How To Set Up 12v Soft Wash & Proportioner Tips | Pressure Washing Guides 2022

A good soft wash system can increase you small pressure washing business profits drastically. In Florida 90% of the jobs I do is roof soft washes. This for me is the most profitable part of my company and I usually only do driveways and other cleaning just to get my foot in the door to land the roof cleaning.

There are two main ways to build a softwash system by either batch mixing or using a proportioner. In the beginning I batch mixed meaning say you have 100gallon tank. To get a 4% Sh bleach mix you would fill it with 65% water and 35% chlorine/SH. The problem with this method is that if the customer then wants a house wash you need a separate tank or downstream injector to do the job since the 4% roof mix is too strong to apply to a house.

A proportioner metering valve set up allows you to on the fly control different strengths of SH mixes depending on the job. Not only is it more flexible method but also allows you to have that same 100 gallon tank just full of chlorine meaning you can now do 3 times roofs in a day before having to fill up again. Also when you buy more chlorine at a time you typically get a better bulk discount on the purchase so overall is so much better.

There are many methods of pumps you can use from the most expensive being gas then air compression followed by the cheap route of 12v. Gas and air compression run off a separate gas powered motor and can shoot much further distances which is more ideal for commercial jobs and 2+ story homes.

12v pump systems are my favorite as they are typically under $200 and if they break doesn't hurt the bank to get another. They do need a separate battery source and are more used for residential as they don't spray as far.

I personally love north star 12v 60psi bleach 5.5gpm pumps as they run about $180 and for $20 you get a 2 year warranty that covers full replacement. If you rinse out your pumps / line from bleach at the end of the day the pumps should last 6-12months. At end of day even if it was to last only 3 months with the warranty you are covered and only lose $20 but most likely generated thousands.

Make sure to get a good 1/2 chemical hose the higher grade ones will be less likely to kink and cause problems. I spent the extra $50 to get a real pvc trigger handle instead of a cheap ball valve system that break easily.

For the tip you can get a $50 jrod though I prefer a $15 adjustable plastic nozzle you get off amazon as it doesn't rust and easier to adjust spray flow pattern on the fly.


Most 12v pumps should build pressure in the lines then shut the pump back off. When you squeeze the trigger using pressure the pump will turn back on then once you let go of trigger the pressure should quickly build back up and shut pump off.
If this does not happen and your pump does have pressure shut off like most do then that is a sign of air getting in the lines. This is where you want to make sure every hose clamp is tightly screwed in. I added a t-ball valve in-between the hose reel and export side of the pump. This lets me bleed any air in the line through a 5ft hose instead of it having to push the air the entire way through my 250ft of hose allowing it to prime almost instantly.



__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The links below are just a few of the main items I use on my trailer. Feel free to ask any questions on some of the items I gave secondary options for some as you save up for the more expensive options.

Soft Wash Equipment:

5.5 Everflo Softwash Pump - https://amzn.to/3p4JmlG
7gpm Delavan Soft Wash Pump - https://amzn.to/3E2zgpL
Marine 12v Battery - https://amzn.to/3J2ZZWI
Respirator - https://amzn.to/3IXYmtr
Bleach Pump Up Sprayer - https://amzn.to/33HkSGX
Jrod - https://amzn.to/3GRnhNx
Huk Boots - https://amzn.to/3E95Rde
1/2 Stainless Steel Barb - https://amzn.to/3qaxCgz
1/2 Metering Valve - https://amzn.to/3GU2tor
Union Ball Valve Softwash - https://amzn.to/3p52wrE
xjet m5 - https://amzn.to/3q72w9V
Hose Splitter - https://amzn.to/3GP3EW8
1/2 Flexzilla soft wash hose - https://amzn.to/3miFKKS
Kuri Tech Premium 1/2 Softwash Hose - https://amzn.to/32Az18q
100 Gallon Water Tank - https://amzn.to/345aJE7


Pressure Washing Equipment:

Simpson 4gpm Pressure Washer - https://amzn.to/3E7jMkm
Best Ball Valve - https://amzn.to/3q6iyAS
Surface Cleaner - https://amzn.to/327aoA8
Hose Pressure Swivel - https://amzn.to/32ikRIR
Hose Reel - https://amzn.to/3q4UNJf
Trailer Hitch Lock - https://amzn.to/3p3QcI6
3/4 Garden Hose Flexzilla - https://amzn.to/3sgEUlD
Heavy Duty Pressure Hose - https://amzn.to/3e3XG7O
Pressure Washer Guage - https://amzn.to/3Jz4Mj8
Extendable Pressure Wand up 20ft - https://amzn.to/3ex0RoI
12 Gallon Gas Tank - https://amzn.to/3qpF3AO
Pressure Washing 3/8 Fittings - https://amzn.to/32FeteW
Hudson Shut Up Float - https://amzn.to/3mBxNR6


Uniform - https://www.fin-print.com/
Website Builder - www.wixx.com