by Dean Dean

MODIFY X JET

MODIFY X JET

This MODIFY X JET video includes instructions for do it yourself assembly if you choose that option.  Right off the bat, it’s important to have a secure, strong vice set up in order to follow these assembly instructions.  At about the 5:15 time stamp, you’ll see me start the instructions for this by loading the x jet nozzle into the vice the proper way.  It must be very snug or tight before you use a wrench to remove the quarter inch plug.  You will need to remove any teflon tape with a wire brush.  This gives you a clean threaded surface to work with for next steps.  Then I rewrap it with a fresh application of teflon tape.  You will also learn from this modify x jet video about the spring and orifice inside.

NEXT STEPS

In order for this modify x jet project to be successful, you’ll want to plan ahead and teflon tape all of your threaded fittings.  Loxeal is another very important part of this assembly process.  Next, we flip the nozzle over to continue this assembly process.  Again, it will need to be tight in the vice as you will be using a lot of pressure to release the nozzle fitting.  They used permanent lock tight when manufacturing this part so it’s important to get a good bite to loosen it.  Once again, use the wire brush to score the part, removing the leftover sealant, then apply fresh teflon tape.  It really only needs one or two small wraps.  And then, “a little dab’ll do ya” on another Loxeal application.

Then we take the quarter inch female fitting and install it onto the nozzle.  Now you are ready to install one side of the 12 inch lance into place.  Next, place the entire wand into the vice.  Apply loxeal to the other side on the threaded fitting.  This is where the quarter inch fitting for the J Rod will go.  You will only want to use the larger hole nozzles because the smaller ones create back pressure which blows the hose off.  The next step is simply installing the gun on the other end.  There are some other great parts of this video that you don’t want to miss!  And just a reminder that if you need a website or a website upgrade/overhaul, we can help!

 

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by Dean Dean

Tsunami Water Separator

Tsunami Water Separator

The TSUNAMI WATER SEPARATOR is part of the Kingslinger Soft Wash System.  In this video post, we discuss how this unique water filtration system works and how to properly maintain it.  In fact, I am glad to introduce a couple of the Tsunami Water Separator manufacturing representatives in the video to talk things through.  Brad and Keisha are going to help us understand how it works, and Keisha is actually from the Houston area!

TSUNAMI CUT OUT MODEL

Brad shows a cut out model of the Tsunami Water Separator.  The air comes in through the top head and into a center tube.  Brad shows exactly what happens inside once the air exits the tubes and moves upward into the stainless steel mesh.  This stainless steel mesh can be cleaned, and this unit is designed to be low to no maintenance.  Sometimes you may hear more sound or more air, and also you may experience leaking.  One possible fix for this scenario is to get an o ring replacement kit.  There is also a float valve on the bottom which could also be the culprit.  At the 3:00 time stamp, Brad demonstrates precisely how to perform this repair.

TSUNAMI SEPARATOR EXTRAS

Brad then points out a few other things on the Tsunami Water Separator.  First, it is made of aluminum and is made in the USA.  It is built for long life and there are a couple difference sizes to consider.  There is a 50 cfm filter and a 20 cfm filter.  The 20 cfm filter is the smaller size and is the model on the Kingslinger Soft Wash System.  This item can also be purchased separately and added to any other soft wash system you might be using.  If you’d like more training, consider coming out to Houston for one of monthly schools when you can.

 

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Winter Season
by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

WINTER SEASON EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

WINTER SEASON EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

This WINTER SEASON EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE video post will be helpful to pressure washing professionals during our slower season.  There are several tips you can be doing to prepare for the busy season to avoid frustration on the job and increase your productivity.  And we hope all of our posts and videos help small businesses grow by expanding skills and saving time, money and effort.  We’re thankful for our students that we provide lifelong mentoring to as well as our loyal YouTube channel viewers.  Thanks for watching this WINTER SEASON EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE video and be sure to give us a like and leave a comment!

CHANGE JROD NOZZLES WINTER SEASON

One of the first things I do is go through all my JRODs and change all my nozzles.  I always do this annually at the beginning of busy season.  We have brass and stainless steal nozzles, and I predominately use brass nozzles for soft washing.  Brass is a less expensive option and lasts about the same as stainless steal.  This is due to the bleach continually running through them.  I do use stainless steal for high pressure work.  As a reminder, we use the KINGSLINGER soft wash system for all vertical surface cleaning jobs.  So check out the 1:50 time stamp of this WINTER SEASON EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE video.  This is where I explain how I actually use a three nozzle set up.  It eliminates the rinse high nozzle.

REPLACE ALL O RINGS WINTER SEASON

You will need to make sure you have a good dental pick set or something similar for this WINTER SEASON EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE item.  You also will need bags of O Rings in both 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch.  From the top of your pressure washing gun going forward, everything is 1/4 inch.  This includes the ends of things like nozzles, wands, lances and so forth.  From the bottom of the gun going in reverse, everything is 3/8 inch.  This applies to things like the machine, hose reels and everything moving toward your equipment.  At the 5:30 time stamp, I demonstrate precisely how to change O RINGS, what they look like, and the importance of seating each O RING properly.  There is a particular sound you can listen for that is most likely the result of an O RING that is bent, deformed, torn or has become unseated.  Allowing faulty O RINGS to continue functioning could result in damage to your equipment so it’s best to change them as part of your WINTER SEASON EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE plan.

OTHER WINTER SEASON ISSUES

I go over what needs to happen with your downstream injectors and what we use to keep everything well lubricated.  It’s just so frustrating to get our there on your first spring job.  You’re all ready to make some money, but then your downstream injector won’t draw water.  You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of teflon tape and loxeal thread locker.  There is a pressure test gauge that will come in handy when you’re wondering whether you’ve lost pressure or flow volume.

by Dean Dean

Hose Management Video

HOSE MANAGEMENT VIDEO

A few years ago, I did a video on this same subject simply using an extension chord.  So this HOSE MANAGEMENT VIDEO is an update with new content on how this will work well with hoses too.  This would not work with pressure washing hose because the makeup is too stiff and too restrictive.  But this will work with softer more pliable hoses and extension chords.  I actually learned this technique using microphone chords as part of set up and take down for church worship services.  So hopefully this HOSE MANAGEMENT VIDEO trick will help save a lot of time and effort on every job.

EASY UNRAVELING

This HOSE MANAGEMENT VIDEO trick will help keep chords and hoses organized so that you save time and effort on the job with easy unraveling.  It prevents the hoses and chords from becoming a tangled mess, taking up more space, causing more frustration, and costing more time.  At the 1:40 time stamp in the video, I show and demonstrate the unique wrapping or winding up secret that few people know about or use.  It two step process during the wind up that is essentially reversing the circle wrap every other roll.  It’s a one-two or a-b rhythm that results in the chord or hose stacking in a different way than the standard procedure most people use.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

This is not something you will be able to easily master right off the bat.  The HOSE MANAGEMENT VIDEO trick I provide here will take some time, some getting use to, and some practice.  Once you need to throw it or open it back up again for use, there will be no twists, no knots, and no kinks.  If this video is helpful, keep in mind I have an online video school with over 250 videos.  And I have monthly schools in Houston for hands on training with equipment demos and classroom instruction.

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SETTING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

SETTING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

Recently, there were several questions coming in by text or email all relating in some way to SETTING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS.  In this video, I begin by sharing a story from years ago when I lived in Clearwater, Florida.  We were residing in a home and came to the realization that previous owners covered wood flooring with carpet.  There were circular rings caused by water damage, perhaps from plants.  This is most likely why they chose to cover this beautiful wood floor with carpeting.  Well we were going out of town on vacation and decided to have the wood floors refinished.  When asking about those circle stains, the owner responded cautiously.  He said something like this: “I have no idea whether we can remove those stains because I don’t know how deep it goes.  All I can do is try my best, but I really can’t promise those stains will come out.  I always like to under promise and over deliver.”  This was a great life lesson for me about the importance of SETTING CUSTOMERS EXPECTATIONS, and something I have always applied to my own business.

EXTERIOR CLEANING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

SETTING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS is equally important in the exterior cleaning business.  Our main objective is removing stains, but we must be honest and upfront about the reality of whether the stains can be fully removed.  We must always also under promise and over deliver.  We don’t know how deep the stains are or whether those stains have damaged the surface on deeper, unseen levels.  The longer the stain has been there, the deeper the penetration and the more difficult removal will be.  We deal a lot with organic growth such as algae which acts like a sponge.  That algae retains moisture, which is what causes unseen damage below the visual surface.  It can deteriorate paint or discolor brick.  So we are able to educate the customer about these things both verbally as well as on the written estimate.

RESULTS OF SETTING EXPECTATIONS

At about 4:45 in this SETTING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS video, I discuss the positive results of this important strategy.  They are always more willing to understand and accept results that may not have been what they were looking for.  Trying to explain this AFTER the job, they tend to be much more suspecting and more likely not to use your services again in the future for repeat business.  They tend to think “well, he’s just making this up as he goes along.”  It’s unprofessional, and you will not be grow your business if you are not SETTING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS.  If you are dealing with oxidation, here is another post that might be helpful for that.  By the way, when we returned from vacation, those stains were gone.  We were expecting those stains to have remained, but it really could not have looked any better!  If this post has been helpful to you, check out my online video school with over 250 videos for on demand, self paced learning.  My passion is helping new pressure wash business owners not just survive but succeed in this industry.

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SELECTING A PRESSURE WASHER

SELECTING A PRESSURE WASHER

I receive many emails from professionals in our business regarding SELECTING A PRESSURE WASHER.  Usually they relate to what a particular pressure washer can or can’t do.  They are inquiring for the most part about either hooking a pressure washer up to a tank, or bypassing it back to the tank.  One concern is staying off the trigger for too long can potentially burn out the pump.  In some cases, the machines may not have the capability to do either one of those things.  This will help you as you compare machines, pricing, and what you want it to accomplish as you start your pressure washing business.

SELECTING TYPES OF MACHINES

When SELECTING A PRESSURE WASHER, keep in mind there are generally three kinds.  First, there is a belt drive unit which usually has a large square box built in.  Then you also have direct drive machines, and finally, you have gear drive machines.  Each of these have various pros and cons.  In this video, I provide a complete overview of these types of pressure washer machines.  I also speak to the importance of maintaining machines to prevent failure and breakdown on the job.  I generally recommend starting a business with a belt drive machine when SELECTING A PRESSURE WASHER.

SELECTING FOR DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE

Each of these types of machines provide varying degrees of durability and performance, in addition to maintenance issues.  When SELECTING A PRESSURE WASHER, I recommend a BELT DRIVE first because of durability.  I recommend GEAR DRIVE next, especially when space is limited.  Finally, if you are looking for the lowest price, you would go with a DIRECT DRIVE machine.

FORCE VS GRAVITY FEEDING PRESSURE WASHER

There are two ways you can feed a pressure washer machine from a water tank.  Force feeding is when you hook up to a regular garden hose outlet from a house or building.  When you turn the water on, water is forced into the pressure washing inlet fitting.  The other option is using a tank filled with water and gravity moves the water from the tank into the pressure washer.  At about 13:00 into the video, I cover the importance of understanding the gallons per minute coming out of your machine.  I also demonstrate how to do a bucket test to calculate this number.  You must be careful that the water supply is amply feeding the machine with enough water so that the pump does not burn out.  Be sure and watch the entire video for all the details.  There is a lot of important information here that will help your new business.  After watching the video, don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions about SELECTING A PRESSURE WASHER.

 

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POWER WASH SUPPLIES DIY

POWER WASH SUPPLIES DIY

This POWER WASH SUPPLIES DIY video post includes assembly instructions.  So some items for purchase at DougRuckerStore.com have an option you can choose from.  The options are DIY, which stands for DO IT YOURSELF and requires assembly, or RTU.  RTU means the item comes READY TO USE and we assemble the parts prior to shipment.  As a reminder, you can visit our physical location at 25432 TX-494 Loop in Porter, Texas.  Our hours are 9am-noon and 1pm-3pm.  Thanks for checking out this POWER WASH SUPPLIES DIY video post that we hope will help your business.

PRESSURE WASH GUN ASSEMBLY

If you purchase our PRESSURE WASH GUN ASSEMBLY with DIY option, I provide instructions on how to assemble it.  It’s very easy to assemble and is a fantastic gun to have for downstreaming.  And I demonstrate how the rotating grip is a great advantage when using a J Rod nozzle.  This saves a lot of time and effort on the job by not needing to stop and rotate the nozzle manually.  Aluminum extension wands are also part of the video demonstration at the 3:00 time stamp.  Be sure and watch the entire POWER WASH SUPPLIES DIY video for all the assembly instructions.

ADJUSTABLE DUAL LANCE WAND

I have several different videos on my YouTube channel that cover this particular product.  Just search “adjustable wand” and those videos will come up.  This is an extremely helpful and handy item to have, especially if you want to control the pressure level at the gun.  Everybody’s favorite, the classic BALL VALVE SET UP, is another product I cover in this POWER WASH SUPPLIES DIY video post.  This allows you to switch guns or switch to a surface cleaner easily and quickly.  This saves a lot of time and energy on each job site.  And, it helps prevent hose tangling and twisting.  At the 9:45 time stamp, I go back through each of these products and go over step by step assembly instructions to help customers purchasing these products.  Developing these assembly skills helps prepare for any repairs that might be needed on the job site.  This will keep you moving forward and help maintain and increase your profit margins.

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BEST SOFT WASH GUN

BEST SOFT WASH GUN

This BEST SOFT WASH GUN video helps pressure wash business professionals.  We also cover trigger guns and provide a contrast for options available for purchase on my DougRuckerStore.com website.  These options include purchasing either DIY or RTU.  DIY means the parts arrive without assembly and you are responsible for assembly.  This saves a few dollars, but I always provide video assembly instructions on the website product page.  RTU means the product arrives ready to use and we assemble the parts before shipping.

SOFT WASH BALL VALVE GUN

This SOFT WASH BALL VALVE GUN is my favorite.  It is the BEST SOFT WASH GUN because it doesn’t restrict the flow as in the case of trigger guns.  You get just a little bit more distance and volume.  The are extremely durable and require very low maintenance.  Keep in mind though a couple of positive aspects of trigger guns.  The trigger guns stop spraying immediately upon release which is helpful when you drop the gun accidentally.  I recommend new guys to always start with a trigger gun.  In the video, I show several trigger guns also available on the my website.

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

At the 6:00 time stamp of this BEST SOFT WASH GUN video, I provide detail assembly instructions for all of these guns.  This will help those of you who purchase these guns DIY, or do it yourself.  The ball valve gun and the trigger guns basically have the same components so the assembly instructions are very similar.  You will appreciate the difference I explain here regarding when to use teflon tape or Tru-Blu.  There are many other details I cover so you will want to watch the full video.  I also provide insight for using your Jrod nozzles with these various guns.  Purchasing DIY saves you money, and also helps you build your own skill set with tools, glues and so forth.  It also helps to build assembly skills to prepare you for repairing parts and supplies that fail on the job.  Another post you might enjoy is this video post on the subject of DOWNSTREAMING EQUIPMENT.

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Downstreaming Equipment Video

Downstreaming Equipment Video

In this DOWNSTREAMING EQUIPMENT VIDEO, we cover a number of items.  On the DougRuckerStore.com website, you have an option to select between DIY or RTU.  This means you get it DIY, or do it yourself, meaning set up and assembly is your responsibility.  This will save you money but cost you more time and effort.  When you select RTU, this means it arrives ready to use.  Our bypass injector, pressure wash gun assembly, ball valve setups, soft wash guns and downstream injector kits all have this option.  For DIY, you would use items like teflon tape, loxeal thread locker, your own tools and anything else you would like to use.

ADVANTAGES OF DIY

The larger majority of DOWNSTREAMING EQUIPMENT VIDEO orders we receive on our website are for items to come ready to use.  In this case, they spending a few more dollars to save time and effort.  We are always happy to accommodate RTU orders.  But there are a couple of advantages beyond just saving a few dollars when ordering products DIY.  First, it’s helpful for you to know how to put these things together yourself.  There may be times when you need to repair supplies and equipment while you are on a job site.  With DIY, you are gaining skills and knowledge of how to use certain tools, fittings, and other pressure washer specific supplies.  So the main focus of this video is to provide assembly and setup instructions for downstreaming products available for purchase on our website.

DOWNSTREAMING EQUIPMENT ASSEMBLY INSRUCTIONS

This DOWNSTREAMING EQUIPMENT VIDEO starts with assembly instructions for our Downstream Bypass Injector Kit.  You can check this out at time stamp 2:24 of the video.  For more information and training on downstreaming, check out this post!  Thank you for checking out this post, and be sure and leave a comment or ask question if we can help in any way!

 

by Dean Dean

POWER WASH TRAILER BUILD

POWER WASH TRAILER BUILD

In this POWER WASH TRAILER BUILD video, Doug Rucker walks us through another exceptional build.  We welcome visitors to stop by the Doug Rucker Store in Porter, Texas near Humble.  We are northeast of Houston and our store hours are as follows.  M-F 9-noon and 1:00-3:00.  Even though we are closed Saturday and Sunday, our online store is available 24/7.  We are always glad to help with professional truck, trailer and van builds for power wash businesses.

THE BASIC TRAILER

We consider this particular package our basic trailer setup for residential and light commercial projects.  When it comes to our POWER WASH TRAILER BUILD, we only use equipment we test.  This ensures you’re getting high quality equipment that will last and help save time on the job.  The trailer starts with an 8 gallon per minute cold water machine from the Doug Rucker Commercial Series line of pressure washers.  Power Jet builds this skid-mount pressure washer with the toughest frame and components in the industry.  This gas power pressure washer features a 24HP Honda or Kohler engine, belt drive, and commercial-grade pump from General Pump, CAT, or AR.

SURFACE CLEANER

This POWER WASH TRAILER BUILD has a 24 inch Lil Big Guy.  In the video, I also explain how the various elements connect to each other and our unique plumbing setup.  There are two 100 gallon tanks with uniseals and ventilation.  One tank is for water while the other is for bleach.  You will also notice a Hannay electric hose reel for water supply.  There are four different gun and wand set ups which he uses depending on the particular pressure and distance he needs for that job.

OTHER POWER WASH TRAILER SUPPLIES

There is a Three Way Banjo Valve which increases flexibility between filling tanks and garden hose spraying.  This comes in very handy for washing equipment, rinsing your eyes or hands, filling a bucket, and many other uses.  There is also Flow Pro Remote Bypass System for downstreaming with a three way valve and mount box.  Of course, we include our signature soft wash system we call THE KINGSLINGER!  Be sure and watch the entire video for many other important supplies to complete this POWER WASH TRAILER BUILD.