I’ve recently come across EBC and wondering if anyone has made the switch to that from the standard bleach mix for residential house washing. What were your results?
You still need bleach. EBC is a soap
Right, I understand that. But if I’m comprehending the use of EBC correctly, you can use much less bleach. The examples I saw used 16 ounces of EBC, half gallon of bleach and 4.5 gallons water, downstreamed. I’m currently softwashing with a dedicated pump and am looking to switch to downstreaming and this appeared to be a more cost effective method. The less bleach I can can use, the better, imo. From a cost perspective as well as how much risk there is with plants and whatnot.
Bj WelchKNB Exteriors410-635-1160www.knbexteriors.comFacebook.com/knbgutters
Using soap does not mean you use much less SH. The soap (EBC) just helps the SH penetrate further into the surface for a better clean and aid in keeping your mix “wetter”. Soaps such as roof snot, dragon grip, ect will help the SH “cling” to the surface better and not run down the wall as much. That will help with not having to re-soap an area and save a little $.
16 oz is a lot of ebc for a 5ver. Most soaps are 1oz to one gal of mix. Also 1/2 gal of SH to 4.5 water is week for down streaming.
Realistically using a dedicated pump vs down streaming you will use the same amount of SH on a house. With a dedicated pump you use less SH in the mix tank but go through more mix.
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This topic has a wide variety og responses. In a typical DS scenario, I would use a 50/50 of SH (2.5 gallons) and water (2.5 gallons), plus surfactant. But EBC mixes I’ve seen online only use a half gallon of bleach. And a 5 gallon bucket of EBC, if using 16 ounces, will do 40 average size homes. What am I missing?
Also, everything I’ve read about EBC says that it’s a degreaser as well. Commercial guys I see using it to pretreat gas stations and drivethrus only mix the EBC with water to remove oil stains…
Bj WelchKNB Exteriors410-635-1160www.knbexteriors.comFacebook.com/knbgutters
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So, why would you want to put a degreaser on vinyl or a painted surface? Read up on who sells what and their history in the industry. A lot of guys have done a lot to harm the industry, and a lot still are.
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Even though i have seen some who have used EBC on houses, it can mess with the oxidation of the house. Most use EBC for flat work.
Another thing you have to realize is that everyone’s ratios are different for different parts of the country and how thick the dirt and mold is on the house/surface. I DS straight 10% most of the time.
The mix you posted is probably for a commercial DS application of a drive through, gas station, ect where you dont need as much SH.
I don’t necessarily “want” to put degreaser on a house. I’m just always looking for ways to improve efficiency (time and cost)and the final result. I encountered the topic of EBC completely on accident, so I’m diving a bit deeper into it. As I quickly discovered in this business, the opinions and methods vary greatly…more than I’ve seen in any other business. So it takes a bit more digging to really get a true perspective. Would you personally only recommend DSing with SH on homes? Also, what do you think is the best surfactant for a DS setup?
Bj WelchKNB Exteriors410-635-1160www.knbexteriors.comFacebook.com/knbgutters
Thanks for input Dante. If you DS straight 10% what would you suggest for dilution if you were using 12.5%?
Bj WelchKNB Exteriors410-635-1160www.knbexteriors.comFacebook.com/knbgutters
Cheaper by the drum. About $900
We mix one 12ounce ceramic coffee mug tied to a string to 65 gallons of downstream mix( about 20 gallons 12.5 and 40ish gallons of water or until it foams out) It boosts the bleach and allows for much easier rinsing.
Whew. With my current softwash setup, I’m using 4 gallons of SH with 25 gallons of water. So I’d be using about 8 gallons of SH for 60 gallons of mix, but your downstream mix takes 20 gallons? I assume to compensate for the additional dilution from the machine? Correct me if I’m wrong, but would it seem my method is far less expensive in terms of SH usage?
Bj WelchKNB Exteriors410-635-1160www.knbexteriors.comFacebook.com/knbgutters
I think your math is off and I’m not really looking to save money on bleach use. I don’t do many houses anymore. 25 or so on a good week. Mainly were do apartments but to put in in context, my 65 gallon downstream tanks will wash about 6 houses before having to top off again. So $40 in bleach and $3 in elemanator produces 6 $200 housewash jobs. Don’t over think it. Nothing we do is rocket science. A trained monkey could do this job 
. My machines are 8 gpm of you are still working the numbers
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Depends on what your injector pulls. If your using a 10:1 (water/SH) injector than using strait 12.5 would put you at 1.25% hitting the wall. Also longer lengths of hose, size nozzle, the trigger gun, all affect this ratio. Just play with your mix. If you try a 50/50 mix DS and it takes to long add more SH. Its good to know your ratios but dont let it over whelm you.
I have the Exact same questions about EBC in the context of the application(s) you are wondering about, so I’m following this post with great interest!
Man, I really am small potatos compared to some of you guys, lol. 25 house washes on a good week? I have trouble maintaining a full schedule! How do you keep that much work.coming in??
Bj WelchKNB Exteriors410-635-1160www.knbexteriors.comFacebook.com/knbgutters
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Hmm…good advice. I’m going to use the injector that came with the machine. How can I tell what it’s pulling?
Bj WelchKNB Exteriors410-635-1160www.knbexteriors.comFacebook.com/knbgutters
Hang in there. I started in 1998. Most properties that we do can be done in 4 days. They are all pretty much the same. I book houses and residential stuff for fridays and try to have everyone done by noon. Doesn’t always work that way. I turn down a lot more work than we do but a lot of that is older customers who i gave way to low prices 15 years ago anyway.
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Stick the pick up tube in a 16 oz pepsi bottle and pull the trigger. Do the math based on your gpm. Better yet. Don’t worry about it. If it isn’t coming clean quick enough, add some more bleach.
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Lol, will do. Thanks for the tips man.
Bj WelchKNB Exteriors410-635-1160www.knbexteriors.comFacebook.com/knbgutters
Damn! U have 18 years experience in the bizz… how’s ur knees and back holding up?
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