Power washing Archives

Bar & Grill Cleaning Story

I received a customer call who was interested in an estimate on an outdoor BBQ area that hadn’t been cleaned in several months or more.  The bar had one large commercial gill and two large camp cookers that take the five gallon propane tanks.  The area was “U” shaped so that the chef could stand in the center and have access to all burners, and grill in this area.  There was a large build up of spilled grease, drippings, and spilled refreshments.  Above the cooking area was a large pergola covering with 12 x 8 beams and covered with 4 x 4 lattice and corrugated plastic on top to keep the chef and some patrons dry in the wet weather; this also worked well at keeping the BBQ and grill smoke  in with poor ventilation changing the white pergola wood in to an off white smoke.  The seating arguments were in the surrounding area with picnic tables with umbrellas and a large wet bar that ran twenty feet into the center, all flat surfaces have seen lots of use by the signs of gum and stains left on the stamped trazo floor. Well, i had my doubts if it was going to come clean.  I had just heard about a cleaner call Ripper 3, it was being used for restaurant kitchen hood cleaning, with the waste being organic and not petroleum I was ready to put it to the test.  Oh My!  I sprayed the soap, with the power washer using protective  clothing, because it being caustic enough to melt flesh I was not willing to take any chances.  After waiting a few minutes to let start working I turned on the heat on the power washer and started washing. the smoke and grease came right off to my amazement that place looked brand new. It looked like the stuff was melting. Well I have a regular customer now thanks to Ripper 3.  Wish I had taken some before and after pictures to show, but maybe next time.  If your in the area vist Rooster Juice in Manteca, California and view my handy work.

Mark

Solar Panel Cleaning Studies

OCS says if the solar installation is experiencing a loss of energy of 5 percent or more due to dirt, then the system can pay back within 3 to 5 years. (Update: The company’s CEO Richard O’Connell tells us that the system costs $0.30 per watt DC to install, and that the company is in the process of bringing those costs down.) That energy loss estimate is actually a pretty conservative claim from a solar panel maintenance company. Many of the solar installation companies in the solar panel maintenance market say dirt and grim can reduce a panel’s energy output by 15 to 25 percent.

Solar Panels are exposed to the environment – sun, wind, dust, rain etc.   Solar panels are very similar to windows, lying flat or at a slight angle which means they get dirty very fast. Pollen, bird droppings, dirt, and dust can build up on solar panels.“Solar Clouding” commonly referred by the panel manufacturers, which means dirty panels and needs to be cleaned on a regular schedule in order to keep them producing at full capacity. There is a 10-15% decrease in solar output when solar panels are dirty.

Solar panels generally require very little maintenance. A few times a year, the panels should be inspected for any dirt or debris that may collect on them. Most manufacturers recommend the cleaning of solar panels every six months. Typically they should be cleaned in March/Aprilwhen the rainy season has passed and August/September, towards the end of summer. The cleaning services are a necessary part of the system maintenance and also to maintain its warranty.

Having the PV system cleaned will:

  • Maintain your investment
  • Ensure peak performance
  • Extend the life of your product
  • Maintain product warranty.

How to Clean Solar Panels

One can use a garden hose to wash the face of the panels during either the early morning or in the evening. Care should be taken not to spray cold water onto hot panels or there could be a risk of cracking them. There are also automated cleaners, which can be programmed to clean the panels as needed – a good choice if you are in an especially dusty area. Professional solar panel cleaners are also in abundance and can come out periodically to clean them.

Generally the solar panels are dusted gently and then washed using a soft wash brush to lightly scrub the dirt off. One should check with the solar panel manufacturer to know the best way to clean your solar panels. Hard water should not be used for the cleaning. Also check if there is any blockage from the sun like trees or plants. Clean solar panels are worth the effort.

Checking Solar Panel Operation

The only other part of solar panel maintenance is monitoring their energy output and ensuring there are no malfunctions. Check and log the power output on the solar inverters display on a daily or monthly basis. With this data, one can check to see if solar panels are functioning at full efficiency.  Solar panels produce different amounts of power during the year, so keeping a baseline measurement helps.

Solar Panel Maintenance and Cleaning Company

A Crystal Clear Vision– is a professional solar panel cleaning company. The latest unique & environmental-friendly reach-and-wash cleaning system is used, which ensures perfect cleaning results and is safe for the solar panels. The  system uses approx. 1.5  litres of water per minute. At Solar Clean, services are available to clean all residential, business and corporate solar systems in the  Californa area Residential cleaning costs start from as little as $3 a panel, subject to site inspection.

Cost Involved in  Cleaning & Maintaining Solar Panels

The cost of cleaning a residential solar panel depends upon:

  • Location of the Building
  • Number of Panels
  • Location of panels on the Premises
  • Availability of water.

Green Slippery Moss

It’s that time of year when the shaded areas of your driveway and sidewalks start to grow that annual crop of green moss.  Not only is it unsightly, its also slippery.   Give us a call for some pressure washing to remove it.

Removing Mold from Your Windows

Removing Mold from Your Windows

 

Winter brings many joys … the holidays, time with family and friends, fresh baked cookies, snow and roaring fireplaces.  Unfortunately, winter also brings some things that are not so wonderful including a brand new crop of indoor mold growth which can be found in any corner of your house.  Keeping mold at bay takes vigilance but one place where it is fairly easy to eradicate is on the surfaces of your windows.

Mold growth on the surface of your windows is an aesthetically unpleasant reality of winter.  Ugly black spots form on your windows because the warm indoor air and the cold outdoor air meet there and form condensation which, when it is unable to evaporate quickly, invites mold to take root and grow there.  It is important to note that mold does not actually grow on the inorganic surface of your window; mold grows on the organic material that settles on your window – dust, animal dander, dead skin cells and other flotsam of our human life creates a hospitable bed for mold to grow in.  Just add condensation and still air and voila!  You’ve got mold.

What to Do About Removing Mold from Your Windows?

Window Mold

Mold that grows on your windows is rarely of the most toxic “black mold” variety – constant temperature changes and poor quality of the food source make sure of that.  But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful when removing mold from your windows.  Non-porous gloves and a simple face mask to protect you from proliferating mold spores are still recommended.

 

. Wash windows with detergent, hot water and a brush or scratchy sponge.  Don’t bother with the chlorine bleach.  It’s bad for you and the environment and is like bringing a bazooka to do a popgun’s job.

. Rinse, then sterilize with water and white vinegar or rubbing alcohol.  This step will only prevent regrowth until there is a build-up of new food sources (again, dust, animal dander, dead skin cells, pollen, etc.) so make sure to clean your windows and window sills often with a damp rag rather than a feather duster (which simply redistributes the nasty stuff).

. Take steps to manage the inevitable regrowth of mold in the exact same spot.

 

Moldy Window

Simple Ways to Keep Mold Away

Unfortunately, unless you live someplace where the humidity is always around 50% both indoors and outdoors, mold will happen in your house.  Another unfortunate reality is that mold on and around your windows can happen in a brand new, energy efficient house (sealed too tightly) or an old, drafty, energy inefficient house (too leaky).  So, since there is no perfect house, what can you do?

. Any mold is a sign of too much moisture.  Invest in a dehumidifier and use it to keep the humidity between 40% and 60%.

. Allow some airflow.  Open some doors or windows, or run a ceiling fan or a tabletop fan.

. If it’s practical, add some insulation around your windows.

. Dry condensation off your windows with a clean rag.  This will remove both the water that mold needs and the food source that it loves … plus, your windows will be clean!

. Invest in a vacuum with a HEPA filter which will remove the microscopic “future food source” particles instead of launching them into the air to settle somewhere else.

. Clean all window sills and windows in the spring.  If mold is allowed to sit on your window surfaces through summer, they will dry and be harder to clean.

. Check the caulking around your windows and window sills to make sure moisture from your window surface is not getting into the walls where it will take much longer to dry.

. Finally, always check to see if your window mold is a sign of something bigger and more sinister happening in your walls or elsewhere.  Mold on your windows may simply be an ugly side effect of a larger – but hidden – moisture problem.

 

Mold On The Window

While it’s a normal part of winter to find mold growing on your windows, it’s ugly and should be removed as soon as practicable.  It’s easy to do so … and even easier to invest in a few preventative techniques like maintenance, proper care and appropriate cleaning to avoid a major mold problem that won’t be so easy to handle.