November 16, 2023 by Dean Dean

The Ultimate Guide to Winterizing Your Pressure Washer

The Ultimate Guide to Winterizing Your Pressure Washer is crucial to ensure it remains in good working condition during the winter months and beyond. Proper winterization helps protect the machine from potential damage caused by freezing temperatures and extended periods of inactivity. Here are some tips on how to winterize your pressure washer.

Draining the Tank: Begin by draining the water from the buffer tank. This step is essential to prevent freezing, which can cause serious damage to the pump and other components.
Blowing Out Plumbing and Hose Lines: Use compressed air, from an air compressor, you can blow out any remaining water from the plumbing, pump, and hose lines. This will help ensure that no water is left to freeze and potentially cause damage.
Using Antifreeze: I prefer to run a solution of antifreeze through the system to provide protection against freezing. I prefer using a fully concentrated Anti Freeze. Some guys will use RV/Marine Anti Freeze or Non Concentrated Anti Freeze. But there are reports of machines still freezing using this. Be sure to run the anti freeze through the bypass hose as well. So you’ll need to turn your ball valve off, so that it goes into bypass. Once done, leave you ball valve in the open position.
Cleaning Filters and Nozzles: This is also a good time to remove and clean the filters and nozzles to prevent any debris or mineral buildup that could affect the pressure washer’s performance when you get back to work.

MORE STEPS TO TAKE

Protecting from Rodent Damage: If you have an open trailer or truck rig, inspect the pressure washer for any potential entry points for rodents and take measures to protect the machine from nesting or damage.
Disconnecting the Battery: If your pressure washer is equipped with a battery, disconnect it to prevent drainage and potential damage during storage.
Fuel tanks: For gas-powered pressure washers, it’s important to follow additional steps such as stabilizing the fuel. If you have a machine with a fuel shut off, I recommend while running the machine, with water coming out of your ball valve, turn the fuel supply off. This will drain the Carburetor of gas. Any excess gas in the tank should be treated with a fuel stabilizer.
Cleaning Exposed Surfaces: Thoroughly clean the exterior of the pressure washer to remove any dirt, grime, or chemical residue that may have accumulated during use.
Storing in a Dry Location: Find a dry and secure location to store your rig during the winter months, such as a garage or shed, to protect it from the elements.
Following Manufacturer Recommendations: Always consult the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific winterization procedures and recommendations tailored to your pressure washer model.

By following The Ultimate Guide to Winterizing Your Pressure Washer, you can help prolong its life. In addition, you will ensure it’s ready for use when the warmer weather returns. Remember that proper maintenance and care are essential for keeping your pressure washer in optimal condition, especially during periods of extended storage.

In conclusion, winterizing your pressure washer is a proactive measure that can prevent costly repairs and downtime in the future. Whether you have a gas-powered or electric pressure washer, taking the time to properly winterize it will pay off in the long run by preserving its performance and functionality. We hope The Ultimate Guide to Winterizing Your Pressure Washer is helpful to your business. For a video on this subject, click here. For more training opportunities, check out The Pressure Washing School.

August 7, 2023 by Dean Dean

CHECK VALVE REPAIR

This 2023 CHECK VALVE REPAIR video post features the repair kit for downstream injector check valves. Recently, email and text message questions came in regarding how to repair them rather than replacing them to save a few dollars. Later in this video, I go into further detail about how use them, why we use them and when to use them. I also cover installation steps. We hope this CHECK VALVE REPAIR video helps you in your day to day pressure washing business. Our business is to help your business save time, money, and effort so that you can maximize profitability.

REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS

It’s important to take note of the small arrow which indicates the way the water flows. But it also points to the side which you’ll need to release with a vice and pliers to start the repair steps. As you loosen this piece, be ready for the spring and check valve itself to fall out. Notice the precise order so you can put them back in correctly. Then you would use a dental pick to left the small o-ring from its seating inside. You are simply installing the new spring and 0-ring into the existing case or housing piece. At the 4:15 time stamp, I demonstrate how to blow through it for the purpose of diagnosing CHECK VALVE REPAIR problem issues. Once again, our line of High Performance oils comes in handy. The lubricant spray will help unseat challenging o-rings if you have problems trying to remove them. 6:15 is a critical time stamp spot you don’t want to miss.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING

At approximately 9:00, I transition from repair to the ins and outs of using them. I talk in detail about installing and using the downstream injector check valve setup. These are available on our Doug Rucker Store website in a couple of difference types or configurations. There is also an option of RTU, which means ready to use. The DIY option means you will assemble it yourself and save a few dollars that way. Be sure and watch the entire video to get the full impact and information you need for your pressure washing business. Finally, I want to invite you to one of our monthly hands on trainings here in the Houston area. It’s a great way to get equipment orientation with classroom learning. It will drastically reduce your learning curve!

July 17, 2023 by Dean Dean

POWER WASH TRUCK SETUP

In this POWER WASH TRUCK SETUP video post, Doug Rucker walks you through another custom build. This six foot truck bed skid is for a customer who works in Katy, Texas. We start with a 200 foot fierce jet pressure hose on a Kings Reel. Then the soft wash hose also has a soft wash ball valve gun and jrod nozzle kit. Then you will notice a flexilla garden hose which hooks up to the customer’s water supply also on a King’s Reel. This hose fills a water tank which is equipped with a jobe float valve which stops the water flow once the tank is full. There are two 100 gallon tanks, one for water and one for bleach.

SOFT WASH SYSTEM

This POWER WASH TRUCK SETUP comes equipped with our proprietary electric soft wash system we call THE SOFT E. In this particular build, we put this inside of a large protective aluminum chrome box. The main idea here is to deliver a 50/50 mix for roof cleaning and other soft washing projects. For the basic differences between soft washing and pressure washing, check out this video. He also has a 5.5 GPM gear drive pressure washer machine because we’re working with a limited amount of space and footprint to work with on this particular POWER WASH TRUCK SETUP build. The gas tank is built into the machine, so a separate gas tank does not eat up extra space. Whether we call it gear drive or belt drive, that pretty much refers to the same thing.

FLOW PRO REMOTE

The POWER WASH TRUCK SETUP also includes a FLOW PRO REMOTE bypass system for downstreaming. At approximately 3:3o, I explain why it’s so important to remove this mechanism during transport. If you have any questions whatsoever about our custom builds, don’t hesitate to email INFO@DougRuckerStore.com. You could also call or text 281-612-1223. And if you prefer, you could reach out directly through our website contact us online form. We strive to make it as easy and convenient for you as possible to contact us. Check out all of our training opportunities here.

March 30, 2023 by Dean Dean

PRESSURE WASHER CONNECTIONS

Thanks for checking out this PRESSURE WASHER CONNECTIONS video post. The Doug Rucker Store is both online and also has a physical location. We are in Porter, Texas where I often tell people: “It’s not the end if the world, but you can see it from here!” If you are even in the Houston area, we hope you’ll stop by to talk some shop. This video post is in response to questions about how to connect a pressure washer to the battery and the gas tank. One of the most popular machines our customers seem to like is the 8 GPM cold water skid unit. This machine does not come with a battery, battery cables, or a gas tank.

BATTERY CONNECTIONS

PRESSURE WASHER CONNECTIONS usually start off with a battery. You will need a positive wire and a negative wire (red and black) with crimped fittings. The fittings must properly fit the battery terminals as well as the starter on the machine. The length of these wires must fit how far the location of the battery will be from the machine. It should be pretty precise so that you are not short, nor do you end up with extra wire. This is why custom builds are a key piece of our business and why Doug Rucker Store works so tirelessly with our customers on this. At about the 2:00 time stamp with clear lighting and pictures, I help you identify the starter. It can be difficult to locate. I discuss the various options for grounding this connection. Apply some sort of grease to each of those connections. I also discuss various battery sizes that you can use.

GAS TANK CONNECTIONS

PRESSURE WASHER CONNECTIONS are not complete until the gas tank is also in place. I use 1/4 inch clear braid hose for the fuel line connection. This hose is clear enough that it allows you to see the gas flow. You could also use standard black fuel line if you prefer for other reasons. You could install a Y fitting to supply a second machine such as our KINGSLINGER SOFT WASH SYSTEM. I also discuss oil changes so be sure and watch the entire video for all the details. I hope this helps answer some questions you may have regarding pressure washer connections.

November 17, 2022 by Dean Dean

PRESSURE WASHING WEBSITE VIDEO

How is your PRESSURE WASHING WEBSITE VIDEO performing? If you own a pressure washing business, you know how important is to have an effective website. At Doug Rucker Store, we have been offering website services for years and enjoy working with fellow contractors on this. We build new websites from scratch, but we can also provide a complete overhaul and upgrade to existing websites that are not producing the kind of results you need. In addition, we also provide website service for painting services, apartment complexes and other small businesses. We build and host websites and would welcome the opportunity to help your business grow and succeed in this crucial area.

WEBSITE FACTORS TO CONSIDER

Our PRESSURE WASHING WEBSITE service begins with helping every person we work with clearly understand how the process works. That’s what this video is all about. All of our website builds are responsive design, which means your website will adapt to look great and operate efficiently on any device. The process begins with a step by step walk through of how you can purchase your domain. We do not want to own your website, and you really don’t want anyone else to own your website. You’re the owner of your business, and you’ll own your pressure washing website. We also offer hosting service, and all of these details can be found in this video or on our website description product page.

WEBSITE COLLABORATION

Your input, ideas, and overall direction is very important as we build your pressure washing website. So we use BASECAMP to manage the entire project start to finish for effective and clear communication. You will be in direct communication online and through emails with my staff. This includes myself, our website builder or backend manager, and the content writer. This ensures prompt communication and keeps the entire staff on one page as the website takes shape. In addition, we will provide brief training on how you can add content to your own pressure washing website. It’s important to blog on a regular basis in order to increase traffic and maximize your S.E.O. results. We will help you learn and develop this critical skill. Be sure to watch the entire video for all the details concerning our website services.

Feel free to call or text me at 281-883-3630 or use our Contact Form if you need more info.

March 21, 2022 by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

Pressure Cleaning QnA

PRESSURE CLEANING QnA

Thank you for checking out this PRESSURE CLEANING QnA video post. We receive many questions from various platforms and know that providing answers to these questions can be helpful to many others. So the first question comes to us through our YouTube channel in the comments section. Ron asks about a particular SH mix ratio for house washing while down streaming using a modified x jet. He is using a 5 gallon per minute pressure washer.

EXACT PERCENTAGES

While there are ways to calculate exact mix ratios and percentages, this is something that I have never done. There really isn’t any reason for me to know the exact percentage. Thus my main concern is this. Is the mix I’m using strong enough to change the color of the organic stains on the surface that I am cleaning? I cover various surfaces, various stains and the degree of staining and what color those stains are. These are determining factors in determining whether the bleach mix ratio is strong enough. In this Pressure Cleaning QnA, I also provide pictures that demonstrate what I’m speaking about. Experience does play a key role in helping to determine a general mix ratio of 30%, or 40% or 50% or stronger. This is what we might call “the eye test.” Here is the X Jet product I mention in the video on the Doug Rucker Store website.

ROOF CLEANING QnA

The second question I address is from Jamie and is specifically about roof cleaning and house washing. Will my mixture consist of solely bleach or would I be adding surfactant? This is a great question! One factor in answering this question relates to the grade and quality of the bleach you are using. Testing and experience is crucial here as I explain at the 7:30 time stamp. This Pressure Cleaning QnA video ends with one final question about surface cleaner maintenance. If this information has been helpful for you in your pressure washing business, check out my online video school.

February 24, 2022 by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

PRESSURE WASHING BUSINESS VIDEO

What is the number one thing you need when STARTING A PRESSURE WASHING BUSINESS? For over ten years, I’ve been helping entrepreneurs with starting a pressure washing business. I do this through my online video school and monthly 2 day training school events in Houston. This video post is a little bit different from most of my videos because I just wanted to speak straight from my heart on this. There is one thing you need before you do anything else if you are going to start this business. Before you purchase a pressure washer, a trailer or truck, or any other equipment, THIS is what you need to work on! Even before you get the training, you need to work on your VISION for starting a pressure washing business.

VISION FOR PRESSURE WASHING

You first need to work on cultivating a VISION for what your business is going to look like. Are you able to visualize yourself outside cleaning houses, driveways, and roofs? Vision is defined as the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. Jonathan Swift says vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. Vision without action is merely and dream, and having a vision for your business is a critical first step toward success. Are you able to visualize yourself communicating with customers? Can you visualize your truck or trailer? Can you visualize your office set up?

PRESSURE WASHING BUSINESS VISION BOARD

I encourage you to set up a vision board as a first step when starting a pressure washing business. Perhaps you would have a picture of a truck or trailer that you dream of having some day. Or maybe you’ll have other pieces of equipment you will need in future such as a surface cleaner, the Kingslinger soft wash system, or a hot water machine on that vision board. These are basically visual goals that give you something to strive for as you grow and develop your business. At time stamp 4:15, I talk about some of the strong impressions early in my life all the way back to childhood which helped form my vision. Ultimately, my own personal vision statement became “I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD!”

PERSONAL EXAMPLES

There are a few personal examples of vision outside of our business that I mention. One of them is the vision of my childhood pastor to start a Christian high school in Clearwater, Florida. I also talk about a student that started in this industry with my school in 2012 and today, he has a large franchise operation. So make sure you have a vision before starting a pressure washing business. Over time, you will grow, develop, and refine that vision.

January 17, 2022 by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

COMMERCIAL POWER WASHING EQUIPMENT

The unique challenge for this COMMERCIAL POWER WASHING EQUIPMENT VIDEO is pine needles. On this particular commercial building, there is a covered parking structure with pine trees overhead. There was a large accumulation of pine needles both on top of the parking structure as well as three covered entry ways. We were able to include the cost for removing and disposing these pine needles in the power washing proposal. Normally, a landscaping or their lawn service would handle this. However, some of these services are now also adding pressure washing to their service list. So whenever possible, it’s best to provide the services they request so that you don’t lose the opportunity to another company.

TOOLS TO USE

The basic tools to use for this COMMERCIAL POWER WASHING EQUIPMENT video is a rake, a blower, and trash bags. However, for the parking structure, a pool brush really can really save quite a bit of time. Using a blower for this portion of the project would require more time and effort. We were able to simply push all of the pine needles off of the parking structure to the ground below. Then we went straight down line to rake and bag up all the pine needles by hand. I was able to dispose of these pine needles at my house by burning them. Be sure and watch the entire video for all the details!

ADD WINDOW CLEANING SERVICE

Another important part of this COMMERCIAL POWER WASHING EQUIPMENT video is window cleaning. Most commercial buildings have windows and they desire window cleaning service along with power washing. On this job, we use the REACH IT waterfed pole cleaning system. Many window cleaning service companies are expanding their services to include power washing. This is because most commercial property owners and managers want to complete the entire project with one contractor rather than two.

ANOTHER TIP

One more important component of this COMMERCIAL POWER WASHING EQUIPMENT video post is our KINGSLINGER soft wash system. We can easily clean up to three stories with this soft wash system. There was a lot of green and black organic staining. But the Kingslinger gives us the ability to deliver a much stronger mix. At time stamp 7:50 in this video, I also explain the various nozzles we use.

January 3, 2022 by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

Pressure Washing Business Truck

PRESSURE WASHING BUSINESS TRUCK

I recently converted my PRESSURE WASHING BUSINESS TRUCK from a standard bed to a utility bed. Even though the transition is not complete, I got the video together as soon as I could. This is because there were so many requests from my YouTube channel community members to see it. I greatly appreciate all the support my viewers have provided through the years with likes and shares as well as questions and comments. The results are fantastic and I am so glad I made the invest of time and effort to this truck conversion project.

EQUIPMENT ON DRIVER SIDE

We begin highlighting the 10 GPM KINGSLINGER SOFT WASH SYSTEM with the GF valves. I note in the video that I will add the drain kit to the compressor in coming days. Then we have an 8 GPM cold water skid pressure washer with a Honda GX 690. We use this machine for residential and light commercial projects. On the previous truck set up we also had a 5 GPM machine which was never really used, so this machine was not included in the transition. I like the result of more space with a cleaner look, as well as less weight. In this PRESSURE WASHING BUSINESS TRUCK video, I show the old ski set up at the 4:30 time stamp.

EQUIPMENT ON PASSENGER SIDE

I call the other side of this PRESSURE WASHING BUSINESS TRUCK the residential service side. This side always faces the house so that all the hoses unwind in that direction. In the cabinets on this side, I keep most of my tools. Wrenches, plyers, water keys, fittings, downstream injectors and more are all organized for fast and easy access. I also keep two pump up sprayers containing my RAP and Dougie Fresh cleaners. Our Dougie Fresh is great for windows and other places around the property needing soap. We use the RAP mainly for gutters as well as light grease and oil stains. There is also a separate storage compartment for property protection items that help us detail certain areas such as entry ways, porches and the like. Of course, rounding out the top of the residential service side is three hose reels. We have a pressure hose, a garden hose, and a soft wash hose. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment in the YouTube comments section if you have any questions about this PRESSURE WASHING BUSINESS TRUCK bed conversion.

September 12, 2021 by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

PRESSURE WASHING BUSINESS EQUIPMENT

Do you know what pressure washing business equipment is needed to start a pressure washing business? If you enjoy the outdoors and working with your hands, this is a great way to earn income. It could be as a side hustle, but then could very well grow into your full time job. In this video post, I provide five tools that would comprise the basic requirements for your pressure washing business equipment needs. My passion is helping pressure washing startups and I’m excited to share this insight with you.

KINGSLINGER SOFT WASH SYSTEM

You will need some type of soft wash system. We always recommend THE KINGSLINGER because we believe it is the best system available. We have continually tested and improved the system over time, and allows you to get a higher mix ratio. Bleach, water and surfactant easily combine or blend into one solution. There is even a third option for another cleaning agent when necessary. We know that the Kingslinger soft wash system is the top priority when considering pressure washing business equipment. If your business is not ready for the cost of a soft wash system, a pump up sprayer will work until you can afford it. If you expand services into roof cleaning, you will definitely need a soft wash system.

PRESSURE WASH GUN ASSEMBLY

Next on the pressure washing business equipment list is the gun. This pressure wash gun assembly comes with the gun, hose connector fitting, and a mosmatic swivel. Then there is the JRODNOZZLE KIT that is number three on the list. Be sure and watch the full video for all the details and demonstrations of how this all works together so well, saving time and effort on the job.

MODIFIED X-JET

This looks very similar to the gun we mention above. But the modification allows you to connect a hose coming directly from the X-Jet or five gallon bucket. The JROD nozzle kit can also connect to the modified X-Jet gun. The final piece of pressure washing business equipment is a check valve for the downstream injector. You might appreciate more information concerning a Downstream Injector Check Valve by checking out this post.