Here is an email I just received from the design team at Northern Tool. They do care about us roof cleaners, and want to get input from me about their roof cleaning pumps!
Hello Chris,
Thanks for all the information and feedback on our pumps and roof cleaning. It is extremely helpful to us, so we can continuously improve our products and offerings.
As we discussed over the phone, we are interested in setting up a meeting with you to further discuss the roof cleaning industry and the equipment and chemicals used by the industry. Below is a sample letter we have been sending out that explains what would be involved and what our goal is if we were to do a ride-along. We are still setting up our agenda for the Florida trip, but once we have a better idea of what days we will be free, I will follow up and plan a date and time to meet.
Let me know if you have any questions
Thanks again,
******Sample Letter *******
Dear Cleaning Professional,
Northern Tool & Equipment Manufacturing is an OEM of pressure washing equipment based out of Faribault, Minnesota. We are hoping to visit various pressure washing professionals around the country to observe their washing methods and receive feedback on what features and types of equipment would better serve their needs. We found your company online, and would be interested in setting up a visit on a mutually convenient date.
What would be involved: 4 representatives from Northern Tool & Equipment Manufacturing for one day would like to ride alongside your professional cleaning crew and observe their use of equipment and cleaning methods.
Our Goal: Gather feedback from cleaning experts who use the equipment every day. As manufacturers of this equipment, we think this is a valuable learning experience to help the cleaning professional and build better cleaning equipment.
Observations and questions we would have during the ride along:
1) Pressure washing equipment specifications
2) Accessories used
3) Chemicals used and application methods
4) Pressure washer and garden hose management
5) Sourcing of water
6) Environmental certifications or concerns
7) Equipment or accessory wish list (ideas for improvement either equipment or accessories)
8) Maintenance methods (Work on equipment themselves or bring to mechanic)
9) Opinions on improved burner fuel economy
10) Opinions on Noise levels for equipment
11) Enclosed trailer to open trailer
12) Are they using an enclosed box truck
13) Where do you buy your current equipment and supplies
14) How important is the following
a. Fuel efficiency
b. Maintenance costs
c. Brand, Brand image, brand acceptance
d. Product look
e. Quality
15) What is your equipment used for
16) Do you keep replacement parts on hand
17) Do you have a place to store accessories
What’s in it for you:
1) We can offer a $500 Gift Card to Northern Tool & Equipment
2) Suggestions and procedures to simplify work & improve productivity. Three of our representatives have received training in Kaizen, Toyota’s Lean manufacturing Method, and practice this method currently at our facility.
3) Being experts in the field of tools and equipment as well as having over 30 years of experience in manufacturing and testing pressure washing equipment and accessories, we hope to offer accessory suggestions and equipment to make your jobs easier, faster and ultimately more profitable.
Feel free to give me a call or shot me an e-mail if this sounds like something you would be interested in.
We will be in Orlando Nov 1st – the 6th for the PWNA, CETA, AND ISSA show. Tuesday the 4th could be a possible date that would work for us, however we are open to other days as well in or around the time we will be in Florida.
Thanks for your time in advance, and look forward to discussing the possibility of a ride along further.
We had Northern Tool here at our Houston UAMCC convention, I speak with them on a regular basis. They really want to reach out to the Mobile Cleaning Industry and get our input.
As an option,..it would be nice to have a gas powered pump that was as resilient to SH as the air pumps we use now. As I understand it, the Udors being used are around $1200.00 and have to be rebuilt every year at a cost of $250.00. In my opinion that is not a roof cleaning pump,but a pump used for roof cleaning and then dies. My ALL-Flo lasted 5 years, and only "broke" because I was careless and let it freeze last Winter. It was also still operating the same as it did from day one. I did replace the air motor last year at a cost of around $60.00,..acceptable repair cost for a pump with that much time on it.
Don't get me wrong, I like the Versa-Matic I'm using now and have faith it will last,..but,..I would maybe like the option of a gas powered pump that has more PSI and is resistant to SH as the air pumps.
As of now,..the air pumps are the only pumps that will reliably and consistently handle roof strength cleaner over an extended period of use,..like 3 to five years without any maintenance.
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
As an option,..it would be nice to have a gas powered pump that was as resilient to SH as the air pumps we use now. As I understand it, the Udors being used are around $1200.00 and have to be rebuilt every year at a cost of $250.00. In my opinion that is not a roof cleaning pump,but a pump used for roof cleaning and then dies. My ALL-Flo lasted 5 years, and only "broke" because I was careless and let it freeze last Winter. It was also still operating the same as it did from day one. I did replace the air motor last year at a cost of around $60.00,..acceptable repair cost for a pump with that much time on it.
Don't get me wrong, I like the Versa-Matic I'm using now and have faith it will last,..but,..I would maybe like the option of a gas powered pump that has more PSI and is resistant to SH as the air pumps.
As of now,..the air pumps are the only pumps that will reliably and consistently handle roof strength cleaner over an extended period of use,..like 3 to five years without any maintenance.
Jeff
I have heard the UDOR Story before, and have one in pieces in my Shed!
They never rebuild right, the chlorine attacks them, sorry to say Stainless Steel is not chlorine resistant.
Yes, the added pressure makes them spray well, but the John Blue PP 193 is a far superior pump, if you want a pump that is on borrowed time.
There IS a gas powered pump that IS totally SH resistant, it is from Wanner Engineering, but it will set you back nearly 2500.00 !
Hey Chris, yea,.I should have mentioned,..it would be nice to have the pump I described,..but in the $400-$600 range,...Ha,Ha,...Not enough benefit to spend an additional $2000.00 + on a pump.
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Hey Chris, yea,.I should have mentioned,..it would be nice to have the pump I described,..but in the $400-$600 range,...Ha,Ha,...Not enough benefit to spend an additional $2000.00 + on a pump.
Jeff
u will need about 3 grand for one of these Jeff http://www.hydra-cell.com/product/D04-hydracell-pump.html
But, if u shop around, u can usually find one of these in the 600.00 range! This will EAT a Udor (it has double the flow), and lasted us mush longer then the UDOR's.
These John Blue pumps shoot very well, and are only 700 dollars Jeff, and all u do is bolt them to a Gas Motor http://www.dultmeier.com/products/search/7807
BTW, the company Duitmeyer has the John Blue DP 193 for only 600.00 !!!!!!!!!
But then, you have to buy the transmission extra.
-- Edited by Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 on Sunday 28th of September 2014 05:47:30 PM
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Hey Chris, I've considered the John Blue but I thought they changed them,..and now they don't hold up as well?? Maybe I'm mistaken.
Actually,..not even sure why I brought it up,..the air pumps fit the bill almost 100% for my needs anyhow.
Jeff
Yes they did change them Jeff, the old ones are what we used for many years, back when I was still working. They had Viton Valves and some kind of poly valve springs.
Honestly, before John Blue merged with CDS, I used to get them for 450.00 shipped, so who gave a flip when they broke ?
I got from 6 months to a year max out of them after they changed them, the old ones lasted longer.
Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 wrote:
Thanks for the info Chris!
Jeff
You are very welcome Jeff
Don Phelps used that little John Blue Pump that you can get for 700.00, and swore by it for many many years, and so did Mel Everett from Vero Under Pressure. It features very very easy valve and valve spring changes, and is over 200 PSI at about a real 5 GPM.
Hey, wanna hear the latest "craze" Jeff ? People are buying the little Harbor Freight air compressor, and "Hot Rodding" the Predator motor !!!!!!!!!!!
They re jet the carb, add a header and high flow air filter, etc, etc, etc.
The Harbor Freight air compressor has proven to be a real workhorse, and is only 500.00 !