While my side of WA state isn't supposed to be as rich in opportunities for bio cleaning (East side of WA state is dry, West side much wetter), we have a lot of dusty windstorms, and some mossy roofs, and hey I've shared some aviary lava streams (bird bomb pics) in here before. We also have oxidized aluminum that is screaming to be reconditioned if our future authorized SWS rep ever gets all his ducks in a row. I cleaned windows on a wood house here last week, and the paint seemed a bit dull. Am going to offer to softwash it for the experience and possible referral. Will that paint gain any of it's color back?
Ryan Harper said
Aug 10, 2016
Ive been using 12.5% SH made by Chlorbrite and it works very well, I also get it at a good price for this location at $3 per gallon, everyone else wants $6 for only 10%. However, I have to drive a long way to get it and storage is a problem, so now I want to try using CH. I do have some questions about it though. 1) How do I calculate the strength of the concentrate? Lets say I want to make a liquid concentrate of 10% of which I would mix my water and Green Wash to have a final strength of 1%,2%,3% or 4%. How do I calculate the strength of the concentrate? 2) As far as the residue is concerned, why cant I simply filter it? Thanks!
Tim Teed said
Aug 11, 2016
Figure 50 ounces per 50 gallons water will make a 1% solution. I wouldn't use CH only, its too much of a pain and constantly telling people a few rains will wash off the residue. I would augment for roofs and us SH for decks and siding.
This is my first post since joining the soft wash community and I'm hoping you all can help me out. I'm soft washing down in Southwest Florida and I'm doing all tile roofs. I've had tremendous success using a 4% sodium hypochlorite solution but when I tried using a 4% augmented solution I don't get the same result and end up adding more sodium hypochlorite and going back over areas I've all ready done costing me time and money. I'm using a 56% percent calcium hypochlorite powder I picked up at the local pool supply company. Can anyone offer me any suggestions on what I can do to make the augmented solution as good as a the non-augmented solution?
One more question. Can the pumps on the soft wash skid be rebuilt? I used to have pumps rebuilt when I worked in commercial printing but we weren't pumping sodium hypochlorite.
Thank You for any help you can offer.
Your CH is to low 56%you would have to use more witch takes more time.
Try Leslie's Pool Store theirs is 73%.
Hope this helps.
Welcome Ryan. You can get rebuilding kits for the Flo Jet pumps. We deal with Russ Johnson at Southside Equipment. Once they are rebuilt, we get another month or so of good use.
And I agree with Eric. Your % is too low.
Also you are at the end of swim season and the 56% CH may be much lower in strength due to being on the shelf all season. Try ordering a stronger % online to get stronger and fresher CH.
AC
What is the shelf life of CH? I thought it was SH that lost strength over time...
Also, on the side of the Leslies 6 LB box, it says "Minimum 70% Available Chlorine"
Still learning,
vic
-- Edited by Vic Irish on Thursday 6th of November 2014 10:37:33 AM
LOL...great name Vic!
Question...do you have problems using CH with any calcium deposits anywhere? or does that just go back to rinsing before anything dries?
Hi Troy,
I can't make any testimonies, yet! I hardly qualify as a newby, though I am assembling all the necessary tools for softwashing.
Wanted to be going by now, but am determined not to rush it and harm, deform or kill someone or thing...
I have learned so much in here, and am thankful to all for your help.
On this one, though, I hope Brandon will take your serve, as he is very well acquainted with CH, and has been working with it for more than a year.
I believe we probably don't have to worry about deposits of CH, because we rinse most things. I'm more worried about calcium deposits building up in my chem tanks ;)
I thought up the name "Panefully Clear," but it was already taken by someone in CO. I use it anyway, though, until someone tells me not to.
May change business name to "Tri-City Softwash" whenever I leave my state job.
Lots of window cleaners around. Softwashing is an up and coming field, in my opinion.
vic
Others could verify, but I think with your company name versus what you said the other guys is, you're very safe. However, with the name "Tri-City SoftWash", I'm not sure that would carry over well into the non-educated customer world. Not a lot of people have any idea what softwashing is, so if they saw your name on a vehicle or web, the only word that speaks to what you do really is 'Wash', which is a very wide open service industry. I'd think a name that is a little more catchy and easily remembered would do better, or something that may have a rhyme to it, so either way if someone saw your company name on a vehicle it would be easy to recall later when they get home or to work and can type it into a web browser. I know I've seen company names that I wanted to talk to later and forgot the name before I was able to make a note. That's what's behind my thought here anyway.
Thanks a lot Tim!
Question...in your last sentence, did you mean to say CH vs. SH?
Great thoughts, Troy. You are making me think, too!
Thank you,
vic
Wow, Tim. Would love to see you and Brandon discuss SH vs. CH.
I have been wanting to go straight CH. Using boiling water to mix the CH at home so it thickens like Sweet Tea, then store it in a 208 gallon tank in my yard. Was wondering if we can carry more than 119 gallons of premade CH in truck, or if then it counts like liquid SH? Not sure how big a heating unit that would take to heat the water for that.
Life was complicated before, now you say straight SH is better. I would love to see a survey. Among bleach users that have used both SH and CH, who all uses both (roughly what % of the time), or who uses predominantly SH and who uses CH mostly?
Thank you for all your help in here, Tim. Much appreciate it!
vic
Any hypochlorite solution (liquid) is limited to 119 gallons. CH is great for home based businesses who can't store and buy SH in bulk.
AC
Can't get any clearer than that. Noted and chiseled...
Thank you, AC!
vic
Thank you, Tim!
I'm reading this until it is memorized... <grin>
One more thing until I have the CH world mastered.
Does CH get old when it is still dry? I have 24 one pound bags of Leslies CH, bought last January. Will it still be "fresh" next Spring?
vic
Sooner or later you will have to get your feet wet. In your area withch is more cost effective Ch Or SH ?
Hear in FL SH is on every corner this is all about managing costumer expecttions and plant and property protection I use SH only and so far so good . And yes I have burned a few plants in my early days . But since yousing Plant Wash, and catching run off etc no problems.
Hope this helps .
Hi Eric!