Applying Chemicals

[MONTIJ]

I'm new to the business and could use some information.
My pressure washer owners manuel states Not to apply any chemicals containing bleach( suppose it could mess up pump)
Although tring to find chemicals I can use, I cannot find what I could use to remove mold and mildew but bleach and water
which I have to apply with a hand pump sprayer. Is there a product I could use that would remove mildew that wouldnot
mess up my machine and still be cost effective?
Thanks montij

 

[Dave Olson]

Hello Montij,

We use hose end sprayers to apply most all of our products.

It has a slide bar on the top so we can adjust the amount (mixture) of product that we apply. Can apply as high as 3-1.

Dave Olson

 

[ron]

you need to use a ''DOWNSTREAM'' injector or a X JET[at the wand tip] type of injector both are AFTER the pump anything you do run threw your pump,lines,gun,tips make sure you RINSE with clean water with the downstream you have to apply chems. with LOW PRESSURE or they will not draw into the hose[you will need to use the soap nozzle to apply]. If you need to apply chem at a distance you will need the[at the tip type] as you would need for house washing. All of these things can be bought from the sponsers here on this site. also when spraying bleach where a mask and on knowing how much bleach to use in your mix will depend on the ratio of chem that is comeing out of the wand. An X-JET will put it on in much higher volume then with say a downstream injector. For me i use one gal. blech for every 15 gal of water that comes out of the tip. Water down all plant life first and cover everything brass or brass plate. hope this helps

 

[Jon]

Montij,

I use a Shur-flo pump.

 

[Mike Hughes]

I use the xjet nozzle. No chemicals will ever pass thru your pump......just water.........the way it should be.

Allows you to spray cleaners up to the second floor and beyond......quickly and easily.

 

[Rex Winslow]

Definitely use the xjet. I never run anything through my pumps but water. Cuts way down on the maintenance.

 

[Barry Loy]

x-jet

I use the X-Jet also. It's a great tool for spraying your chemicals like Mike stated up to the second floor.
Barry Loy

 

[ghouchu]

x-jet

is the pressure on the x-jet adjustable? looks like i'm gonna do my 1st house, and i'm thinking of getting an x-jet, but i understand it's pretty high pressure and you need to stand 10 feet or so back from the house. this house is on a small lot and on one of the sides i wouldn't be able to get more than maybe 4 feet from the house, a 1 story. can i reduce the pressure? should i spray the side from a sharp angle? thanks for any advice you can give.

richard

 

[Mike Hughes]

Either stand back and do the best you can........or...........buy the "Close Range Attachment". It is basically a fan tip that screws into the end of the xjet, allowing you to spray things that are up close, like porch ceilings, tight first floor spots, etc.

Costs about $11.

 

[ghouchu]

thank you, mike

 

[Harold Brantley]

I know it boils down to personal preference, but I really don't understand why so many of you like the x-jet so much.

I bought one 1.5 years ago and only used it once or twice. I liked one thing about it, the ability to put high percentage chemicals up 2 to 3 stories, but I found another way to do this without all of the things I didn't like about the x-jet.

I didn't like 1) having to carry the chemicals around with you while washing, 2) having only a zerro degree nozzle (now somewhat rectified), 3) having to play around with lots of different orifices, 4) having to manipulate your wand, x-jet hose and ball valve all at the same time.

After trying and not really liking to use the x-jet, I started buying and playing around with various nozzle sizes and degrees. About $150.00 later I came up with what I think is an ideal combination of low and high pressure nozzles to wash any house or building up to 3 stories high with gables. I now use only six quick connect nozzles, 3 different degrees and in 2 different nozzle sizes. One set (high & low pressure) is for 3rd story work, one set is for 1st & 2nd story work and the last set is for porches and up close work. I also carry a turbo for brick or concrete work at ground level.

I don't know if I have said this clear enough for you to understand, but these six nozzles allow me to wash a house very rapidly without missing a spot. I can move rapidly because my chemicals are back at the power washer, not on my back or at my side. If your chemicals do their job, a good low pressure rinse is all that is needed.

This may not make sense to you, but it sure works for me. Now what do you think? Let me have your comments, questions, etc.

 

[ghouchu]

harold, i'm a rookie, so please bear with me. as i understand you, you're running your chemical through the pressure washer and applying it with your all-purpose wand through selected nozzles. right? as far as i know, my devilbiss excel, 3500 psi, 4gpm pw, w/ 13hp honda engine will only apply chemical at low pressure--through the standard chemical nozzle that came with the unit. so i think i need some kind of downstream (i think that's the term) injecter. your complaints about the x-jet would seem to apply to any separate injection device. if i'm wrong, how about straightening me out. if i'm right, is the x-jet as good as or better than any other downstream chemical injecter, based on your various experiments?

thanks

richard

 

[Larry L.]

I couldn't agree with you more Harold,even to leaving the chemicals on the rig where they belong.I stopped the chemical hole up on my x-jet and use it for knocking mud and trash off farm eqt.,its the only use I have for it,I too have special nozzles on Q.C.

 

[Clean County]

Harold,

Ok so how do you get the chemicals up to lets say a third floor by just changing the tip? A low pressure tip which only has about 60psi coming out of it to draw the chemical will not shoot the chemical up to high. How do you use a 0 degree tip to draw chemicals? IF you have a special tip for this myself and others would be interested no doubt.

I have something similiar to the x-jet and I also agree with you about not wanting to carry the chemicals around so I do it a different way also. But my way doesn't seem to be any easier then using the x-jet. What I do is I have a ball valve at the end of my hose which alows me to change wands at any time. So I put my extendable wand next to me when I'm cleaning and at the end of this wand I have the chemical tip. THis wand can open to 24' so I can get the chemical anywhere with more precision.

Like I said my way works best for me. But your way sounds a heck of alot better then mine or using the x-jet.

So if you could can you say where you got these nozzles. And also explain in more detail how you put soap on a third floor of a house? It seems to me that you use a regular size wand with probably a 0 degree tip to do this. Is that correct? Please explain. Thanks -John-

 

[Harold Brantley]

Richard, the x-jet is a downstream injector, I just think it is way too far downstream. Your machine should work fine with its downstream injector on the washer but after the pump. The standard chemical nozzle that came with the machine won't allow you to put chemicals up 3 stories high. Read the following response to John.

John, think about why a chemical nozzle draws chemical and a pressure nozzle doesn't. It's low pressure versus high pressure. For each machines specs, psi & gpm there is a nozzle size that will give the rated maximum pressure for your machine. Example: 3k psi, 4 gpm uses a 4.5 nozzle size to achieve the 3k psi. As you slowly increase the nozzle size, the pressure slowly drops but you will still get the full rated gpm. Now on the other end of nozzle sizes, a lot of chemical nozzles are 40 or 50 which is very large and drops the pressure very low but still gives the full rated gpm. They have a fan shaped pattern and will not throw the chemical very far. By reason, there has to be a nozzle size somewhere between the pressure (4.5) and chemical (40 or 50) size where this change over occurs. This is where I spent all of the money buying many, many different nozzles and degrees. For the 3k psi, 4 gpm machine I found that this change over occured somewhere between a size 15 and 20 nozzle. Therefore I now use a 0 & 15 deg, size 20 nozzle for most chemical applications. The 0 deg will put chemical up 3 stories and the 15 deg will cover the 1st and 2nd stories. You can use a 40 deg in a size 40 or 50 for inside porches and other close up work. What I also found out through trial and error was that I would rather rinse with a size 10 nozzle instead of the 4.5. If my chemical has done its job then I don't need high pressure to rinse, but I still get the full gpm. I now use a 0 & 15 deg, size 10 nozzle for most rinse work. I think the 0 deg, size 10 nozzle throws water further than the size 4.5 nozzle. To rinse porches, close up and delicate items, I use a 40 deg, size 4.5 nozzle.

Sorry for the long response. Hope this is clear and helpful. Remember the nozzle sizes I stated are for 3k psi, 4 gpm machines. They will be different for larger psi and gpm machines.

 

[ghouchu]

harold, thanks for the long answer, it was what i needed. now, if i have this right, i can get a chemical injector that installs downstream from the pump but at the top of the hose (by the pw) rather than at the end of the hose just befor the wand. do i have that right? do these top of hose injectors have names i can look for?

you've been a fountain of helpful information and i very much appreciate it, especially as i am about to try my first house washing.

richard

 

[GutterUP]

THANK YOU!

Harold;

Thats some good stuff! I've been thinking about how to use different nozzle sizes to apply chem, and your experience should save me some $$$ and time in trial & error. Great post!!!

 

[Harold Brantley]

Richard, Most machines like yours come with a downstream injector. Follow the water path, first a water filter, second the pump, third to the unloader valve, fourth to the downstream injector and fifth through your hose. Some unloader valves are mounted directly to the pump and you may think it is part of the pump. Also the downstream injector can be made as part of the unloader valve or separately with or without an adjustment knob. If your machine came with some clear tubing, that is for chemical injection.

GutterUP, thanks, you can get the different nozzle sizes from any good power washer supply house. The D*lco people in Texas have a good variety. They ones you will need don't usually come in the quick connect variety so you have to buy 1/4" quick connect plugs with female threads.

Everone, do let me know how you come out and what you think of this method versus the x-jet method of chemical application.

 

[MONTIJ]

chemical application

Harold

Would the size nozzles you stated for appling chemicals on your 3000psi, 4gpm also work on 3500psi 4gpm?

Would appreciate your response

 

[Greg/sd]

Thats how Ive been doing it for years. I use 1520/2520 nozzles for chemical application works great. Its alot faster than carrying jugs of chemical around. If you put your chem hose in your tank it works good for rinsing to.