Guys, I THINK I have stumbled upon what will be a major advancement in a roof cleaning set up. Imagine having NEVER to mix your chemicals again ?
Here is how it works on our trucks. Here at Apple Roof Cleaning we use flatbed trucks.
Previously, we had 500 and 600 gallon tanks, premixed with TSP, Chlorine, and water.
We sometimes do from 3 to 5 roofs a day, and mostly shingle.
Now, let's say we have 2 shingles, THEN a big tile roof. This previously meant we had to re fresh our mix with more Chlorine.
Not anymore !!!
Here is what we now do.
We got rid of the one big tank setup, and are going to a dual tank setup. One 250 gallon Chlorine tank, and a 325 water tank.
ALWAYS pull from the TOP of your tanks guys, bulkheads leak!
We use PVC feed tubes in our tanks, the one in the chlorine tank feeds an inch or so off the bottom, the water feed is 6 inches from the bottom so the undissolved TSP is not sucked up.
You DO use TSP I hope ?
Coming out of the suction of our pump, we use a TEE connector that splits the feed into 2 lines.
In each line after the TEE and going to the twin tanks is a very special type of valve.
These twin valves CONTROL flow!
Yes, this means we have the ability to totally vary the strength of our mix for the requirements of ANY Roof Cleaning Job!
Rinsing our pumps/hose is simple, we just shut off the Chlorine valve, and pull straight water.
I am considering adding a THIRD tank for Sodium Hydroxide.
The combo of TSP/Water, Chlorine and Caustic is an "old school" house wash and general cleaning solution handed down from the "old timers" on the Delco board.
In this case, I would simply use a three way valve coming from my pumps suction, three feed lines to my 3 tanks, and 3 of the inline "special valves" we have found.
The caustic tank can be simply "turned off" when not needed simply by closing the valve.
I am NOT sure a Shurflo type pump has enough "Pull" to do this ? The Delevan 5800 pumps do. John Blues will NOT work!
The reason WHY a John Blue will not work is because a John Blue is a Positive Displacement pump that must have a bypass hose going back into a tank to UNLOAD pressure, or it will blow a head.
The OLD Apple Roof Cleaning system consisted of a high GPM, low pressure Shurflo pump, and 5/8 hose.
This system, with the Delevan 5800 series pump, is far superior, and reflects our latest "thinking" on the ultimate roof cleaning setup
The idea of mixing the SH with the water/tsp/surfactant just before the pump is an interesting idea. I'm a new company and small company. If I mix too much love for a job and can't use the leftover before the SH goes south I lose money. If I mix too little love for the job I end up taking time to mix additional love to complete the job and that also cost money.
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I have a biodiesel operation where I do exactly what is being talked about here. I mix methoxide with the waste vegetable oil to create the biodiesel. A ball value is used to introduce the methoxide just before the pump. I control the flow by how far I open the ball valve.
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I will have to experiment over the winter with a setup that will allow me to create my love at the pump.
The idea of mixing the SH with the water/tsp/surfactant just before the pump is an interesting idea. I'm a new company and small company. If I mix too much love for a job and can't use the leftover before the SH goes south I lose money. If I mix too little love for the job I end up taking time to mix additional love to complete the job and that also cost money.
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I have a biodiesel operation where I do exactly what is being talked about here. I mix methoxide with the waste vegetable oil to create the biodiesel. A ball value is used to introduce the methoxide just before the pump. I control the flow by how far I open the ball valve.
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I will have to experiment over the winter with a setup that will allow me to create my love at the pump.
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Charles
When I started this forum, it was with the belief that ALL of us is smarter then one of us. By all means, experiment !!! A ball valve is not a linear device BTW, but it may be good enough ? More precise control is had by using a linear type of valve. Â
You are right about the ball valve. It will not provide percise flow control. I started searching the internet for flow control valves. If you know of a source please share it with me.
You are right about the ball valve. It will not provide percise flow control. I started searching the internet for flow control valves. If you know of a source please share it with me.
Thanks.
Charles
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Remember to look for something that will withstand SH ? Especially if you are using non-diluted SH?
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Ada Mobile Wash
2694 Ashville Dr. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
616-285-8115
kennethpaul@vzw.blackberry.net
Roof Washing Exterior House Cleaning Grand Rapids, MI
You are right about the ball valve. It will not provide percise flow control. I started searching the internet for flow control valves. If you know of a source please share it with me.
Thanks.
Charles
>
Remember to look for something that will withstand SH ? Especially if you are using non-diluted SH?
i use the yamada with custom dual intakes to mix the chem i will be pulling from two seperate tank one pure SH and one with everything else it will mix as its in the hose no more dead love
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Billy Jensen New Port Richey FL 34652 727-243-4305 weguaranteeclean@live.com
i use the yamada with custom dual intakes to mix the chem i will be pulling from two seperate tank one pure SH and one with everything else it will mix as its in the hose no more dead love
Will be or ARE? Remember, time is money. How many times will you need to re-apply?
__________________
Â
Ada Mobile Wash
2694 Ashville Dr. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
616-285-8115
kennethpaul@vzw.blackberry.net
Roof Washing Exterior House Cleaning Grand Rapids, MI
im in the process im waiting for the manifold they are on back order so any time now and i will have pics for ya soon. they make yamada dual manifold the just dont make them in kynar so i have to modify it myself
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Billy Jensen New Port Richey FL 34652 727-243-4305 weguaranteeclean@live.com
i should mention that i do 95percent tile roofs so my mix is almost always 50/50 one coat and maby some touch up if i want 30/70 ill ad some water to my SH tank
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Billy Jensen New Port Richey FL 34652 727-243-4305 weguaranteeclean@live.com
im in the process im waiting for the manifold they are on back order so any time now and i will have pics for ya soon. they make yamada dual manifold the just dont make them in kynar so i have to modify it myself
Yes, I had considered using the Yamada dual mainfold. It is only availiable in Poly, but MIGHT last awhile, if rinsed out after use ?
when im done with mine if you like it ill build you the parts you need to build your own using two kynar manifolds you could install them in less than 5min
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Billy Jensen New Port Richey FL 34652 727-243-4305 weguaranteeclean@live.com
I am going to work on getting a set up to work this winter. I am running the delavan pump. I think the pick up tube in the SH will need to be one size smaller than the pick up tube in the water. And, install a metered flow control valve. I am going to try a manifold with "Y" connections. I think that would give better suction, and mixture .
im in the process im waiting for the manifold they are on back order so any time now and i will have pics for ya soon. they make yamada dual manifold the just dont make them in kynar so i have to modify it myself
 Been there done that. Works but not as well as you might imagine. There may be variations of "CLEAN" on the roof at times depending on if you have mixed or unmixed leftover TSP in the tank bottom or OTHER cleaning agents.
Installing a return line with a AGRICULTURE style bypass Agitator will help you.
The "problem" we found with the vari flow system is left over chemical in 300 feet of hose.
We once cleaned a tile roof, a white one, really dirty.
We set our flow control valve for about a 50/50 mix.
Then, we did a shingle roof, and only needed about 30 percent mix.
WHAT do you do with all that strong chemical trapped in 300 feet of hose ?
Since we only clean shingle and tile roofs, and do very little other cleaning, we just use dual tanks of pre mixed shingle or tile roof cleaning chemicals, and switch the pump feeds.
BTW, poly is not "all bad", and will last awhile IF rinsed out.
Manifolds are cheap, at least single ones are ?
Sure, Kynar is better, but I have used Yamada Poly pumps for almost a year, by rinsing them out after every job.