Use of chemicals

[harveymasons]

I Was wondering what kind of chemicals to use for cleaning brick and aluminum siding??

I am new to pressure washing and only have been using pressure to do the cleaning but I would like to delve into the use of chemicals.

My unit has a soap/chemical injector (downstream) so I would like to use it.

One qestionI have is when you inject the chemicals into the system do you put the tube directly into the bottle of chemical while using the black tip nozzle and just spray it on low pressure? Or is there another method I should be using??

BEst regards,
HArvey

 

[Larry L.]

I Was wondering what kind of chemicals to use for cleaning brick and aluminum siding??

Any good Qtly. car/truck wash soap,in some cases acid will be needed on brick.

I am new to pressure washing and only have been using pressure to do the cleaning but I would like to delve into the use of chemicals.

Always read the safety part of the chemical.

My unit has a soap/chemical injector (downstream) so I would like to use it.

One qestionI have is when you inject the chemicals into the system do you put the tube directly into the bottle of chemical while using the black tip nozzle and just spray it on low pressure? Or is there another method I should be using??

Yes,usually tho you have to weaken it down, add chemicals to the bottle.Another method is to upstream the chemicals.

 

[Aplus]

There are several good commercially prepared house wash mixes available.

For me, I prefer a house wash mix that is compatible with bleach, because the typical houses I wash have a lot of mildew on them.

Some house wash mixes are not compatible with bleach.

I used to make my own mix, but now I just buy it in dry form, and mix with water on each jobsite.

If you choose the appropriate mix, you will find the chems do most of the work, and you just need to basically rinse, forget the high pressure.

 

[Doug Dean]

powdered chemicals

Originally posted by Aplus
There are several good commercially prepared house wash mixes available.

For me, I prefer a house wash mix that is compatible with bleach, because the typical houses I wash have a lot of mildew on them.

Some house wash mixes are not compatible with bleach.

I used to make my own mix, but now I just buy it in dry form, and mix with water on each jobsite.

If you choose the appropriate mix, you will find the chems do most of the work, and you just need to basically rinse, forget the high pressure.

Hi, I was curious to know if you buy your chlorine in powdered form also?

 

[ron]

powdered pool shock

it has been said that because of FILLER'S in powdered shock treatment you cant consistantly get the same strangth of chem unless you mix a whole bag.
1 lb treat's 1200 gal of pool water.
I can now buy 100% active with no filler's in 1 lb bag's.
Now if someone can tell me how to get the level of SH tested, so i know how much to use. I would be very happy.

 

[Tbone530]

brass/bleach compatibility

I've seen recommendations from some pump/pw manufacturers that bleach not be used with their product. I believe that it is due to incompatibility with brass used in the manifold/injection systems or lances.

Can I safely used diluted bleach in a downstream chemical injection system, or should I purchase an X-jet system to do this?

EDIT: Nevermind. I found an informative thread on this subject:

x-jet/brass, bleach

 

[Mark]

When using a downstream injector, the chemicals do not go through the pump, they are injected "downstream" of the pump.

 

[Tbone530]

I understand that they don't go through the pump, but aren't the fittings on some downstream injectors brass?

 

[ron]

tbone, most fitting's that are brass are also plated.
Anyway, this is not the problem with brass you should worry about. It's the brass kickplates on door's and outdoor lighting. Not to mention door knob's,door knocker's,and other outdoor brass's.
bleach can mess-up all of these. Even brass house number's.
Keep a can of brasso on your truck.

 

[Aplus]

Actually,
The bleach will likely not be strong enough to damage most brass on a house, if proper dwell times are followed.

In the shade, dwell times can be 3-4 minutes, in direct sun, less than 1 minute. Never allow a house wash mixture to dry, that's how alot of problems can start.

I prefer to apply my mix with an xjet, because it can dispense the mix at a higher rate than downstreaming, and because I can apply to second stories from the ground.

I now use liquid pool chlorine, but have considered going with a powdered form, to save space on my trailer and in my shop.