As a beginner may I reccomend going to a 3 gpm pump. This will slow you down so you dont waste chems, damage plants, develop technique.
AC
Samuel Alan said
Sep 7, 2015
Thank you y'all
Samuel Alan said
Sep 7, 2015
I'm getting a used 250 gal plastic tank for free from a farmer
AC Lockyer said
Sep 7, 2015
Samuel Alan wrote:
I'm getting a used 250 gal plastic tank for free from a farmer
Keep us posted so we can help guide you through the plumbing process.
AC
Troy Layman said
Sep 8, 2015
Nice deal there Samuel! Remember your total combined liquid bleach should not go over 119 gallons while traveling.
Also, if you reach a point you need to buy other tanks a lot of guys recommend going by the Tractor Supply Store or Agricultural Supply stores because most sites charge an arm and a leg for shipping. I found most sites that the shipping was more expensive than the tank itself. I did find a site called www.SprayerDepot.com that had good prices on tanks and excellent prices on shipping. I was able to have a new brand name tank delivered to my door for $6 less than picking it up locally at the Tractor Supply store. They also custom cut their straps out of aluminum so if you need to add straps the code is 50STR for the 50 gallon tanks, 100STR for the 100 gallon etc. I only say that because the straps are not easy to find without knowing the code up front. They will install the bulkhead fittings for free if you purchase the fittings through them as well.
I'm just getting started really myself and even if you are on a barebones shoestring budget, at least spend the money to get through the "Plants & Property Protection" module that AC offers. The information contained in that module is going to give you most of the ways you can harm the customers plants and property that AC found through 50,000+ roof cleanings that you really cannot afford to learn on your own. You could put yourself out of business before you even get started trying to learn on your own. I was skeptical myself until I did the training and it was definitely money well spent, and that is coming from someone on a tight start up budget too. The next two items you'll need would be the Green Wash and Plant Wash, and Bleach Wash and Terra Wash after that.
Nice deal there Samuel! Remember your total combined liquid bleach should not go over 119 gallons while traveling.
Also, if you reach a point you need to buy other tanks a lot of guys recommend going by the Tractor Supply Store or Agricultural Supply stores because most sites charge an arm and a leg for shipping. I found most sites that the shipping was more expensive than the tank itself. I did find a site called www.SprayerDepot.com that had good prices on tanks and excellent prices on shipping. I was able to have a new brand name tank delivered to my door for $6 less than picking it up locally at the Tractor Supply store. They also custom cut their straps out of aluminum so if you need to add straps the code is 50STR for the 50 gallon tanks, 100STR for the 100 gallon etc. I only say that because the straps are not easy to find without knowing the code up front. They will install the bulkhead fittings for free if you purchase the fittings through them as well.
I'm just getting started really myself and even if you are on a barebones shoestring budget, at least spend the money to get through the "Plants & Property Protection" module that AC offers. The information contained in that module is going to give you most of the ways you can harm the customers plants and property that AC found through 50,000+ roof cleanings that you really cannot afford to learn on your own. You could put yourself out of business before you even get started trying to learn on your own. I was skeptical myself until I did the training and it was definitely money well spent, and that is coming from someone on a tight start up budget too. The next two items you'll need would be the Green Wash and Plant Wash, and Bleach Wash and Terra Wash after that.
All right now I have a 3 gallons per minute pump and 200 foot of 5/8 hose I tried to use my 1/4 Quick Connect off my pressure washer and it doesn't seem like enough pressure or chemical comes out. I do have a pressure washer store nearby. here are some pictures of my rig so far on the modules it says a discount code where do you find that and can I download it to my phone or CDs
Sam, what orifice size is that tip? Contact the folks over at J Racenstein and tell them what pump you have and they can fit you with the correct size nozzles, if that is the problem. If the tip is too small you won't get adequate flow, and if it is too big you won't get the spray pattern you want.
fully loaded 4-banger - part #:74-5995 (0, 15, 25 and 40 degree spray tips)
empty 4-banger - part #:74-5990 (4 QC without the spray tips)
If you go to the softwashsystems.com/ link and while signed into this site click on "Buy our products" under "Softwash Pro's" you will get a little better pricing.
Is that the free tank the farmer gave you? Nice score there!
AC Lockyer said
Sep 9, 2015
Why 5/8 hose that is too big for 3 gpm.
AC
Troy Layman said
Sep 10, 2015
AC Lockyer wrote:
Why 5/8 hose that is too big for 3 gpm.
AC
Eric Owens made another great point for using 3/8" hose vs. 5/8" hose - lugging around a larger hose means you're lugging around a heavier hose that carries more softwash mix, making it even heavier. Not being a young 20 year old anymore, after a full day of physical labor cleaning a roof(s) out in the heat, the extra weight will make a difference.
Eric Owen said
Sep 11, 2015
Troy,
A 3/8 in hose is lighter but you don't get the distance and volume out of it as a 1/2in .
All of the skids from Gen 1 to 3 have 1/2in hose.
Troy Layman said
Sep 12, 2015
Ah, yes, thanks Eric! that's what I get for trusting my memory.
Samuel Alan said
Sep 12, 2015
200' of free hoses. so 1/2" is better
Rick Fairbanks said
Sep 13, 2015
That's a PW tip you've got on there. Even with the 5 gpm pump you're getting it's only 60psi at the pump. through 200" of hose you're probably going to be down to 45-50psi by the time you get to nozzle. You're just going to get a dribble out of the pressure wash nozzle. Plus you'reDo like Troy says and get a softwash nozzle set or if you're trying to get by on the cheap, just get one of those $3 metal nozzles from Home Depot and put on the end of your hose. If you rinse it after every use you'll get several months out of it at least and distance wise you'll get within a few feet of any other nozzle.
Most of us use a 1/2" hose unless you've got a more powerful and higher flowing pump. You can try the 5/8 once you get your new pump, it may work ok for you. The 5gpm 60 psi is going to be about the same or just a little better than the average homeowners water pressure and flow.
Delavan PowerFLO Diaphragm Pump, 12 Volt DC, 5.0 GPM do you think that is a good temp for more pressure a guy is going to sell it to me for 75
We use these pumps in our trailer set up.
As a beginner may I reccomend going to a 3 gpm pump. This will slow you down so you dont waste chems, damage plants, develop technique.
AC
Keep us posted so we can help guide you through the plumbing process.
AC
Also, if you reach a point you need to buy other tanks a lot of guys recommend going by the Tractor Supply Store or Agricultural Supply stores because most sites charge an arm and a leg for shipping. I found most sites that the shipping was more expensive than the tank itself. I did find a site called www.SprayerDepot.com that had good prices on tanks and excellent prices on shipping. I was able to have a new brand name tank delivered to my door for $6 less than picking it up locally at the Tractor Supply store. They also custom cut their straps out of aluminum so if you need to add straps the code is 50STR for the 50 gallon tanks, 100STR for the 100 gallon etc. I only say that because the straps are not easy to find without knowing the code up front. They will install the bulkhead fittings for free if you purchase the fittings through them as well.
I'm just getting started really myself and even if you are on a barebones shoestring budget, at least spend the money to get through the "Plants & Property Protection" module that AC offers. The information contained in that module is going to give you most of the ways you can harm the customers plants and property that AC found through 50,000+ roof cleanings that you really cannot afford to learn on your own. You could put yourself out of business before you even get started trying to learn on your own. I was skeptical myself until I did the training and it was definitely money well spent, and that is coming from someone on a tight start up budget too. The next two items you'll need would be the Green Wash and Plant Wash, and Bleach Wash and Terra Wash after that.
softwashsystems.com/page_softwash-education.html
Sprayer Depot is about 8 miles from me... :)
AC
All right now I have a 3 gallons per minute pump and 200 foot of 5/8 hose I tried to use my 1/4 Quick Connect off my pressure washer and it doesn't seem like enough pressure or chemical comes out. I do have a pressure washer store nearby. here are some pictures of my rig so far on the modules it says a discount code where do you find that and can I download it to my phone or CDs
www.jracenstein.com/category/Softwash/softwash-systems/default.asp
fully loaded 4-banger - part #:74-5995 (0, 15, 25 and 40 degree spray tips)
empty 4-banger - part #:74-5990 (4 QC without the spray tips)
If you go to the softwashsystems.com/ link and while signed into this site click on "Buy our products" under "Softwash Pro's" you will get a little better pricing.
Is that the free tank the farmer gave you? Nice score there!
AC
Eric Owens made another great point for using 3/8" hose vs. 5/8" hose - lugging around a larger hose means you're lugging around a heavier hose that carries more softwash mix, making it even heavier. Not being a young 20 year old anymore, after a full day of physical labor cleaning a roof(s) out in the heat, the extra weight will make a difference.
A 3/8 in hose is lighter but you don't get the distance and volume out of it as a 1/2in .
All of the skids from Gen 1 to 3 have 1/2in hose.
That's a PW tip you've got on there. Even with the 5 gpm pump you're getting it's only 60psi at the pump. through 200" of hose you're probably going to be down to 45-50psi by the time you get to nozzle. You're just going to get a dribble out of the pressure wash nozzle. Plus you'reDo like Troy says and get a softwash nozzle set or if you're trying to get by on the cheap, just get one of those $3 metal nozzles from Home Depot and put on the end of your hose. If you rinse it after every use you'll get several months out of it at least and distance wise you'll get within a few feet of any other nozzle.
Most of us use a 1/2" hose unless you've got a more powerful and higher flowing pump. You can try the 5/8 once you get your new pump, it may work ok for you. The 5gpm 60 psi is going to be about the same or just a little better than the average homeowners water pressure and flow.