Cleaned by Pete: what a power washer does: surface cleaning

Showing posts with label surface cleaning. Show all posts

Friday, February 21, 2014

A Question Was Put to Me.....

This question was put to me the other day, why do you have so much equipment wouldn't just one washer and one of each of the attachments work just as well? I said I have all this different equipment and washers to do the best job I can, and to help reduce some wear and tear on myself. This is the quick and simple answer to a complex question. Below is a more complex explanation.

I clean and maintain some buses and some vans / trucks with a lot of vinyl lettering and signage on them. Do I need to take the large heated unit out in order to clean them? Do I really need 210 degree of water with 3500 psi at 4.7 gallons a minute to clean them? The risk of peeling off the lettering is greater with that pressure and heat. I have a smaller propane heated unit that is around 90 / 110 degrees with 2700 psi at 2.5 gallons per minute running through it. The smaller unit will do the same job "clean the buses" but will save water, gas, oil, cleaners and actually time, because I can move faster without as much worry about the vinyl letters. What is the best fit in this case? Both units can do the job that is required. I can save time, water, gas, oil and other natural resources by using the smaller unit it will fit and I can work out of the back of the smaller pick-up truck instead of using the larger service truck saving even more, but still doing the best job each and every time.

Here are two of the surface cleaners that Cleaned by Pete has and uses. From earlier entries we know a surface cleaner is used in conjunction with a power washer. We use this attachment to clean more uniformly and to help speed up cleaning time and in most cases when used correctly it does a better job. These surface cleaners are used on flat surfaces as concrete, pavers, asphalt, brick, or stone to name a few different surfaces. They will also help to reduce water usage, along with reducing gas, oil and cleaners saving money and natural resources by getting the job completed faster. It is a win win situation.

These surface cleaners happen to be our largest and our smallest one is 32" the other is 9". Both spin or swivel around forcing water out of the nozzles matched to the machine it is used on. So why do we have different ones would one work? Yes one would work but I sure would hate to clean a driveway with a 9" surface cleaner. The time and resources it took would not be effective. I also would hate to try to clean graffiti from brick while trying to hold that 32" stainless steel surface cleaner up against the wall. Each does the same thing but do they do the same job?

Effectiveness verse efficiency would be what we have to look at with all jobs we do. Do we need to take the largest unit with the most pressure and heat? Would something else work better and more effective? This is why we have all the different washers and equipment in our lineup. When I do a house washing I have to take in a lot of considerations, that will lead me to which unit and equipment to use. Will I need heat? Will I be soft washing, or power washing? What am I cleaning from the surface mold, mildew, algae, or dirt and grime? What is the landscape around the home: fences, plants, single story or multi-storied. Also what is the home painted, vinyl, steel, wood, brick, stone or combinations of material if I am soft washing I want my low pressure unit with a higher gpm (gallons per minute) on brick or stone I would go with more pressure here. We at Cleaned by Pete can offer you our customer a wide range of washers and techniques not just a cookie cutter approach for your cleaning needs.

Water brooms big deal the all do the same thing or do they?

Five different water brooms here. Cleaned by Pete

Five water brooms but if you look closely you see two are the same or are they? They are both the same but one has a wider nozzle pattern moving and cleaning a wider path but with less cleaning force great for rinsing a large area saving water. Again they all do the same thing but each has a positive point and a draw back all are faster and thus save resources than just the wand and one tip. Quickly here the big wide mouth has one tip that moves back and forth cleaning a 12" path since it is just one time it has more concentrated pressure for cleaning but has more trouble moving large pools of water or dabree. The small twin nozzle quickly replace a single nozzle, moves and can push more. The three nozzle broom cleans a wider area the one with wider fan nozzles clean even a wider area but we are starting to loose the pressure for cleaning. Four nozzle broom really great for rinsing and light cleaning but we are loosing pressure for deep cleaning. One has to find the best equipment and understand it strengths and limitations. I hope you are starting to see why we use certain items for different jobs. Having one unit is OK have one surface cleaner or water broom is OK. There is nothing wrong with it but Cleaned by Pete feels he can customize your job to get the best results with different machines and equipment. Have you ever seen two thing that were exactly the same in every way.

Surface cleaners from 9" to 32" Cleaned by Pete has the right equipment to meet your cleaning needs. 417.459.7869 Springfield and Southwest MO.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Power Washing and the Weather

One thing we can not do is rely on the weather, living here in the Ozarks is sometime a challenge. I have seen weather change form one extreme to the other in less than hours. I was washing concrete Wednesday for a construction clean-up. They needed it done for a grand opening today. In any case started out around 9:00 and the temps were at 50 plus we had some clouds since a front was on the way. reached almost 60 degrees till the wind kicked up by the time I finished and made it home to get things put up it had dropped 20 degrees and woke up to freezing temps in the morning by late after noon snow. Today it has stopped and left us here with 8 to 9 inches of snow with a high of 19 degrees.

Cleaned by Pete cleaning concrete in Springfield MO

Last step before the grand opening clean the construction mishaps off the concrete, Cleaned by Pete in Springfield MO.

They thought the new concrete just need a little rinse the changed their minds when the say this. Cleaned by Pete has cleaned the right side and is working hard to get this concrete ready.

Cleaning concrete in Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Using the water broom in this picture with new concrete to much pressure could damaged it to the point it has to be repoured. Cleaned by Pete know how much pressure is too much and what need to be done to get the best clean possible.

About now you may be saying why are these pictures in here this is about weather. Yes but you can see we work with water and mother nature dose this thing where it takes a liquid and makes it solid. Water will freeze even above 32 degrees. Wind and conditions can be just right it will freeze or can even turn to snow. A pressure washer with a wide fan pattern works much the same way as a snow making machine works the process is much the same to break down the water in to small partials and have them chill and fall back to the ground. It is an amazing process with pressure flow and atomization of the water partials. What is even more amazing is hot water can freeze with this process even faster, due to the fact is has less oxygen in it due to heating and at the molecule level the partials are spaced further apart letting more air around them. More chilled air smaller partials instance ice or snow.

We as washers have to be aware of our situation and the safety of our clients and their clients, forming ice on concrete or walk ways is a safety issue we can not take lightly. In the wrong conditions we could have a ice glazed parking lot and gas islands in stead of a cleaned on. Freezing water has another interesting aspect as it becomes a solid it expands. Freezing water can crack the strongest steel or brass, not to mention the ceramic glass pistons that are in our pumps. We can not let water stand on what we are cleaning or in our machines, pumps, heating coils, hoses, guns and other tools. When the temperatures start to drop. Safety is the largest issue and loss of equipment is next followed by our own physical well being. Winterizing is an on going battle with winter. This is why someone puts their washer up in the shed in the late fall and come time for spring projects. They get out the power washer and water pours out of it or it make no pressure. Frozen water has claimed another power washer. One must always try to get all the water out and replace it with some form of antifreeze. We like the pink "RV antifreeze" it is safe for the earth and water-ways if we should get a spill. Also safe for animals and pets that may be around and it is rated at 50 below. Winter care for our equipment still means attention and caution through out the entire winter season. We don't put them up and just forget about them. Most professional power washers owe their livelyhood to these machines, I know I do so taking care of them is up most. It use to be said "You can tell a lot about a man or woman on how they treat of keep their tools". This is as true today as in the past if you don't keep your tools and machines with care and maintenance you can not expect them to to the best job.

Now this was yesterday less than 24 hours between cleaning the parking lot and islands and taking the pictures below. From 60 degrees to low 20's .

Less then 24 hours later this is what we had with temps in the low to mid 20's.


Less then 24 hours later this is what we had with temps in the mid 20's.

Then today the high is 19 degrees and around 8+ inches of snow fell last night and this morning 12 inches in some local areas. Cleaned by Pete take great pride in having the right equipment and with that takes great care of it. Power washing may stop during the winter but maintenance and caring for the machines does not.

Today's view

Cleaned by Pete will be ready if there is a break in winter or for next year's cleaning. Our phones are still on and working call us at 417-459-7869 for your power washing needs

as always you can find us at the links below for additional information:

cleanedbypete.com

http://www.powerwashingspringfieldmo.com/

http://southwestmissouripressurewashing.net

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Saturday, October 12, 2013

Week in Review: jobs and projects we did this week

Some pictures from what we did this week Cleaned by Pete. Call us for your cleaning needs at 417-459-7869 and thank you for your support. If we can help you with a cleaning project large or small please call and we can discuss your needs.

Cleaned by Pete before house washing Springfield MO 417-459-7869.

Cleaned by Pete after a house washing Springfield MO 417-459-7869.

Sign cleaning before, Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete removing mold mildew, algae and road grime, 417-459-7869

Sign cleaning during, Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete removing mold mildew, algae and road grime, 417-459-7869

Sign cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete removing mold mildew, algae and road grime, 417-459-7869

Cleaned by Pete had time to build a new power washer too, 417-459-7869

Cleaned by Pete built a new power washer. Updating and keeping our services the best in the area, sometimes calls for new equipment custom building a unit for specify needs is what we did 417-459-7869.

Cleaned by Pete before house washing Springfield MO 417-459-7869.

Cleaned by Pete after a house washing Springfield MO 417-459-7869.

This shows some of the imbedded grime and dirt we were able to clean out of the concrete during this job inside concrete washing; Cleaned by Pete 417-459-7869

Cleaned by Pete cleaned this concrete inside a dealership in Springfield MO 417-459-7869.

Cleaning another bay at the dealership; concrete cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete 417-459-7869. This was a challenge since this was the floor of the old paint shop.