Here’s the question for anyone with a hot water washer or some input on my theory. I live in the mountains of New Mexico and we get alot of snow which quickly turns to ice (or atleast by the time the customer decides they need it off of their roof), so I was kicking around ideas to remove ice dams.
My theory is that hot water from a pressure washer could be used to melt the ice dams and probably most of the snowpack. The downside being that there would be a thin layer of water that could re freeze, but high altitude sun even in well below freezing temperatures could take care of that. 90% of the roofs in the area are Pro Panel (aka metal) Roofs. They do alot of expanding and contracting on their own during a year and I would hypothesize that temp variance could cause similar effects while washing but I couldn’t see it as a disastrous problem. Plus I would think minimally warm water and low pressure would be enough to disolve the ice.
So am I a complete idiot for thinking this? My PW is a cold water, so I can’t test my theory, but would consider purchasing a hot water this summer if it could be used in the winter. I have moved into window washing the last couple of years and let pressure washing fall to the back burner so I am sort of out of the loop. Thanks for any input!
btw The ice is usually about 2-3 inches thick and crystal clear by the time customers call me, not easily chipped away.
Had the Rail Runner. I think they stopped window cleaning to fund the extension to Santa Fe. It was very interesting to wash windows on the train. They always had the engines going so the whole train vibrated while you were cleaning it. Just an odd feeling when you are up on a ladder.
I wish I could help with your question I just have 0 know how when it comes to power washing. Although when it comes to snow on the roof I like to put my ladder at the pitch of the roof and then climb up. It’s amazing how much snow you knock off on the way down with your arms and legs flailing around. Only joking but it’s amazing what some people will do in NM to get the snow off their satallite. lol
I am going to take a crack at it. I am sure that hot water would take of the ice. My only concern would be how long it would take and how much water would you have to use. I think I would use this method as a last resort type thing. Instead I would try and figure a way to market the snow removal before it turns to ice on the roof. more preventative maintenance for the home owner. Now I could be very wrong just cause I don’t power wash yet so keep that in mind. The next thing I would worry about is were all the water you are melting plus the water you are using is going to end up? Will that water freeze somewhere else you don’t want it? streets, sidewalks, porches, ect. Will this cause a danger for you and your clients? I am sure this would all vary on the house and locations of walkways and such. The last time we had a big snow down here it left about 2 feet of snow on my roof. I took my extension pole and attached my shop broom to the end. Put the broom at the roof line and pulled the snow off. The small bit that was left over melted later that day. true I looked like a caveman but it worked. Now if you had a hot water power washer and instead of mixing a soap solution to run with the water, what about a salt solution to take the place of soap. So in theory would hot salt water from a power washer work better?
I agree if customers would sign on at the beginning of the season it’s no problem using the roof rake to pull the powder off, unfortunately most are of the belief that if you let it sit in the sun it will melt away, then a month later the roof is clear except for that valley with the iceberg. Ive resorted to chipping chunks off with my ice climbing axe (VERY cautiously) but even with a shovel it is sketchy because your basically driving the ice into the roof waiting for it to break off (big dent risk).
I am leary of salt water because of what it does to concrete, afraid it would leave remnants on the wood or stucco. Course dissolved solution would probably be better dispersed and might leave less remainder than normal sidewalk mix.
Someone locally mentioned their concern about runoff, and I think its valid, but I don’t think it would take the amount of water that’s used pressure washing in the summer, just shots of water to break it into chunks, like if you turn the outside faucet on into a snowbank, immediately that cold water eats through the crusty snow, if that water was heated I’m thinking it could fracture the ice. Maybe I’m just looking for an excuse for a new toy!
So what you are saying is that you would like to use sort of a pencil jet with hot water to break up the ice into smaller easier to move sections. That sounds like it would work to me. I would wear a hard hat. lol. If you hit the right section with hot water some is going to get beneath the ice. could be like a slip and ice slide. be carefull but sounds like it will work.
