Gunk in soap line

[JimC]

Have had more than normal problems with gooey buildup in screen filter on foot valve for the soap delivery pump. Clogs up and won't deliver soap or very little. Talked to one tech for soap company and he thinks its bacteria and suggested cleaning mix bucket and lines with bleach. I clean these screens on every two week pm and every time I drop in to check on things, but they seem to be gunking up more often than usual. Has happened at all locations and with different brand chemicals. Locations in N. Florida. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Jim

 

[Chiefs]

Try running hot water through the lines and pumps. Also, if you been mixing and matching ( i.e. trying) different products through the same pumps without clearing them out first by sucking water through them until the line is purged of the old product, you may have had a chemical reaction that has created a "cottage cheese-like" substance in the pumps and/or lines.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Some time back someone brought up this issue. I think we all deal with it to some extent. The warm temps in FL. probably make it worse for you. One forum member said he dropped some pennies in the tank and that stopped the growth of the slime. I have no idea what prompted him to try it, but don't really care. I wanted to try that, but I didn't have any money. I cut off a piece of scrap copper pipe and sanded off all the coating. I dropped a piece in each soap tank and have virtually no slime any more. Try it, it's cheap and seems to work.

 

[pitzerwm]

If you have a lot of tanks, you might get one of the copper grounding rods and cut it into small lenghts for each tank.

 

[MEP001]

I've only had the problem in the foam brush tank - I cut up a 2' piece of 1/2" copper into 4" sections and put them in the tank. I've never had the screen clog with gunk since. Before that I'd have to clean the tank once a month with bleach.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

I've only had the problem in the foam brush tank - I cut up a 2' piece of 1/2" copper into 4" sections and put them in the tank. I've never had the screen clog with gunk since. Before that I'd have to clean the tank once a month with bleach.

Great idea. Thanks I'll do this today.

 

[Randy]

I?ve tried the copper pipe, Brass tokens etc and none of them worked for me. The only thing I found that would works in keeping the slime out of the tanks is 1? swimming pool bleach pellets.

 

[JimC]

Thanks for the help

 

[mac]

I'm in south Florida and have run into this many times. One of my customers thought he was going to save big time on chemical costs, so he bought Stoner for his washes. At times he was pulling buckets of the slime out. Went back to Blendco, and the issue went away. It is bacteria, and they can be pesky things. There are some forms that love diesel fuel and jet fuel. To clean it you need to drain everything, scrub with bleach, and refill with new product. It's a mess. Out of curiosity, what brand of soap is this?

 

[JimC]

Thanks again for the suggestions. I tried the copper in one location and had already cleaned the bucket and lines with bleach at another. So far both spots are doing good. Now, it may be that the weather has cooled off some and affected the bacterial growth so I may not know for sure for a few weeks, but as of now it's been two weeks and the screen filters are staying clean with the copper. It's a lot quicker solution to help keeping the gunk down, but I still believe there is no substitute for keeping the buckets and lines at least washed out and wiped down on a regular pm basis. Thanks again to all, Jim

 

[Jeff_L]

I know this is and old thread, but I was searching because of something I have recently found at one of my washes.

I noticed a significant decrease in the volume of water coming out of some of my bays but not all. After the usually tinkering to find the problem, I decided to start taking things apart. To my amazement, I found the connection points such as angles and the pressure regulator all gummed up with creamy white goo. At first I thought it could be calcium or some other mineral, but i was able to scoop it out of the connections with a screwdriver and hot water. I had to go through everything from end to end on a bay. The result was increased water volume and felt like it should. Note: I didn't find any of the goo in the screen from the soap tank to the pump.

So here's the question, do you all think I'm mixing my soap a little rich to leave such a goo behind? Therefore I need to dilute it more?

or

My softener has been acting funny lately, didn't test the softness, but will tomorrow morning. Could hard water cause a goo substance?

What is a good method to cleaning it out of the lines and pumps that doesn't require taking every connection apart and cleaning? I still have a low ph chemical i could inject into the soap lines and run the pumps with that and hot water in hopes of breaking down the goo and cleaning the lines.

or

Should I too add a copper piece to the soap tank?

 

[mac]

Well you have certainly discovered something unusual. The goo most were referring to was a bacterial buildup. That stuff would be the consistency of slimy jello or thick snot. A calcium buildup would be crystallin in nature and be hard like the old fashioned rock candy. You would need to almost chip it out. The slime/bacteria would flush itself out of a high pressure line. I have seen Blendco detergents deposit a white crystal like buildup in lines over time. You may have stumbled upon a new life form, maybe something left over from one of the Mars probes. Can you post a picture?

 

[Jeff_L]

Thanks for the reply mac, the next connection i take apart and find it I'll post a picture.

Meanwhile, I tested the softness of the water and found it at 7 grains, which is what I have my softener set at.

I do suspect what I have found is soap buildup because I do mix my soap rich thinking I was doing the customers a favor. However, I was probably doing them a dis-service over time by restricting their water flow.

 

[MEP001]

It's probably the soap reacting with the calcium and creating the stuff. I've seen that before.

 

[rph9168]

Sounds like their is some form of contamination. If all else fails flush the line and clean the tank with a hot solution all purpose cleaner with a pH of 11 or better followed by a fresh water flush. That should clear the lines and connection.

 

[Jeff_L]

As an update - I discovered my softener was no longer functioning.

Also discovered the hose from the pump stands to the top of the bays had deterioated and were getting buildup in them choking the flow of the water. Replaced them and viola, great pressure once again!