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Apex Roof Cleaning · Guest

4th roof job, didn't go well, but learning lessons

Nov 7, 2011

Hang in there it will get better. How big of a tank do you have that you have to drive around to stire it?

Roof Cleaning West Chester PA · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

hang in there, it gets easier ... make sure you're not sucking in air, also maybe it's leaking cause you don't have enough teflon tape? those were two issues i had when i started ... also in your free time, try running it with just water til you get the hang of it, you'll hit the ground running next season, if you have want to talk feel free to call

Apex Roof Cleaning · Guest

Driving around i use a 55.
Ya I just started in late September, my plan was to just learn and see how I need to prepare for the 2012 season.

Definitely sucking in air, and I think the tape is a good idea to have on any rig.

-- Edited by DirtyDan on Monday 7th of November 2011 11:21:47 PM

Tom C · Guest

They say you have to suffer to sing the blues. I'm new to this also and I've being singing a few blues. I'm just finishing up my trailer rig (hopefully this week) and it's been a series of ups and downs. i went with an All-Flo system and the first time I cranked it up it wouldn't prime. I had to manually prime the inflo by filling it with water from a garden hose and quickly putting in the mix tank, that worked but I was disappointed. Turns out you can't mount an All Flo upside down because the valves won't shut. Once I mounted the pump right side up and on the floor of the trailer, the system works like a charm. I'm still working out a few kinks in the chem transfer side.
Upon Lori's advice, I used liquid teflon or TFE Paste Pipe Thread Compound on all of my fittings instead of teflon tape.
I also went with Mike's approach and have gotten up on my own roof and practiced with just water. I've got a 1 year old roof so I'm sure my neighbors are curious of what I'm doing up there. I just tell them it's a super secert preventive maintenance procedure that I'm developing to prolong the life of a new roof!

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

I used an extension pole to stir my mix sometimes, especially if it's getting full and cycling back into the tank will cause my truck to take a massive bubble bath. Why was your nozzle leaking, any idea there?

Getting air out of the line can be a real PITA sometimes, but you'll get the hang of it.

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

What pump are you using? was your valve open or closed when trying to prime the pump? are you pulling from the top or gravity feeding your pump?

Dave

opie451 · Nov 8, 2011

I've had trouble with the nozzle leaking as well. Right out of the spray tip. Don't know how to stop it. Its all a brand new system I bought from Bob at pressure tek. Rusting of the tips and quick connects have also been an issue. It took everything I had to get the tip out of the quick connect. Not happy at all.

Guest

tips go all the time you have to make sure the o ring is good and replace it about once every two weeks or as needed. Keep it sprayed with wd-40 and make sure you rinse the heck out of everything.

-- Edited by Diamond Roof Cleaning New Jersey (1-800-Roof-Clean) on Tuesday 8th of November 2011 09:01:01 PM

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

Gotta replace quick connect frequently. Even on my pressure washer, downstreaming SH will make them a pain in the butt to remove nozzles QUICKLY. WD-40 helps for sure, but when they become a headache, ya gotta replace them.

Apex Roof Cleaning · Guest

The Sh ate right threw the nozzle, I was temporarily using a $6 spray gun from sears. (rubber) My dad suggested plastic O rings, you guys ever use them?
I sprayed a roof in the dark tonight, and that went so much better than the 10 by 8 deck roof I did in daylight.

Im always afraid I'm going to stain something or kill a plant. I only deal with asphalt shingles and vinyl siding and I soak shrubs and grass.

John Burdine · Nov 11, 2011

i've heard wd40 will swell o rings causing them fail.

John Burdine · Nov 11, 2011

hang in there dan we all have our days. yesterday, i oversprayed a few cars at a car dealership, my helper knocked a bucket of chems over, and ran over a hose nearly ripping it off the reel.

aaron61 · Guest

I never have any problems :) Oh wait,hose slid off roof broke gun,orings bad,quick connects bad,left chemical tank vavle open drained into mix,hose reel leaking,inlet to hose reel leaking,filled my boots with love. face full of mix,slipped on roof almost fell 2 stories.... This was just last week!

clay · Guest

aaron61 wrote:
I never have any problems :) Oh wait,hose slid off roof broke gun,orings bad,quick connects bad,left chemical tank vavle open drained into mix,hose reel leaking,inlet to hose reel leaking,filled my boots with love. face full of mix,slipped on roof almost fell 2 stories.... This was just last week!

at least its not boring haha

Apex Roof Cleaning · Guest

Wow, that seems like quite the week, at the end of the day, I guess all that matters is the roofs got cleaned.

I'm trying to eliminate future problems by reading about them now, for example.. Do you carry spare O-rings in the truck? Roll of Duct tape? Everyone should have a first-aid kit for our health? But kinda like a first aid kid for our equipment?

Anyone have an equipment checklist?

PreferredSoftWashing · Guest

John Burdine wrote:
i've heard wd40 will swell o rings causing them fail.

NOt sure about it causing them to fail or not. But they DO SWELL a little. Usually just enought that changing nozzles can be really difficult at times. I keep a large supply and change them out often.

Apex Roof Cleaning · Guest

Even though the job went horrible, the results are what matters.

Roof Cleaning Bradenton FL 941-822-2454 · Guest

Checklist for the newer guys compiled from many roof cleaning veterans..

Kim R

Apex Roof Cleaning · Guest

Thanks, Kim is this in a sticky?

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"