How many gallons?

[Mike Hughes]

Does anyone know how many gallons of water they use to wash your typical size two story colonial house??

I landed a job today washing one that has no water available......and I have a 325 gallon tank. I really want to avoid going there twice, this job's really in the sticks........and a very difficult driveway to get my trailer into.............so, I am hoping to only go there once!

I run at 5.5GPM's...........so I have just under an hour's worth of water................This will be a challenge...........I think I'll fall about 50 gallons short...........thats my gut feeling.

 

[ron]

ron p

you are the only one that can ans. that question.
too meny vairables
shur-flo for appling chem? x-jet? are you doing the gutters? do you use which type of application for the gutters?
do you rinse the grass twice? any sidewalks need doing?
typical 2 story for you may not be to me. What type of sideing?
now that i have busted your chopps bad enuff
just take 1 or 2 plastic 55 gal drums and put them on your rig and fill them up
when your tank is about 1/2 empty use your flo-jet to transfer the water to your main tank.

 

[Mike Hughes]

Well, it's vinyl, thankfully.........and I plan to spray the chem with an xjet (that wont take much).

No flat work to be done, and it appears that I will not have to use zap on the gutters.

Interior sq footage of this house is probably 2400.

 

[Richard R.]

Mike,
I'm kinda like you. I would have my doubts, but it sounds like Ron's idea might work.
I can't figure out why a colonial house doesn't have water to it.
If it's new, why does it need washed?
If it's been there a while, why doesn't it have water to it already?
Why is it so important to wash the house before the water is hooked up to it?
Am I missing something here?
Do they have a neighbor that would help with your water supply?
Maybe they know someone a mile away that would let you fill your tank up once again.
Is there a pond, lake or small cattle tank that you could sump pump your second water supply?

Richard R.

 

[Mike Hughes]

There is a lake nearby, but we are in a drought, and I'm sure it would be frowned upon.........and I dont have a pump anyway!

It is older house, maybe 40 yrs...........with a problematic well pump...........plus the drought.......so, the customer is insisting that I don't use the water, in fact, it won't be turned on.

That's the deal.

 

[Aplus]

If you could crank down your gpm to about 4, you'd probably buy yourself enough time, you'd have 81 minutes. I do houses with 4gpm cold water washers all the time. You don't need big gpm to do vinyl anyway. But I've never really paid attention to how much water I've used. With the proper planning, I think you could do it.

 

[Larry L.]

Why not use a size 4 tip with a 40 spray pattern for rinsing.

 

[Mike Hughes]

I have a portable 4pm unit, however, when you lower your gpms, you lower your cleaning ability (speed)........so, are you really saving anything?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Larry L.]

Originally posted by Mike Hughes
I have a portable 4pm unit, however, when you lower your gpms, you lower your cleaning ability (speed)........so, are you really saving anything?

Thanks for the advice.

guess it would depend on how fast you could drive to go get water and far you had to drive to get it as in your speed ifen you run out of water while on job site with no water hookup,sometimes time is speed but only us from other plant'its no dat.

 

[Mikespowrwash]

I wash alot of houses and I have 4gpm cold water. I have 225 gallon supply tank and I almost always have to refill from water supply to complete the job. I like to rinse very well but I don't think one tank will get you mike I like the 55 gallon drum idea i think it will work and give you enough water. 4gpm also will help it takes more time but when you weigh that against a possible second trip I'd go for the extra 45 mins wash time anyday. Good luck Mike

 

[Tunatussle]

Mike, I was up in Doylestown PA today and the head of the
water authority told me they have a cistern of water that
is available to anyone that is not governed by the drought
emergency if it is at all close to where you are going to
be working, I would imagine there are other small muni's
that have like conditions, check with the local water
authority.

 

[Mike Hughes]

Randy,

Thanks for the response, however the job was up in Green Lane.

I filled up at my local water authority (North Penn) before I went............and, as it turned out, I had water to spare after this job.....lots of it.

I went in with 320 gallons and left with 140.............not too bad! I did not alter my gpm's or anything........3000psi@5.5GPM machine and used size 7 tips.