Hey guys,
I have been working on improving my margins - I understand I can improve on my pricing, but I want to know what you guys have found to be helpful in terms of tools and processes for speed.
I want to invest in some new tools and looking into things like gutter vacuums, drain jetters, different soft wash systems, etc.
Have you found anything that helps with efficiency?
The best thing to increase your speed is time and practice. My first house wash took like 4 hours and now, in and out in like an hour.
There are a lot of ways to improve efficiency, but it ultimately depends on you and how you work. For me, the biggest “time-saving” equipment upgrades have been hose reels, M5DS, and a downstream injector/bypass system. I also agree with what @mwpws said, and would add that many of the higher-ticket jobs I’ve taken on, while the numbers look great on paper, don’t usually net me what my hourly goal is.
Lately, I’ve been taking a more cautious approach to paver cleaning, sanding, and sealing jobs and wood projects. They always seem to take longer than expected, often come with drainage or leveling issues, and are much more labor-intensive then just house washing/concrete cleaning. My advice is to be selective about the services you offer and the jobs you accept.
Reels over all, adjustable nozzle M5 twist, I still have a drop tube for SH so could be quicker with it automated but haven’t gone that far.
A nice Finish Thompson pump is on my list. I feel like I spend a lot of my day refilling my SH tank for roofs and that would make it quicker.
For gutters and roofs , nothing beats my echo pb 2520. It’s light and is an absolute workhorse. I hemmed and hawwed over spending 280$ on it and I never leave home without it now. I made that money back the very next job i I did. I bought a Stihl backpack blower the 800 model thinking is use that….nope! Very rarely do I ever use it And it’s for driveways only. My better half uses it a few times a year for removing pine needles that accumulate in yard over the winter mostly and she pretty much stole it 
I also use a 6ft pole and gutter cleaning tool that’s a scoop and hook for when I need to be on ladder cleaning them. Saves me a little up and down motion.
Bulletproof injector has been awesome. Haven’t changed mine out in 2 full seasons I believe. Those things would poop the bed randomly sonthts a huge amount of field repair time saved. Speaking of field repairs, if you use 12v pumps setting them up for camlocks (plastic, not metal) and having a couple pre set up and gooped makes a bad pump change super quick. I keep a 5 gallon bucket for this swap. Put the 12. In there, depressurize it first of course, and then pop the camlocks off while it’s in bucket to save your clothes, hands, legs, etc and then re camlock new pump in.
I think that’s a fair amount of stuff. Hope this helps.
This is an amalgamation of many postiions over the years in all the books I have read. I hold these ideas to be facts, not theories.
Organization is the key to efficiency. Efficiency increases productivity. Increased productivity leads to increased income and potentially profits.
I won’t break it down for you, but contemplate each part and it should help. Organized equipment, trailer/truck/shop, organized work flow, no wasted trips to the truck while on the job. Empty hands on the way back are wasted hands.
Nothing like doing this job and seeing what you never thought of initially for setup that REALLY annoys you now.
This is how I left my truck at end of last season. You know how I know this? Because old Joe left it for future Joe to deal with. And now future Joe is present Joe, and annoyed with past Joe.
I always start the season with organized truck and usually it’s one big mechanical breakdown away from just getting blown up and bugging me for the rest of the season as I almost never take maintenance days and band aid everything until end of season.
This next year will be better as I’ve moved into a boat condo and have room and heat to work on things. I promise!
For my soft wash setup, I decided that I needed an easier way to get to really high or hard to reach areas without getting on a ladder or a roof. I mounted a nozzle to the end of a 24’ extension pole in such a way I could angle it. I then 3D printed a clip that holds one of the injectors I use to the pole. Instead of a quick connect on the output of the injector I simply have a barb fitting for the extra hose. I’ve already used it a few times this year and it’s so much easier than getting out a ladder. Also, those impossible to reach area above garages and what not that needed you to get on the roof to reach are no problem. Go up several feet on the ladder, extend this out and angle the nozzle how you need to.
Thats very neat. I think I made a post regarding the telescopic applicator a while ago.
What flow rate/hose diameter are you using for this? Does the hose go straight from the 12V pump or is there a connection piece between the main pump hose to a small diameter hose for the pole?
Thanks
For this pole, I’m using a smaller flow rate injector, so it’s only a #20 nozzle. It’s 5/16” ID hose, so more than enough for this nozzle. I use a 0020, so I get good distance and control. It’s only for those areas I can’t normally reach, so no need for a ton of flow. Water is supplied from my own design booster system. 100 psi through a garden hose. Cleaner is pulled from a jug right to the injector on the pole.
