Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Ideas For Standing Water

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff,

We have some dumpster pads at a few resorts down the Jersey shore we clean weekly during the summer season, that do not drain. They range from 15'X25' to 15' X 50' and of course they all pitch back towards the buildings. I bought a trash pump last year at Harbor Freight for $60.00 and some 2" roll up trash hose to attach to it. I bought 50'. It is kind of like a sump pump that can handle large debris and pumps out a ridiculous amount of water per minute. We set it in the ponding areas and run the hose to their sanitary drains. It has a handle and is lightweight. It sucks up about 90% of the water.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks John,.that sound like it may be an option. For $60.00 it must be an electric trash pump,..I didn't even know they made them,..I will check that out.

Does it just sit on the floor?,..I think I can picture what you talking about,..I used one a long time ago after I cleaned a customers basement after a flood.

Thanks,
Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Sunday 19th of February 2017 07:56:24 AM

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Yeah we just set it on the ground. We did these jobs for 2 seasons without it and my guys were taking another 30 minutes per cleaning. So I needed them to speed up. I actually got the idea from one of my buddies who does basement waterproofing. I will post a pic of it this week. We are working 4 days so far this week and the phone rang yesterday...a lot!

-- Edited by John Aloisio on Sunday 19th of February 2017 07:59:14 AM

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks again John,..yea,..standing water is a pain to say the least,..and it does take time to remove it,.I will look into that idea as an option for sure. Also has a small footprint when stored.

Jeff

Maverick Contracting · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Like John said, a trash pump is an awesome tool to have (esp with flooded basements!) Even if only used occasionally. They can usually sucks up crap up to 1 inch so a med-large mesh filter pad works for sand and leaves etc.
If used with a barrier and a "floor drying" fan you can direct the waste water to the inlet easily.

-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Sunday 19th of February 2017 08:18:27 AM

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

When I do Patio's and Pavers I go behind the guy that's rinsing with a Blower and move the water and muck off the surface. Job always comes out mint!

Paver 2.JPG

Paver Cleaning After.JPG

Maverick Contracting · Approved Exterior Cleaner

2nd Art.
But sometimes due to pitch, bellying in patio or just size of patio it's too much for just a blower bit that is my first attempt. Might need a pretty strong blower though

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks for the input! I like the blower idea,..but sometimes like Maverick said,.it's alot of water. I always have a blower on board for blowing driveways out and such,..finishes the jobs up nice,..and the customer kind of gets something for free. And is a nice gesture.

@Maverick,..isn't that pump your showing a roof pump? If anyone was around many years ago you may remember that I used a Homelite 2-Cycle pump like this as a roof pump,Ha,Ha.... I put the suction into the CH and attached a garden hose to the outlet and used a regular garden hose trigger to apply. That is also when I was using CH rather than SH,..So,.talk about being behind the 8 ball.

Come on now,.I didn't have the internet and these boards until around 2005,..and I started in 1996 and I went through alot of trial and ERROR back then,..but also learned many things on my own..and guys like me who weren't really into roof cleaning were just looking for a way to get them done, Ha,Ha,..

*I remember Mike Sullivan from the old RCIA days telling us about just pouring the SH down the roof after his pump sprayer broke,..was so funny to me because that is exactly what had happened to me,Ha,Ha,... THAT was the day I learned about the power of applying in VOLUME. When I poured it down the roof,.it worked just about instantly. I think I went to the 2-Cycle trash pump,...and then the roller came after that,..which many jumped on board with at that time. Now they are VERY obsolete.

One of the main 12V pumps back then was a 1.8 GPM Shurflo. Guys also had mobile cart units with 35 gallon tanks they lugged around. Chris Tucker used to use a roller and a long handle to apply SH,..Sheesh,..that shnit running down your arm,..man-o-geez,..Ha,Ha,..

*Dave Westerman introduced the All-Flo and Kuri-Tec hose from the old RCIA days. Dave wasn't liked by several people as I understand it,..but he knew more about roof cleaning and equipment that was far beyond what anyone else was doing. He definitely had it together,..like him or not. I try to give him mention once in a while,..simply due to what I learned from him back then.

Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Sunday 19th of February 2017 08:54:05 AM

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

When rinsing with a PW and a Blower at the same time standing water moves, Trust me on this

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I believe it Art!

Jeff

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

For patios and nothing as big as what John is talking about we just use a commercial squeegee to push it out of the way. One guy cleaning, one guy pushing. If it's not to big it moves along well. Thanks for the leaf blower idea Art!

Dave · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I use a Ridgid shop vac. I have a valve on the bottom that I hook a hose to. This way I can drain it. As long as the level of water in the shop vac is above the drain hose, you can leave the valve open.

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

We run the IPC eagle for reclaim.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

All great ideas,.thank you!

Jeff

Philip McCullough · RIP

Like Art, we use a backpack blower to move water and sediment/trash....Most of the time I run a water hose in one hand and blower in the other.

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I have one of these, used it yesterday when we were cleaning a garage and found out the drains on 1/4 of it were clogged.

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

You can get one from Paul at PWS.
First 10 foot or so need to be rigid 1 1/2 hose, then you can connect to flat hose.
It really does work!

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

SprayWash wrote:
I have one of these, used it yesterday when we were cleaning a garage and found out the drains on 1/4 of it were clogged.

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

You can get one from Paul at PWS.
First 10 foot or so need to be rigid 1 1/2 hose, then you can connect to flat hose.
It really does work!

Thanks Ray! That's an easy way to solve some problems.

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Liberty SoftWash wrote:
We run the IPC eagle for reclaim.

Me too

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Ray!

I remember seeing those years ago,..but I did forget about them.

Jeff

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I was amazed when I saw one and was told they had been around forever. They take up practically no space on truck. I purchased one just knowing it would come in handy one day, and it certainly has!

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

Eric Schnaible wrote:
Liberty SoftWash wrote:
We run the IPC eagle for reclaim.
Me too

Love mine.

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I did a Paver job today with the blower technique, Instant results

Pavers Blower.jpg

JohnAEC · Member

could also try a 12v bilge pump - as used in boats