I used a 1% mix of Calcium Hypochlorite, with GW at standard mix.
Sprayed it on and let it dwell for about 10 min, went back and hit a second time. Rinsed heavily with plain ol' water and used a brush in the really heavily stained areas - like the side of the house with the energy meter. (See pics)
Customer was ecstatic!
However, I had calcium residue on the windows like CRAZY. I think I didn't rinse it off the windows quickly enough. Had to go back and hand wash and scrub every window with a white scour pad - took actually longer to wash the windows then to softwash the entire house.. I was very very surprised using such a low strength mix to get such bad stains...
You CH guys out there, do you typically rinse windows instantly after applying? I should've pre-wet the windows ahead of time as well. Still in the learning curve. My new skid system on order will help me alot I know.
On a side note I did find SH for 3.70 gallon in my area - but the supplier is 40 minutes away... So I'd have to go pick up a couple barrels at a time. Before the cheapest I could find was $6.50 / gallon.
Wet your plants, wet the glass, spray CH and then rinse glass immediately. Let dwell then rinse. It takes longer to rinse than to clean. Thats why a booster pump is a good addition. Make sure you use paint sock to dissolve the CH. To remove dried CH use a 50-50 mix white vinegar/water. use reverisble squeege with cloth scrubber on one side and rubber blade on the other. It cleans easily. You can also spray bleach wash and agitate with soft brush on glass. It gets easier with practice.
Michael Hickey said
Aug 10, 2013
There seems to be a lot of drawbacks with using CH in comparison to using SH or at least that is the impression that I'm getting. I have also noticed a big drop off in CH posts over the last couple of months.
If the mixed CH was filtered before going in to the main tank would that remove most if not all of the residue?
Brandon Vaughn said
Aug 10, 2013
THANKS TIM for the advice! Can you tell me step by step how do you filter the CH in a paint sock? Run water through the paint sock? I'm not picturing the system...
The big drawback for me personally on SH is cost and logistics. It's expensive and takes about an hour and a half round trip to pick it up. Wheras I can pick up 100 lb drum of CH 8 min up the road (they don't even sell SH there - not many pools in rainy Portland).
I'm drawn to CH because of how little it damages plants. I've poured a 3% solution straight into a lawn and not had a single blade of grass brown. (I don't recommend this - it was simply a test)
If I can dial in the residue and the mixing time, I'd like to use CH 100% of the time.
My CH cost - $0.12/oz
My SH cost - $4/gal
Cost analysis for 100 gallons -
3% solution - (CH - 300 oz @ $0.12/oz) = $36 using CH
3% solution - (SH - 30 gal @ $4/gal) = $120 using SH
Aug. 3% solution - (SH - 20 gal @ $4 gal) + (CH - 100 oz @ $0.12/oz) = $92 using Augmenting (SH+CH)
John Aloisio said
Aug 11, 2013
What if the windows have screens in them?
Dan Signor said
Aug 11, 2013
Make sure you pre-wet, and rinse again and again. Keep your mix tank cleaned do not let sediment build up in the bottom. I had to rinse mine out every couple of days when I was using ch.
Hank Timmermann said
Aug 11, 2013
Dan Signor wrote:
Make sure you pre-wet, and rinse again and again. Keep your mix tank cleaned do not let sediment build up in the bottom. I had to rinse mine out every couple of days when I was using ch.
Dan,
Are you no longer using CH?
Hank
Matt Jennemann said
Aug 11, 2013
If you keep them wet you won't have any problems. Make sure you have the right amount of greenwash in your mix and it gives you a sheeting action that helps with the spotting. Ispray my chem mix back over if I they look like they're drying out and don't have fresh water handy and have never had a problem(knock on wood), so don't let the ch hater's get to you down. The added plant safety is well worth any mixing problems or windowspotting you will see(just my opinion). If your having problems with mixing you should look into a small pump for mixing only, I got mine for $60 at Tractor Supply for 2gpm pump and $11 for extended warrany which covers anything. Hope this helps.
Matt Jennemann said
Aug 11, 2013
Almost all the windows down in Missouri have screens just make sure to keep them wet and rinse and rinse.
Tim Teed said
Aug 12, 2013
For a 3% augmented mix I use 50 ounces ch and 10 gallon sh in a 50 gallon tank. I put ch in paints knock and tie storing around it. I hang it in tank. i add my sh. I then put hose against paint sock and may spray though it. When it is dissolved you will have marble sized ball left. Put spray wand tank to mix or use a pump to mix. Keep eye on residue and Rinse out tank.
Tim Teed said
Aug 12, 2013
Sorry for spelling.
Dan Signor said
Aug 12, 2013
Hank we pretty much only use sh. As long as you follow the information in AC's plant and property protection module we really don't have any issues.
Hank Timmermann said
Aug 12, 2013
Dan Signor wrote:
Hank we pretty much only use sh. As long as you follow the information in AC's plant and property protection module we really don't have any issues.
Dan,
I only use SH but was trying to keep an open mind. We've completed 90+ projects so far this year with no issues(knockwood) with SH.
Hank
Brandon Vaughn said
Aug 14, 2013
Thanks all for your advice! I'll probably end up adding a Concord unit onto my skid at some point. Sounds promising.
Tim Teed said
Aug 15, 2013
Dan, are there any softwash authorized guys around you? Try offering augmented SH/CH as a selling feature. There are alot of guys that spray bleach. How many can use Ch effectively? Apples and Pears baby!
I used a 1% mix of Calcium Hypochlorite, with GW at standard mix.
Sprayed it on and let it dwell for about 10 min, went back and hit a second time. Rinsed heavily with plain ol' water and used a brush in the really heavily stained areas - like the side of the house with the energy meter. (See pics)
Customer was ecstatic!
However, I had calcium residue on the windows like CRAZY. I think I didn't rinse it off the windows quickly enough. Had to go back and hand wash and scrub every window with a white scour pad - took actually longer to wash the windows then to softwash the entire house.. I was very very surprised using such a low strength mix to get such bad stains...
You CH guys out there, do you typically rinse windows instantly after applying? I should've pre-wet the windows ahead of time as well. Still in the learning curve.
My new skid system on order will help me alot I know.
On a side note I did find SH for 3.70 gallon in my area - but the supplier is 40 minutes away... So I'd have to go pick up a couple barrels at a time. Before the cheapest I could find was $6.50 / gallon.
If the mixed CH was filtered before going in to the main tank would that remove most if not all of the residue?
THANKS TIM for the advice! Can you tell me step by step how do you filter the CH in a paint sock? Run water through the paint sock? I'm not picturing the system...
The big drawback for me personally on SH is cost and logistics. It's expensive and takes about an hour and a half round trip to pick it up. Wheras I can pick up 100 lb drum of CH 8 min up the road (they don't even sell SH there - not many pools in rainy Portland).
I'm drawn to CH because of how little it damages plants. I've poured a 3% solution straight into a lawn and not had a single blade of grass brown. (I don't recommend this - it was simply a test)
If I can dial in the residue and the mixing time, I'd like to use CH 100% of the time.
My CH cost - $0.12/oz
My SH cost - $4/gal
Cost analysis for 100 gallons -
3% solution - (CH - 300 oz @ $0.12/oz) = $36 using CH
3% solution - (SH - 30 gal @ $4/gal) = $120 using SH
Aug. 3% solution - (SH - 20 gal @ $4 gal) + (CH - 100 oz @ $0.12/oz) = $92 using Augmenting (SH+CH)
What if the windows have screens in them?
Dan,
Are you no longer using CH?
Hank
Almost all the windows down in Missouri have screens just make sure to keep them wet and rinse and rinse.
For a 3% augmented mix I use 50 ounces ch and 10 gallon sh in a 50 gallon tank. I put ch in paints knock and tie storing around it. I hang it in tank. i add my sh. I then put hose against paint sock and may spray though it. When it is dissolved you will have marble sized ball left. Put spray wand tank to mix or use a pump to mix. Keep eye on residue and Rinse out tank.
Sorry for spelling.
Dan,
I only use SH but was trying to keep an open mind. We've completed 90+ projects so far this year with no issues(knockwood) with SH.
Hank
Dan, are there any softwash authorized guys around you? Try offering augmented SH/CH as a selling feature. There are alot of guys that spray bleach. How many can use Ch effectively? Apples and Pears baby!