Soft Wash Systems and Supplies

Shingles, vinyl, and stucco do not need pressure. They need the right mix, enough dwell time, and a rinse. Sun Brite Supply stocks 12 volt soft wash pumps, guns, proportioners, and chemical-resistant hose at our Gaithersburg counter, and we have helped Maryland crews build rigs for over 30 years. Call 301-519-9274 and we will walk you through a setup that matches your jobs.

Three Ways to Apply Soft Wash Mix

Every soft wash rig answers one question: how do you get sodium hypochlorite onto the surface at the right strength? There are three common answers, and the right one depends on what you clean.

Downstream injection pulls chemical into the water stream after your pressure washer pump, so the machine you already own becomes a soft wash rig. The tradeoff is strength: after dilution you land around 1 percent SH at the wall, plenty for vinyl and most house washing but not enough for a moss-covered roof. An X-Jet draws chemical right at the nozzle through a proportioner, roughly doubling what a downstream injector delivers, and the mix never runs through your pump, hose, or gun. A dedicated 12 volt system sprays whatever is in the tank, which is why roof crews run them. Asphalt shingles usually need 3 to 6 percent SH to kill Gloeocapsa magma, the algae behind those black streaks, and only a tank system delivers that reliably.

Sizing a 12 Volt Soft Wash Pump

Match the pump to the reach and pace you need. A 2.2 GPM pump handles single-story houses and small roofs on a 5 amp draw a lawn tractor battery can feed all day. A 5.5 GPM pump throws mix 30 feet or more vertically with the right tip and covers most two-story work. The 7 GPM class is for production roof crews who want fast coverage and long hose runs. Watch the amp draw, not just the flow number. A 7 GPM pump can pull over 20 amps, so it needs a deep cycle battery and heavy gauge wiring, not the cigarette-lighter clips that come on cheap sprayers. Bypass-style pumps like the FloJet Pentaflex handle long dead-head periods better than basic demand pumps, which matters when you are on the roof and the gun stays closed between passes.

The Parts Everyone Forgets

Bleach finds every weak component on the rig. Run chemical-rated hose, not garden hose, from tank to gun. Our clearbraid PVC hose lets you see flow and costs little enough to replace on a schedule. Put a strainer ahead of the pump so undissolved surfactant does not jam a valve. Protect the house too: slide a poly sleeve over each downspout so roof mix drains into a bucket instead of the flower bed, wet plants before and after, and rinse everything below the work area. The cheapest items in this collection, the sleeve and the strainer, prevent the most expensive callbacks.

Soft Wash Equipment Lineup

Pricing moves with the chemical and pump market, so call to confirm before you build a quote around these numbers.

From the Field

Look at what breaks and you learn what to buy. We sell replacement pump heads and diaphragm parts to crews who leave mix sitting in the pump between jobs. SH crystallizes as it dries and the crystals chew up valves and seals. Flush the whole system with fresh water at the end of every day and a 12 volt pump lasts seasons instead of months. The other repeat purchase is batteries. An undersized battery drops voltage, the pump slows, the spray pattern collapses, and people blame the pump. Put a real deep cycle battery on the rig and charge it every night. It is the cheapest performance upgrade in soft washing.

Build Out the Rest of the Rig

• 12 volt pumps
• Roof cleaning chemicals
• House washing chemicals
• Chemical injectors for downstreaming
• Chemical hoses
• M5 X-Jets
• Surfactants and additives
• Water and chemical tanks
• Pump-up sprayers
• Pick up locally at our Gaithersburg store

Frequently Asked Questions

What strength SH do I need for roofs versus siding?

House washing on vinyl or stucco usually works at 1 to 2 percent SH at the surface. Asphalt shingle roofs typically need 3 to 6 percent to kill the algae causing black streaks. That gap is why roof work calls for a tank system instead of a downstream injector.

Should I start with downstreaming, an X-Jet, or a 12 volt system?

If you already own a pressure washer and mostly wash houses, start with a downstream injector. Step up to an X-Jet when you need a hotter mix on masonry or heavy growth. Buy a 12 volt system when roofs become a regular part of your schedule.

What size 12 volt soft wash pump should I buy?

2.2 GPM covers single-story work, 5.5 GPM handles most two-story houses, and 7 GPM suits production roof crews. Check the amp draw and pair bigger pumps with a deep cycle battery and heavy wiring.

Why does my soft wash pump pulse or lose pressure?

The usual causes are a weak battery, a clogged inlet strainer, or dried SH crystals in the valves. Charge the battery, clean the strainer, and flush the pump with fresh water after every job before assuming the pump is bad.

Will bleach ruin my pressure washer if I downstream?

Downstreaming introduces chemical after the pump, so the pump itself stays safe. The hose, fittings, and gun do see diluted mix, so rinse the system by drawing clean water through the injector for a minute at the end of the day.

How do I keep soft wash mix from killing plants?

Soak plants with fresh water before you spray, keep them wet during the job, and rinse again after. Bag or sleeve the downspouts on roof jobs so runoff drains to a bucket instead of the landscaping.