They’re 2 completely different animals
@Racer, are you referring to Klingon and Elemonator? as 2 completely different animals? If so, aren’t they both used to suspend the solution onto verticle surfaces long enough for the chems to kill the biologicals?
Read their respective descriptions - Kling-on a thickener, similar to roof snot - it’s made to help the hang time - Reason I carry different soaps, they all have their strengths and purposes.
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SO, why use Elemonator? How does the surfactant that is superior to Klingon help if the lesser thickening agent in Elemonator won’t keep the solution on the vertical surface?
Hey Rowdie @squidskc , can you get the same volume of H2O through that as you do the XJet? Does that enable you to mix the solution at the trailer to get the same results as XJet without the bucket or two hoses? Didn’t I see that bad boy at HD?
Two different applications. Klingon is foe roofs, or your brick chimneys. Elemonator increases the strength of the bleach, allows for quicker rinsing, keeps windows from drying in the sun and spotting. Xjet to brodies nozxleis not apples to apples. His is a 40. We don’t know what size orifice your xjet is
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It is a downstream nozzle so that should answer your last 2 questions
The only surfaces that I WASN’T required to hit twice or more using Elemonator was vinyl siding. Again, the disclaimer that there are too many variables to isolate cause and effect yet. HOWEVER, even with straight 12.5 HP and 1c Klingon per 5 gal, my own roof failed to come clean in my XJet experiment Friday:
You may be able to see the black at the pinnacle of the roof in the second and third pics where the little beasties survived my onslaught Friday, and in the first pic, I suppose the Klingon just didn’t hold the solution up there on that fairly steep pitch long enough to finish the biologicals off. BTW, do those little creatures have a name that anyone knows?
Can’t consistently wash roofs with xjet. Can’t get strong enough solution. 50% strength at best.
Gloeocapsa Magma is the true culprit that causes black streaks on roofs and surfaces. Other forms of microorganisms can be found in union with the bacteria, including mold, fungi, algae, mildew, lichen, and moss. The main culprit of most roof staining that causes prevalent black streaks is a bacteria called Gloeocapsa Magma. Many of the organisms that grow on a roof, including mildew, algae, bacteria, moss, lichen, and fungi, copulate in the warm, moist environment created by a roof.
Plus, many roofing surfaces are made with materials that can be metabolized by these microorganisms, such as shingles that now contain limestone that algae, mildew, and bacteria will absorb their nutrients and feed off the shingles.
That same Cyanobacteria Gloeocapsa Magma found on roofs will grow on wood, concrete, siding, aluminum, and other surfaces as well. The good news is that through soft washing, these stains/microorganisms can be safely removed! In regards to other possible culprits inhabiting a roof, many nitrogen fixing blue-green algae will grow in areas with little to no nutrients. They are able to sustain themselves because nitrogen fixing organisms have the ability to create nutrients solely through the nodules on their filament root systems. That is why here at SoftWash Systems, we believe that treatment of a roof or surface is more beneficial to rid the source of the staining rather than just blasting away at the surface!
Found this at www.Softwashsystems.com
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Reason you can get more consistent results with a direct system, 12v, air, booster or whatever. You can get the precise mixture you need.
You keep trying shortcuts. Do the jobs you’ve got the equipment to handle and slowly build up your arsenal of equipment. Get to be really good at one thing first.
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I certainly concur with attempting shortcuts and intended to wait until Spring to move to roofs, but already have several (mine included) that need to be cleaned. I feel that I should probably make that move sooner than Spring. Also, I need to refinish my deck and have two customers that want the same. I replaced a lot of wood last Spring. Have several folks that want me to restain and PW their fencing next week. I think to gain mastery over these services should keep me busy. I guess that’s the problem at this stage of the game: I fear inactivity and hope to be GOOD at a range of services. I’m probably not GOOD at any of them yet. You guys are a big help, as are the folks at window cleaning resource. I wonder if there’s a fence and deck renewal resource association?
I don’t know, but I get your point. Roofs are dirty here, and I’ve already walked away from several that I can get when I’m ready. I won’t be using that XJet to clean roofs and don’t want to climb up on the roofs, so I need to be able to get further up than the XJet will reach with a strong solution of chems. 12v pump and my 28’ WFP might be just to ticket, but I’m still researching. I know you’re shooting with a cannon these days (8,5), but I’m currently restricted to just under 5 on both of my machines ( @squidskc scared me into getting a Honda backup when I bought my Predator). Right now, the jobs I have the equipment to handle are quite limited, and I don’t want to leave any more money on the table. Heck, I can’t afford to leave money on the table.
How do YOU get solution onto roofs? Isn’t there a video around here that you produced of a roof cleaning? I saw a video of someone wielding a long PVC pipe up from the ground to spray a roof once, and I think I can do better with my carbon fiber pole.
There are 3 main ways that people treat roofs by direct application – 12V, air compressor, and booster pump. 12V is the most common, and cheapest way to do it. The one i recommended to you in the xjet wizard thread is a highly regarded pump for roofs.
According to racers trailer build 2 video, he is currently using a 12V.
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Forget your WFP for roofs. Don’t have a clue what you would use it for in relation to a roof unless you were maybe doing a metal roof. But there is no one in the world that uses a WFP for roofs that I know of. To do them right you’re going to need to invest about $1000-$1200, plus ladders. The good thing is the pay back is extremely quick if you can get a few jobs. Until you can do them right, just focus on what you can do quickly and efficiently and focus on marketing those services.
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'Nuff said. I will abandon the WFP idea. SO, how do you clean roofs with extreme pitches that you cannot walk on?
Get on youtube and watch videos. See what others are using for steep roofs. That should answer your question
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7 GPM electric pump…
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Biggest factors effecting my wash time on a house are dwell time, weather & rinse time.
Many houses I clean have a heavy mildew build up on the bottom edge of the siding, sometimes even on the south or east facing sides. This bottom edge holds moisture & is shaded for more hours of the day so this mildew build up can be significant & requires a longer dwell time & often a 2nd or even 3rd application of wash solution. I’ll dial up my proportioner from 1.5% to 2% (12.5 SH) if there are no delicate plants nearby & this will speed things up a bit.
If is hot, dry, & sunny, I can only do 1 1/2 to 2 sides at a time with out having surfaces dry up before rinse. I really don’t like a surface (especially windows) to dry out before I rinse. Would be curious how others feel about this? I use Elemonator by the way, just enough to show suds.
I am pretty conscientious when I rinse: indirect rinsing, rinsing with the grain, attention to windows, front & back patio, knocking down wasp nests as best I can. But some homes just weep dirt worse than others & take longer to finess those weepers on siding & windows.
I have always applied wash solution from the bottom up. That seems to be the standard but I have been wondering if it really matters? Conventional wisdom would seem that it shouldn’t. If it washes, it washes… right?
If you soap top to bottom you run the risk of dirt running down the siding and it can create stains. That’s my understanding.
Can you explain why that is in more detail? I’m not sure I understand why top to bottom is any different than bottom to top.
