Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: chopsie on May 19, 2010, 07:42:32 pm

Title: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 19, 2010, 07:42:32 pm
I am getting through loads of water, Tried having varistream on 3 and 4, Now tried it on full (9) as peter fpgwell and jeff teperary (something like that!!  :P ) Was saying on a previous post, But seem to use the same amount of water anyway. I have a 400 litre tank in my van and from what i have read on here people are doing 15-20 house with this (maybe more).
I struggle to do 7 or 8  :( any tips or advice, Maybe a useful video? I have a tap on my belt so not much gets wasted between windows etc. Thinking of getting a bigger tank.
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Window Washers on May 19, 2010, 07:53:54 pm
I am getting through loads of water, Tried having varistream on 3 and 4, Now tried it on full (9) as peter fpgwell and jeff teperary (something like that!!  :P ) Was saying on a previous post, But seem to use the same amount of water anyway. I have a 400 litre tank in my van and from what i have read on here people are doing 15-20 house with this (maybe more).
I struggle to do 7 or 8  :( any tips or advice, Maybe a useful video? I have a tap on my belt so not much gets wasted between windows etc. Thinking of getting a bigger tank.
I would have a min of 500 for a days work anyway:

but can you do a video showing how you work ? I will then do one and shjow you how I do it. if you are using 400L on 7/8 standard type 3 bed houses the way you are doing it is totally wrong..........
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 19, 2010, 09:13:56 pm
thanks ian, i will try and get the mrs to film me over next few days on our house then e-mail it you if thats.
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Murdie window cleaning on May 19, 2010, 09:42:03 pm
Chopsie

I've only recently started using wfp and what I do (not sure if it's what others do or not) is to clean the frames then wet the glass and then stop the water, give the glass a good scrub and then rinse.

I can do a 3 bed semi detached on about 10-15 litres, but obviously depends on how dirty the windows are to start with
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 19, 2010, 10:10:43 pm
Cheers murdie.Have considered doing that, But am worried that the end result will not always be ok. How long have you been doing it like that for? Any comments or feedback off your custies?
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: tomy jackson on May 19, 2010, 10:27:26 pm
wot size hose do you use 6 m is best with out very strem or by pass
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 19, 2010, 10:32:55 pm
I use 8mm from pure freedom
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: dmlservices on May 19, 2010, 10:35:32 pm
Chopsie

I've only recently started using wfp and what I do (not sure if it's what others do or not) is to clean the frames then wet the glass and then stop the water, give the glass a good scrub and then rinse.

I can do a 3 bed semi detached on about 10-15 litres, but obviously depends on how dirty the windows are to start with

thats not the way to do it , i work with a high  flow rate, and don't stop the water to scrub , you just need to work quicker , knowing how much scrubbing /rinsing is the key , spending any more time rinsing / scrubing is wasting time and water.

daz
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 19, 2010, 10:37:42 pm
yeh i think you are right dml. I have found using a high flow rate is quicker and i use no more water (probably a little less)
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Murdie window cleaning on May 20, 2010, 05:58:02 am
Chopsie

I've only recently started using wfp and what I do (not sure if it's what others do or not) is to clean the frames then wet the glass and then stop the water, give the glass a good scrub and then rinse.

I can do a 3 bed semi detached on about 10-15 litres, but obviously depends on how dirty the windows are to start with

thats not the way to do it , i work with a high  flow rate, and don't stop the water to scrub , you just need to work quicker , knowing how much scrubbing /rinsing is the key , spending any more time rinsing / scrubing is wasting time and water.

daz

End result is a clean window, so I don't see how you can say I'm doing it wrong. Im all for learning from the experianced guys but as everyone seems to have there own technique then I'll stick with mine for now.

No major complaints from my custies either, so that is encouraging as well. I did have one old guy who came home just after I'd left and couldn't understand why I'd left his windows wet but other than that all seem happy.
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: karygate on May 20, 2010, 06:38:13 am
i have a 400 litre tank and can do about 15 houses from it with say three of them with cons. what i do is run my varistream at 5 and have fitted my own 2mm jets. this gives a good pressure with a lot less water.but i could not do a house on 10 to 15 of water.
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: lozsing on May 20, 2010, 06:42:23 am
I have a 350l tank and run my varistream on 5 for first cleans and 2 on normal work . I would say i can manage about 18 ave houses before refilling.
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Paul Coleman on May 20, 2010, 07:15:38 am
I am getting through loads of water, Tried having varistream on 3 and 4, Now tried it on full (9) as peter fpgwell and jeff teperary (something like that!!  :P ) Was saying on a previous post, But seem to use the same amount of water anyway. I have a 400 litre tank in my van and from what i have read on here people are doing 15-20 house with this (maybe more).
I struggle to do 7 or 8  :( any tips or advice, Maybe a useful video? I have a tap on my belt so not much gets wasted between windows etc. Thinking of getting a bigger tank.

I'm not familiar with Varistreams etc as I never use them.  One way that helped me greatly reduce water usage was to switch from half inch hose to microbore.  So if you don't already have a smaller bore hose, that may be an option to look at.  It's a lot easier to maneouvre too.
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 20, 2010, 07:36:54 am
i got 8mm hose paul. think technique is my down fall? considering trying the autobrush from peter fogwell to  try and save a little more  :-\
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Martin ccs on May 20, 2010, 04:27:05 pm
i use an xline trolley on setting 2 flow rate and for my monthly and two monthly cleans i can do about 4 - 5 houses tops only wfp with 25 litres.

so with 150 litres im getting a good days work done with that.
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Small but perfectley formed on May 20, 2010, 05:18:09 pm
Get a pole trigger you will save at least 25%  did 76 houses yesterday (upstairs most and all that were leaded) with 350 l .
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 20, 2010, 05:33:40 pm
Get a pole trigger you will save at least 25%  did 76 houses yesterday (upstairs most and all that were leaded) with 350 l .
:o thats good going,
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: R W C™ on May 20, 2010, 05:45:50 pm
Get a pole trigger you will save at least 25%  did 76 houses yesterday (upstairs most and all that were leaded) with 350 l .

76 houses in one day, is your town full of toy houses  ;D
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: dmlservices on May 20, 2010, 05:49:52 pm
Chopsie

I've only recently started using wfp and what I do (not sure if it's what others do or not) is to clean the frames then wet the glass and then stop the water, give the glass a good scrub and then rinse.

I can do a 3 bed semi detached on about 10-15 litres, but obviously depends on how dirty the windows are to start with

thats not the way to do it , i work with a high  flow rate, and don't stop the water to scrub , you just need to work quicker , knowing how much scrubbing /rinsing is the key , spending any more time rinsing / scrubing is wasting time and water.

daz

End result is a clean window, so I don't see how you can say I'm doing it wrong. Im all for learning from the experianced guys but as everyone seems to have there own technique then I'll stick with mine for now.

No major complaints from my custies either, so that is encouraging as well. I did have one old guy who came home just after I'd left and couldn't understand why I'd left his windows wet but other than that all seem happy.

the whole point of w.f.p. is to have water running all the , so you are scrubbing and rinsing at the same time , by turning of water you are wasting time , but if it works for you then carry on, just trying to say it's not the most time efficient way to go about it

daz
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Window Washers on May 20, 2010, 06:34:13 pm
Get a pole trigger you will save at least 25%  did 76 houses yesterday (upstairs most and all that were leaded) with 350 l .
they most be 1 bed 1 window houses back and front, as it is not possible to clean that amount of say a standard 3 bed semi
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: andyM on May 20, 2010, 07:23:57 pm
350 ltrs / 76 houses = 4.6 ltrs per house
 ???
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Small but perfectley formed on May 20, 2010, 09:17:39 pm
3Bedscleanedfortnighlysorryabouttextmyspaceonmylaptopisnotworking.Whydoineedtobullpoop ???thatshowmanywecleanedin6hourswith350l
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Matthew JN on May 21, 2010, 11:29:24 pm
Hi there,

Ok he is my take on this issue.

Firstly you must have a flow control valve fitted to your pole - preferably the "thumbturn type" - next make sure your flow controller is on at least setting 8 imo.

Then when you clean a window you can first open up your water flow fully and do the frames and wet the glass. Then you can close your water flow up for a quick scrub if needed - i find if you leave the water flow on you do not get enough friction with the brush sometime to scrub away harder deposits bird muck etc.

Then you can open flow fully up again for the rinse - which is better and quicker as you have your varistream set high.
 
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: zodiac on May 22, 2010, 01:56:14 pm
hi
You can get 1.5 mm pencil jets from cleantech  that should  save you some pure water
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: dmlservices on May 23, 2010, 07:52:26 pm
Hi there,

Ok he is my take on this issue.

Firstly you must have a flow control valve fitted to your pole - preferably the "thumbturn type" - next make sure your flow controller is on at least setting 8 imo.

Then when you clean a window you can first open up your water flow fully and do the frames and wet the glass. Then you can close your water flow up for a quick scrub if needed - i find if you leave the water flow on you do not get enough friction with the brush sometime to scrub away harder deposits bird muck etc.

Then you can open flow fully up again for the rinse - which is better and quicker as you have your varistream set high.
 

i glance at windows when i start job , any bird muck gets a spray of water , then left to

soak whilst i do other windows, it then comes of with hardly any scrubbing,and it quicker

 to  ;)

daz
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Sapphire Window Cleaning on May 23, 2010, 08:25:02 pm
I am getting through loads of water, Tried having varistream on 3 and 4, Now tried it on full (9) as peter fpgwell and jeff teperary (something like that!!  :P ) Was saying on a previous post, But seem to use the same amount of water anyway. I have a 400 litre tank in my van and from what i have read on here people are doing 15-20 house with this (maybe more).
I struggle to do 7 or 8  :( any tips or advice, Maybe a useful video? I have a tap on my belt so not much gets wasted between windows etc. Thinking of getting a bigger tank.


Roughly how long do you spend on each window Chopsie?

Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on May 24, 2010, 08:41:08 am
Windows that have been cleaned several times before require hardly any time.  Parts of frames that are cleaned will require one pass brush on.  Then the glass down and up once brush on, zigzag down the window brush on and if your fussy take the brush off and rinse.  All of this can be done in seconds.  Smaller jets do help reduce water.  To use that much water though it has to be your method of work.

Simon.
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: dave.e on May 24, 2010, 04:45:03 pm
Get a pole trigger you will save at least 25%  did 76 houses yesterday (upstairs most and all that were leaded) with 350 l .

76 houses a day :o don;t you mean sheds ;D
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: cleewindows on May 24, 2010, 05:20:09 pm
lol 76 houses in one day,who is he trying to impress?
he must be on a footballers wage!
then he woke up  ;D
76 x 20= 1520 cleans a month if he done that everyday for 20 days x by £10 average house + £15200 a month  ;D
that beard is getting a bit big or nose one thinks  ;D ;D ;D
Get a pole trigger you will save at least 25%  did 76 houses yesterday (upstairs most and all that were leaded) with 350 l .

76 houses a day :o don;t you mean sheds ;D
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Mike #1 on May 24, 2010, 07:49:58 pm
get some 1mm pencil jets form cleantech i now only use 200 ltrs  a day usally work about 7-8 hrs a day
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 24, 2010, 10:06:16 pm
Roughly how long do you spend on each window Chopsie?


Quote
bit hard to say really, Average 3 bed semi takes me around 30-40 mins i guess, sometimes quicker.
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: dmlservices on May 24, 2010, 10:14:55 pm
Roughly how long do you spend on each window Chopsie?


Quote
bit hard to say really, Average 3 bed semi takes me around 30-40 mins i guess, sometimes quicker.

from those times i would say you are spending to much time on each window.


daz
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 24, 2010, 10:22:41 pm
what would you say would be average time you do a 3 bedder in?
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: mci services on May 24, 2010, 10:23:58 pm
so would I, i would have thought 20 mins max but its hard to tell without seeing
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: mci services on May 24, 2010, 10:25:57 pm
chopsie can you put a google street view up of a house that takes 30 to 40 minutes
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 24, 2010, 10:35:30 pm
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=park+road+ashbourne&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Park+Rd,+Ashbourne,+Derbyshire+DE6+1FN&gl=uk&ei=ufD6S9v-D5f20gT5u43qBw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ8gEwAA
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: dazmond on May 24, 2010, 10:35:47 pm
i do an average 3 bedder in 15 mins trad!i would be disappointed if i couldnt do one in 10 mins wfp(after a few cleans).30-40 mins wfp? ::) ::)sounds like somethings wrong somewhere chopsie?are you cleaning the soffits and fascias and garage doors  in that time??!!!! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D

best wishes

dazmond
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: dmlservices on May 24, 2010, 10:39:52 pm
around 10 mins for those houses
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: mci services on May 24, 2010, 10:41:34 pm
judging from that pic its terraced but supposing its two up two down at the back ten minutes max, although it may be a struggle to get round the back it still wouldnt take 30 to 40 minutes
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 24, 2010, 10:44:48 pm
sorry its one over the road behind the lorries. 10 min heh, I am wank  ::)
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: mci services on May 24, 2010, 10:49:36 pm
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=park+road+ashbourne&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Park+Rd,+Ashbourne,+Derbyshire+DE6+1FN,+United+Kingdom&gl=uk&ei=ufD6S9v-D5f20gT5u43qBw&ved=0CBUQ8gEwAA&ll=53.015093,-1.729531&spn=0.006261,0.013089&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.015012,-1.729517&panoid=Aj9Z4VzYT8HRCWrqnBpGig&cbp=12,101.3,,0,5.96

do you mean these ones
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: mci services on May 24, 2010, 10:51:12 pm
if so still ten minutes
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 24, 2010, 10:55:03 pm
yeh thats them. how do you make it go to the house you want when copying and pasting, as obviously mine just went to a map
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: mci services on May 24, 2010, 10:56:43 pm
at the top of view there is a tab with link on it. press that then copy and paste on here
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: chopsie on May 24, 2010, 11:01:30 pm
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=8+park+road+ashbourne&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=8+Park+Rd,+Ashbourne,+Derbyshire+DE6+1,+United+Kingdom&gl=uk&ei=8Pb6S5GKHpaI0wTQuq3qBw&ved=0CBUQ8gEwAA&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.014749,-1.729482&panoid=Aijwp57ZbFqAzUOEBdYLgw&cbp=12,78.87,,0,13.66


I see, thanks
Title: Re: help reducing water usage
Post by: Dave Anderson on May 25, 2010, 07:34:42 am
I have found in the past few years that during the winter period I use less water and then in summer I need to bear in mind a little more water is required during the summer months.