How To Build A Softwash System

How to Build a Budget Soft Wash System

How to Build a Soft Launder Organization

Not everyone can afford to buy a professional soft wash system because they are usually pretty expensive. Hence the reason you desire to know how to build ane yourself! If you lot can't afford information technology, build information technology! That is what nosotros did.

We have prepared some guidelines on how we would personally go on. We are not proverb it is better or worse, information technology is just what we would do. Although information technology isn't the simplest of things, if you do it well enough, you should take a pretty decent soft washing setup that tin can generate money on a daily basis. I can personally say that our few hundred dollar chemic pumps have generated us a lot more money than our few yard dollar pressure washer pumps…

What is Soft Washing?

Earlier y'all beginning building yourself a soft wash organization, we want to explain a few things about what soft washing is.

Soft washing is a cleaning technique that involves spraying a cleaning solution to eliminate living microorganisms such equally algae, leaner, molds, and mildews. These microorganisms commonly occupy the exterior of structures, especially on the north face and any other shaded areas of the structure. Yous should periodically remove them since they non but look unsightly, they tin can cause deterioration in the quality of roofs and various sidings, become slip-hazards, and even pose some health risks.

The most optimal and flexible option would be to use a soft washing arrangement. I want to emphasize that y'all tin too soft launder with a pressure washer by utilizing a downstream injector and the proper nozzles. That method is useful, still, it limits you in the strength of the cleaning solution that you can employ and is a bit more prone to creating overspray. A soft wash system will allow you to shoot full-strength chlorine if the job calls for information technology. You could never accomplish that with a pressure washer and a downstream injector. The "downstream" process requires at to the lowest degree a 4 to 1 ratio. That would be 80% h2o that is introduced and mixed with the cleaning solution, which ultimately dilutes the strength. However, if the job just calls for a 1% or two% solution, downstreaming can be very time efficient and may be the all-time option!

Nosotros suggest soft washing the outside of structures instead of pressure level washing because it is gentle on the materials. If used incorrectly, a force per unit area washing organisation can permanently damage some normally used exterior materials, especially shingles on a roof! That is why covering manufacturers wouldn't supervene upon damaged shingles that were still under warranty if they know they were cleaned with a pressure washer.

Now that y'all know what soft washing is and its functions, let's get on with how you can build i for yourself.

Principles For Edifice A Soft Launder Organization

At that place are a couple of principles for building soft wash systems that I want yous to keep in mind.

Showtime, hose bore. Simply put, the bigger the better. Your organization volition function much more efficiently utilizing 3/4″ instead of 1/two″ hose. The but downfall to going with iii/4″ are the weight and cost. But as far as functionality for the actual soft wash system, 3/4″ is far superior.

The same logic applies to electrical. The bigger the better…

Next, when plumbing (or wiring) everything together, think nearly the path of least resistance. When you mount everything, you lot don't desire any hard ninety caste turns or U-turns. The shorter and smoother the run, the better. Meaning, you don't want a 15′ intake line doing a agglomeration of turns. Or your battery mounted 10′ abroad from your pump and switch.

How to Build a Budget Soft Launder System

What yous volition need

• bleach tank (Information technology is recommended to buy a 55 gallon drum locally for $20-$40)
• 250′ of i/2″ hose or five/8″ hose (combing garden hoses will also work)
• short non-collapsible hose
• stainless steel hose clamps
• soft launder gun (DIY guns are possible)
• 12-volt on-demand chemic pump (should take Viton/FKM seals)
• 3/four″ hose barb quick disconnect (for 12-volt pump and volition work with 5/8″ hose)
• 1/ii″ hose barb quick disconnect (needed if you purchase ane/two″ hose)
• 12-volt marine battery (It is recommended to buy a 12-volt battery locally for $100-$150)
• battery charger
• ability switch
• Inline fuse
• SAE to SAE electrical wire (optional)

Connect the pump to the 12-volt battery with the power switch and the inline fuse.

Check to brand sure the pump is fully functional before moving forwards.

Plumb the 1x short non-collapsible hose to the intake of the 12-volt pump utilizing a stainless steel hose clamp. Drop the other end of that short hose into your bleach tank. I would non employ an actual "driblet stick". I would run the intake hose THROUGH a piece of PVC so driblet that into the tank at most.

Cut one end and plumb the 1x long hose to the outlet of the 12-volt pump utilizing the other stainless steel hose clamp. 5/8″ hose will piece of work with 3/4″ hose barb. There 2 means that I recommend going nigh getting 5/8″ hose to go over a three/4″ hose barb. Starting time, employ a heat gun to warm up the hose. Second, I would boil some water and dip the finish of the hose in the hot water and and then speedily pull it out of the water and slide the hose affront in.

Connect the soft wash gun on the other end of the long hose.

Done.

There are a million ways to peel a true cat, merely know that your pump should be mounted and everything else should be tied down and secured. Tipping over 55 gallons of roof mix can accept disastrous side effects. Keep your eyes out for a blog that goes more into depth on how we mount our soft wash system.

Sodium Hypochlorite, Surfactant, Water

Now that you have your soft wash system upwardly and running, you will demand to know the right chemicals and concentrations. All professionals employ sodium hypochlorite, amend known equally chlorine, to get rid of algae, mold, and mildew. Soap is added as a wetting agent, to permit the active ingredient to stay wet and work longer. Laundry detergents are as well quite safety for use with chlorine but at that place are also professional-form surfactants that tin be bought from reputable pressure washer supply houses. And lastly h2o is added to create different dilutions…

Sodium hypochlorite at the correct concentration is the name of the game. That is a whole different animal that volition have to be tackled in another blog. Just know that house washes usually crave a one% to 3% solution to clean, and roofs usually require three% to 7%. Yous may have to hit gutters or some problem areas with 10% for the desired results.

The essence of soft washing, unlike force per unit area washing, is to kill molds, mildews, and algae with the utilise of chemicals, not pressure wash them and accident them all around the belongings.

I cleaned this roof with a five GPM 12-volt pump

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Q: Is a soft wash system different from a pressure washer arrangement?

•  A: Aye. A soft wash arrangement uses a chemic pump, while a pressure level washer uses a pressure washer pump. A pressure washer pump requires water. Only after the pump can whatever type of chemical be introduced into the system. A soft wash system can pump actual chemical with no h2o if demand exist.

• Q: Is soft washing safe for firm roofs?

•  A: Not simply is it safe, information technology is recommended past the American Roof Manufactures of Clan

• Q: Should I soft wash regularly?

• A: This would depend on the material. Vinyl or aluminum sidings can last years, while more than porus materials may require cleaning more often.

Read Likewise: Tampa Bay Soft Wash And Pressure Cleaning Formulas, Top 3 Reasons To Hire A Professional Gutter Cleaning Company

In Summary

We promise the steps nosotros accept detailed hither help you in your quest to brand soft washing affordable. Every bit y'all might accept noticed, all you lot need is a fiddling elbow grease. If you get overwhelmed and would like to hire a professional soft washing company, don't hesitate to contact u.s.!

Disclosure: Links contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we volition receive a pocket-size commission that is at no price to y'all. Give thanks you for supporting Tampa Bay Soft Wash & Force per unit area Cleaning and allowing us to proceed to bring you content.

Source: https://tbsoftwash.com/how-to-build-a-budget-soft-wash-system/

Share this post