Cleaned by Pete: what a power washer does: 2015

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Getting the word out about "low-pressure house washing"

My latest video thus far "safe" "low pressure" external house washing from Cleaned by Pete. They say a picture is worth 1000 words a video should be golden then.

Cleaned by Pete not just another fellow with a power washer but:

Springfield MO #1 house washing company

417.459.7869

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

The big Impact: "Sometimes seeing is believing"

The big Impact: house washing making a difference

We all like to do homes that are green and just growing with molds, mildew, adages and even mosses, it shows what we do makes a difference. When we are washing we see the dirt come off we see the difference we can make, but does our customer really see this change? When the house is just dirty?

"There is not any moss, or green stuff growing on my home it really is not too dirty". Usually followed by "So it shouldn't cost as much." Sometimes the house is just in need of a good washing all over which is hard to explain to a customer, each day, week, month and year a house gets a little dirtier and you never notice it, it's gradual thing. As the homeowner you probably do not really notice it as you pull into the garage to park. A good low pressure house washing will take care of these problem! We tell our customers this and most do notice the change the brightness of the home when we finish how well it looks and so on. If they could only see what was removed. The other day I had a chance to do just this. As the customer said the house had no sighs of green but the over all level of cleaning I was doing, could be see by all.

Cleaned by Pete house washing does make a difference.

This is the top corner of a three story home in Nixa MO where we left a large portion unwashed so our customer could see the difference for themselves as well as for the neighbors that were watching. Yes we did wash it just a bit later though. The customer could not believe how much brighter the home was when we finished. This worked as a good visual on this home but again you don't get this everyday, but it's fun when you do. Here is a spot I left on some gutter brightening for the same impact, came back after the photos and walk-a-round and finished the cleaning.

Gutter brightening leaving a small spot uncleaned to show the difference Cleaned by Pete can make Springfield MO.

Left this small area to give you an idea for the difference a professional clean can make, Cleaned by Pete Springfield Missouri gutter brightening.

This is what we do as "power washer" or what ever is the trending term now-a-days. My goal is to make my customers happy and do a job for them that most can not do, or have no idea how to do at a fair cost. If Cleaned by Pete can help you with your cleaning needs we are only a phone call away 417.459.7869 serving the greater Springfield MO area.

"Sometimes seeing is believing"

Monday, May 25, 2015

Memorial Day

Thank you to all who serve and have served and to their families.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Rust Stains, A First Mistake, Then A Second Mistake ..... Just One of Those Jobs

First mistake, second mistake, just one of those jobs sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. I did a rust stain removal job last week I had put a bid in on it and got it. This was great, I have the new 9 gallon system with a 3 bar head on the 24" surface cleaner it makes thing go fast, over confident first mistake. I had just looked at the drive way and did not do a test on the stains, second mistake. These stains turned out to be harder to remove than any other I have come across. The concrete was quite porous and had taken a good staining. With that stain setting on the concrete for a while. Fresh stains are easier to remove, third mistake.

Some spot cleaning had been going on.

With two different cleaners the HO was working on the stains until it got to be too much. I needed to blend this together to make it uniform without the rust stains.

Home owner had been working on spot removing the rust stains. They were doing quite well removing the stains. I have to give them a thumbs up for getting this far and removing what they did. As I stated these were the toughest rust stains I have come across to date. Coming in and redoing or trying to blend all this work together, fourth mistake.

Taking on the job being the "Super hero" to the recuse, ego could be the biggest mistake of all. We are a service business and that is what we sell. Some times not doing your home work will bite you in the but.

Rust stains on the drive way Cleaned by Pete, Springfield MO.

Closer view of the rust stains the driveway, sidewalk, and curbing was covered like this. Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO.

Working hard to get these stains up, as usual I start off with a good washing using our standard concrete wash then let dry before applying the rust remover.

First step is to clean and open up the pours in the concrete.

Cleaned by Pete's first step in the job is to cleaning and wash the concrete surface with our surface cleaner and concrete wash.

I start with the one in powered form we all use first to see if it would treat the stains. The stains just sat there, I believe I saw a rust stain flip me off then winked at me. Moved to our liquid rust removers tried both I keep onboard, they removed or lightened most of the stains but left shadows. Even using it straight with a pump up sprayer working it in with a broom still had light rust spots. I would say maybe just over 80% removal had taken place. I talked to the customer once again and not being one to give-up I told her I would try one more time. Had some free time later in the week I would run by and try to apply the rust remover again. I did not have much luck with anything I used the first time but you never know right, that would have been another mistake. Mistakes were piling up on me this job I should cut my losses and let it go. That is not a real option with my personality or desire to do the best I can each and every time. Now what to do to make this customer and myself happy with the outcome.

After the cleaning and applying the rust removers look a lot better a good 80% of the stains are removed.

Getting up close you can still see shadows of the rust. Lighter yes passable could be but I wanted better. Cleaned by Pete rust stain removal Springfield MO.

For about a year I have been researching the how and why rust removers work I am no chemist or scientist but I have a general knowledge of things. One local manufacture had a product which seemed to fit the bill but it was for a different application so I have been asking questions to them on the product. How it did this or that, what is in it, and the safety of the item. Since I was using it for another application I went a head with it and was able to get 5 gallons today and give it a try. With a reassuring yes, that it is safe to use on concrete, they have a modified version (weened down in strength) to use even on clothing. Using common sense and as always you want to use the proper protective gear, eye covers, gloves and boots to be safe. I was able to cut the product with water by 2 product to 1 water and give it a try it worked very well and did what it claimed it also contains a soap which would have helped to clean the concrete, If I had been using it at first.

I'm sorry as of now I can't say what it is but as soon as I can I'll post the name. I'm not going to be selling, marketing, or promoting it, in the future or now, I'm not looking to compete with the two major rust products in our industry. If it works after testing it out I then will let you know. It is local product and for me working with local businesses is a must if I want them to hire me I need to work and support them also. This is my main interest in this product, working with other locals, then what it can do for Cleaned by Pete to make the job easier with the best results. Buying local when we can helps the Small Business Community as well as saving money on shipping and handling charges and I can pick it up today. I now have just shy of 4 gallons left to do some playing around with, as I used just over a gallon and 1/4 to treat the drive way with. My customer called to give me their opinion on the product since they have used two different product on the side-walk, they could not believe the results it did. Customer claims it looks like new very very happy and surprised with the results. I win rust looses lesson learned also.

After working today I can post these results! Cleaned by Pete removing rust stains.

Rust stain removal Springfield MO. Cleaned by Pete

In summery I should have tested an area to see what I had that worked. I should not have assumed it was going to be a simple job. Most of all I should have not gotten behind the 8ball with all my little mistakes. I did find a silver lining a new product which I will be testing and working with, made here on a local level. I also have a learned a lot with this job with what to do and how much the other rust removers can go and what they can do. Best of all will be a very happy customer that will have us back to wash their house and will help to spread the word about the good service received from Cleaned by Pete.

The photos above show what I did and the ones below show the out come of the job. As of now I see this product will be a good add to our line up of rust removers and cleaners. Every stain is not equal and one product can not do it all.

While drying the shadows are all but gone now, Cleaned by Pete rust removal and driveway cleaning, in Springfield MO.

Concrete cleaning and rust stain removal Springfield MO.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

House Washing Wednesday: low-pressure house washing Nixa MO

It's House Washing Wednesday over at http://housewashingspringfieldmo.blogspot.com/

I was able to do 3 homes in one day all in the Nixa MO area one near the river which helps to promote the green growth on the home due to the moister in the air all the time. One a rental in town and one across town. Bidding over the phone sometimes leads to a surprise of what needs to be done when you get there. Nothing out of the ordinary this year has be great for the growth of mold, mildew, and algae lots of rain and just the right cool temps to keep it growing. I have a few more photos on my sister blog House Washing Springfield MO, the link is provided above. Here are a few of the worst looking sides of these homes. To see the results from "The Qzarks #1 low-pressure house cleaner you will have to go to http://housewashingspringfieldmo.blogspot.com/ for the view.

Cleaned by Pete the low-pressure house washer can rid your home from all things growing on it. The Qzark's is a beautiful spot to live but with the trees, cool temps and moister from streams and lakes. It is a great place for mold, mildew, mosses and algae to live also. Cleaned by Pete can help keep your homes siding looking good. 417.459.7869.

Cleaned by Pete the low-pressure house washer can rid your home from all things growing on it. The Qzark's is a beautiful spot to live but with the trees, cool temps and moister from streams and lakes it is a great place for mold, mildew, mosses and algae to live also. Cleaned by Pete can help keep your homes siding looking good. 417.459.7869.

Cleaned by Pete the low-pressure house washer can rid your home from all things growing on it. "The Ozarks" is a beautiful spot to live but with the trees, cool temps and moister from streams and lakes it is a great place for mold, mildew, mosses and algae to live also. Cleaned by Pete can help keep your homes siding looking good. 417.459.7869.

Cleaned by Pete the low-pressure house washer can rid your home from all things growing on it. The Qzark's is a beautiful spot to live but with the trees, cool temps and moister from streams and lakes it is a great place for mold, mildew, mosses and algae to live also. Cleaned by Pete can help keep your homes siding looking good. 417.459.7869.

Cleaned by Pete

Just the #1 low-pressure house washer in "The Ozarks" area

417.459.7869

We wash rocks too!

Rock washing in the Qzarks Cleaned by Pete.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Sometimes the job is just weird, rock washing

Sometimes the job is just weird, rock washing in Ozark MO. Being a washer we sometimes run across jobs that are a bit weird. I had one of them today. As I was finishing up cleaning a driveway and removing rust stains I received a call. Can you wash..... I just happen to be heading out to Ozark from Springfield MO to check on something so I said I would stop by.

The customer was doing some landscaping and planting and wanted some very large and dirty rock boulders cleaned before the landscape was finished. The big problem was they were 300 to 400 feet from the closest water supply. No problem I had that much hose on board and with the help of the buffer tank I could do the job. So here are a few photos of the rocks while working on them.

Being able to move hoses from reel to reel and being able to easily move from pump to pump on the service rig makes thing easy to set up and work with. Quick connects on items lines and hoses have made things a lot easier, on me. Customer was quite impressed when I moved things around and was able to reach all the way down the drive-way to the front of the property then hook into the water supply on the home. Being flexible is what won us this job.

Rock cleaning, power / pressure washing Ozark MO, Cleaned by Pete serving the "greater" Springfield MO area.

Pressure washing in the greater Springfield MO area, Cleaned by Pete.

Rock cleaning, power / pressure washing Ozark MO, Cleaned by Pete serving the "greater" Springfield MO area. Washing large boulders for a customer's landscaping project.

Rock cleaning, power / pressure washing Ozark MO, Cleaned by Pete serving the "greater" Springfield MO area. Stopping about half way to get a photo.

Cleaned by Pete "The Ozark's #1 rock cleaner"

Cleaned by Pete power / pressure washing landscaping stones in Ozark MO.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Since You Asked; The how and why plumbing on my power-washing truck

This is an outgrowth of the last post on feeding the power washer, with the how and why plumbing on my power-washing set-up. Now I want to say I had a fellow washer ask the other day how and why I set up my service truck. Why did I do this or that, the best answer is I wanted to make it easy for me to use and to assure you as a customer that when I show up the job will be done.

Other washers in the business my not see or find it to their liking. Everyone works different and wants something to fit them. As I stated before I started off in the business as a hood washer, using the heated washer as a tool in the hood cleaning business not as a "pressure washer". Working at night often in an other state one has to become self-proficient at get and keep things running and dealing with emergencies. What if your injector quits working, what if you don't want to have the injector in line? What if you're working with someone else who set their equipment up differently? A burst hose, problems with the pump or motor. Do you stop and tell them I'll be back when I get it fixed? Being able to fix or in my case rearrange things on the fly is why I have done what I have done. I will get the job done and repair back at the shop. Setting up my plumbing with quick connects and the way I have done it works for the way I do things.

The first thing is we always had a back-up washer on board, today is no different with me. Two Mi-T-M washers now go with me on every job overkill or underkill I don't know. Both belt driven models with different outputs which does not enter in to this entry. Why not just get a "new big skid" to use instead? I'm asked my answer even a "new big skid" can and do have problems don't they how often do you want me to replace with a new skid? This year I added a second hose reel also, one for each of the washers usually but often I want to switch from one to the other with out having both reels out. I have things set up to use no injector, an injector bypass or have the option of using different injectors in several different places depending on the hose length. I now have the option to use each washer by it self, both working and linked together, both separately running at the same time, several combinations have opened up for cleaning this year. Making it easy to hook and unhook these washer is a must and to be able to do it at on the job site is a must. Options depending on what Cleaned by Pete is doing.

I have achieved most of this with the use of quick connects for the high-pressure lines. I have some photos to help explain what I'm doing I hope they help to clear things up. I have made thing easier by mounting washers, hose reels, soap tanks and other items to the truck permanently. Meaning this is a dedicated work rig. It is our 2nd work rig these trucks are for work you don't take them to the mall or out to eat dinner. This I feel shows more dedication to the business, I know other may not see it the same way, but once again nobody is all right or all wrong, just an opinion.

Working with a range of whips, short hoses, the injector bypass, several quick connects put together and arranged is different ways and spare injectors we can hook up and into several different arrangements.

Some of the leads and different hose connections that Cleaned by Pete may need to use.

Some of the leads and different hose and quick connections that Cleaned by Pete may need to use.

I will start with the pump heads both these Mi-T-M units use a block or remote unloader mounts. I have always like this way of setting up an unloader better than hanging it off the pump head. You can change it out easier and work on it with much more access, on a side note I have this remote unloader setup on most of our power washers.

Placing a quick connect off the unloader is our first line of making it easy. You can just unplug or plug in what you need it also aids us when winterizing the equipment.

This is a larger line that goes to the next piece of equipment the hose-reel. I can add in a chemical injector at this point if I wish, or move this connection over to the other washer to use it if I wish,


The unloader at this pump is also on a remote block the quick connect is pointing down off the 90* fitting for more room.

Things are still very tight the unloader is right beside the water input which is feed from the garden hose and the homeowners outside water tap. It has a filter on it to help us keep any forien particles from entering the pump.

Shown with the jumper hose attached. Again have the option of running it to the hose-reel an injector or to a hose. These short hose work out well to help pump in and pump out the antifreeze during the winter.

I like to put the chemical injector inline between the unloader and the pump head. I have found my system does not draw as well if I place the injector right in front of the hose reel. I like to use some hose between seems to draw chemicals / soap better on my system.

By-pass injector set up to the top hose-reel the soap tank is the white tank on the left and is feed by the white line leading to the adjustable chemical injector. By turning the ball valve you can by pass the injector having full pressure and flow to the rest of the system.

Our injector in line to the hose-reel all components have quick connects so you can quickly make changes in the system. Again depending on the lead to what washer is feeding it.

The lead of feed hose runs unseen under the chrome rail alone the trucks flat bed.

Now arriving at the hose-reel, If you have not guessed...... yes quick connects once again. The hoses are also fitted to the hose-reels with the same style quick connects I can unroll unhook and plug in to the other hoses if I should need more. Also if a hose should burst I can unhook and replace making quick time of it with out having to get out the tools. The burst hose is out of the system and I can keep going on with the work. If a pump, motor, or unloader in either system just moving the output hose over and the water feed I'm back in business again.

Lead hose at the top hose reel.

Top hose-reel connected.

Same lead hose connected to the bottom reel.

By running another jumper and hooking it up to the other reel I can use both washer with either reel having the option of two men working.

I now have the option of using both pumps to one output hose by using a Siamese linking system again it can be hooked to the injector then to what ever reel I wish to use. Having a 9 gpm output. Again this is the way I have chosen to do my plumbing on my outfit. Right or wrong it serves me the best. With the use of quick connects I have tried to make thing easy to fix and trouble shoot.

Cleaned by Pete

just a power washer serving the greater Ozarks

based in Springfield MO

Both Cleaned by Pete's power washers together, the green hoses are return lines to the tank.

The green hoses are return (bypass) lines to the water tank one pump is tank feed the other is pressure feed. The pressure fed washer uses the tank as a dump tank in bypass mode, helping to keep the pump unit cooler (not recycling water). When using both pumps the dumping bypass helps to feed the water fed pump system.

Both Cleaned by Pete's pressure washers together, the green hoses are return lines to the tank. The gray with red stripped hose on the reel is the feed hose for the system.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Water Water Everywhere? Dual Feed Pump

Water water everywhere but not in my pump dual feeding the power washer pump, more flow to the pump-head.

I ran into a situation this week where my pump could just keep up with the surface cleaner, hose running up hill and having to park to far away, thus using a lot of high-pressure hose. The pump kept having cavitation issues, thus it was water starving. Trying to draw in more water to the pump, for the needed demand was more than the one existing line could draw. I was able to use the water feed from the home owner and supply the needed demand this time. So I mad up my mind to feed both sides of the pump with 1" inside diameter lines.

Starving the pump from water leads to heat build up and heat is a killer of pumps. Since the water also removes the heat keeping it cooler. Water also lubricants the pistons in the seals and head reducing friction and helps enable the pump to form the the "water-seal" that makes it help form the pressure and compress the water. Keeping water in volume in each cylinder becomes very important to the live and function of your pump. If the first two cylinders are drawing more water the last one will starve. So by dual feeding the pump you reduce that risk and have more water available which can now enter from both sides. Also should make it easier to draw water in reducing any starving or heating issues. Now that you know some of the whys of doing this here is a pictorial guide-line of what I did and what I used

List of parts:

angle head grinder

hand tools

Teflon tape

2. 1/2" brass 45* fittings

PVC Flex Pipe

PVC fitting to match the PVC Flex Pipe you decide to use

PVC glue and primer

roll of tin-foil

propane torch or heat source

Sharpie marker

safety glasses

wet towels

standard PVC cutter came in very handy

then with luck and due diligence you jump in & hope for the best

I started off with the intention of using 1 1/4" feed lines but due to the fact I could not locally obtain the needed fitting I went down to one inch lines. The second problem is the unit I was going to do this one is a belt driven Mi-T-M and as with some belt driven models the plug to feed the inboard port is blocked by the belt cover. I also ran into the problem of with such tight bends in the tubing it may kink and not let the water draw free and easy to the pump. With the help of the clerk at Nixa Hardware we can up with using "Flex PVC Pipe" not tubing but flexible, glueable, formable. thick walled "pipe". I had never heard of this or seen it before. What made it even more useful was that it glues to any standard secdual 40 PVC fittings. Both the "ID" and the "OD" of this pipe fits and can receive the PVC fittings. I found out with the right amount of heat the PVC Flex Pipe can be coaxed to bend a bit more then when cooled it retains the shape. I used the standard PVC (purple) primer and the standard PVC glue to insure the fitting would not leak.

Flex PVC Pipe

With some standard tools and a angle head grinder I was able to make this idea come into being. This is what I did I hope it helps.

Photos of my progress on this project:

Great picture of my first intention of dual feeding this pressure washer. As with all good intentions this one had some problems which worked out even better finding some new products as the "PVC Flex Pipe" which made the installation even better when finished.

Dual feed pressure washer pump set-up notches in both the backing plate and the belt cover allowed me to replace the plugged water feed on the inboard side of the pump with a new fitting allow to dual feed the pump.

In order to make this cut I removed the belts and large pump pulley to cut into the back cover it was also done with the blade on the angle-head grinder. All opening were plugged in the pump than covered with tinfoil to keep any grinding dust out of things. Wet towels were placed over the motor to keep sparks and dust from it also. Always safety first. You still see I have plenty of clearance to adjust the belt and move the pump forward.

Laying out the shape and design of the notch in the belt cover with a Sharpie then cutting it with a angle-head grinder a little at a time I came up with this shape and with a slight bent allowed it to be taken off and replaced with not problems

I had the notch made in the belt cover and the backing plate all set up for installation of the 1 1/4" spa and pool hose but fitting it to the bulk-head became a problem. so I went with the set-up below. Local suppliers did not have what I was wanting to use and I was in need of the pump the next day.

You can now see I have replaced the 1 1/4 inch brass fittings with brass and PVC secudal 40 fittings. They still fit through the notch made in the back plate of the belt cover which enabled me to do this addition.

Using brass 45* fittings off the pump helped with the clearance issues. Brass fittings have a much larger inside opening than those made for cast steel. While brass may be more fragile it will supply the water demands better. The flex pipe can still take a lot of shock and vibration out of the system.

With some heat I could form the PVC Flex Pipe to make these sharp turns. You can see where the purple primer has cleaned the PVC fitting and I then glued it up making it a water-tight permanent bond.

The dual feed pump head checked out and met the needs pumping out over 5 gallons a minute.

I used a fine brass screened filter inside my tank to keep out any depree from entering the pump. I also filter the water supply before it enters the tanks float valve. This screen is like my older Landa skid system it filters what may fall in to the tank when the lid is off.

Cleaned by Pete

just a power washer in Springfield MO