Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Wc Solutions on December 03, 2010, 08:00:40 pm

Title: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Wc Solutions on December 03, 2010, 08:00:40 pm
does it have to be above freezing?

if the ground is frozen will hose freeze up?

will 50% less water use help?
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on December 03, 2010, 08:07:19 pm
does it have to be above freezing? Yes generally

if the ground is frozen will hose freeze up? Can do in snow certainly

will 50% less water use help? No. Water is water. Under 0c it starts to freeze and that's that really!
I've only been able to work in the afternoon when it's crept up to 0c.
Before that it's just frozen in the jets and in some cases on the glass...then the jets!
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: mci services on December 03, 2010, 08:12:30 pm
does it have to be above freezing?

if the ground is frozen will hose freeze up?

will 50% less water use help?

I will disagree with squeaky slightly,

if the building you are cleaning is heated you can generally get away with cleaning down to around -2. keep water flowing and don't leave brush lying around for too long get it back in the van asap. you will come across buildings that have unheated parts and unheated conservatory's so avoid them or do them at the warmest time you can
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Wc Solutions on December 03, 2010, 08:13:43 pm
what about when youve gone and the water on the glass.
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: mci services on December 03, 2010, 08:18:43 pm
what about when youve gone and the water on the glass.

it may freeze eventually or the heating inside may allow it to dry as normal either way the window will still be clean. I found this out doing a commercial last year where one side of the building froze. anyway when doing the inside the temperature was rising slightly and when the staff came in the heating went on and the windows came up just fine.

it is a struggle but can be done. of course your customers might not believe you
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Frankybadboy on December 03, 2010, 08:34:12 pm
been working in -2 most off the week no problems. :o
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: David OCuilleain on December 03, 2010, 08:44:17 pm
what about when youve gone and the water on the glass.

it may freeze eventually or the heating inside may allow it to dry as normal either way the window will still be clean. I found this out doing a commercial last year where one side of the building froze. anyway when doing the inside the temperature was rising slightly and when the staff came in the heating went on and the windows came up just fine.

it is a struggle but can be done. of course your customers might not believe you

Um cant get mine to believe me. only done 3 all week :'(
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on December 03, 2010, 09:06:57 pm
Yep, I tried twice at -2 and it froze in the jets while it was running.
I thawed it out, and within 4 windows it had stopped again.

Any windchill probably adds to it.
Only time I got any wfp done was at 0c or above
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Klean07 on December 03, 2010, 09:28:15 pm
Franky says hes been working in -2 all week and Squeeky says his brush freezes up at -2. Mmm, suppose the only thing to do is go out and try for myself.
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on December 03, 2010, 09:30:41 pm
Franky says hes been working in -2 all week and Squeeky says his brush freezes up at -2. Mmm, suppose the only thing to do is go out and try for myself.
That's right. He may have been somewhere with no wind. Might get away with it then
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: RCS on December 03, 2010, 09:33:17 pm
Get the hot stuff !!! doesn't freeze n jets don't get blocked !! -7 this morning and worked through 2 feet of snow with reel out all the way, no problems today or this week.... must say it pays for itself !!!
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: mci services on December 03, 2010, 09:35:29 pm
Franky says hes been working in -2 all week and Squeeky says his brush freezes up at -2. Mmm, suppose the only thing to do is go out and try for myself.
That's right. He may have been somewhere with no wind. Might get away with it then

wind chill factor does not alter the freezing factor, google it ;)
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on December 03, 2010, 10:24:41 pm
Get the hot stuff !!! doesn't freeze n jets don't get blocked !! -7 this morning and worked through 2 feet of snow with reel out all the way, no problems today or this week.... must say it pays for itself !!!
Won't stop it freezing on glass.

Hot water freezes quicker than cold. Well known bizarre fact...
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: mci services on December 03, 2010, 10:37:49 pm
Get the hot stuff !!! doesn't freeze n jets don't get blocked !! -7 this morning and worked through 2 feet of snow with reel out all the way, no problems today or this week.... must say it pays for itself !!!
Won't stop it freezing on glass.

Hot water freezes quicker than cold. Well known bizarre fact...

it is a well known myth, here is the science bit that I am sure will be disproved in 5 minutes.

if you take 2 open top identical containers and place boiling hot water in one and cold in another the boiling hot one will freeze first. that is because the surface area is evaporating i.e. steam and so there is less surface area to freeze compared to the cold water container. now with a hot system they are using warm water and in this case it takes longer to freeze than cold because it takes longer to get to freezing point.

ok someone will prove me wrong in a minute or two but that was my findings last year when we were frozen off for 4+ weeks
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: G Griffin on December 03, 2010, 10:39:58 pm
Get the hot stuff !!! doesn't freeze n jets don't get blocked !! -7 this morning and worked through 2 feet of snow with reel out all the way, no problems today or this week.... must say it pays for itself !!!
Won't stop it freezing on glass.

Hot water freezes quicker than cold. Well known bizarre fact...

Hot water can freeze quicker than cold; not always.
It depends on a lot of things.
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Frankybadboy on December 04, 2010, 05:43:40 am
ive started  wfp when the temp been -2 knowing that it going to rise a little,if it meant trad afew hours then so be it.

got alot to be said about cleaning small council house in this weather,small =warm houses.

i had to move think around,round wise to keep going but we aint had a bad week for the 2 off us.
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Carl2009 on December 04, 2010, 08:33:21 am
I lost 2 weeks in January this year when I couldn't get the van off the drive, but with no snow to speak of here in Pembs (just 2" or so) I was determined not to let the cold weather get to me. We've had -4 or more most nights but i've been out every day. Here's what I did with my (Pure Freedom) system:

1. Make up new tap to booster pump and booster pump to van transfer hoses. Drain them and bring them in at night when van is full. Bring in booster pump too.

2. Remove the Hozelock connector on the van port and drain water from bit of hose that exits van floor, under van to said connector. If you don't it will freeze even though van is toasty.

3. Eleccy greenhouse heater in van set at 5c to ensure all parts of van remain frost free. All pipes, filters and RO insulated as best I can with that gray foam tubing and silver-faced bubble wrap (did this in September).

4. Keep flow from pole going when cleaning where usually i'd turn it off, so water has less chance to freeze in the hose jets.

5. Drain outside tap down.

6. Bring reel inside as this is the item that tends to stay frozen even inside the van given it is lying in snow or on frozen ground.

7. Put down salt on all wet patches. (I use silage salt from local farmer's co-op - was £3.50 / 25kg till they hiked price by 25%. Profiteering ar*ses, and my wife works there!!!).

8. I use Showa 460 gloves with a merino wool liner inside. Bulky but doable. Mid you Skytec Argon gloves http://www.skytecgloves.com/skytec-gloves.php?glove=68 work well. After a while your hands do get wet, but for me they act like a wetsuit and are relatively warm. I have a dozen pairs so can swap them around.

I have found that water is freezing on glass on north facing walls. Water is also freezing on contact with the ground, but in general central heating in homes keeps panes OK. Unheated connies are a different matter. I have been starting at 09:30 and finishing at 15:30. With no lunch I can do 14 or so. I am not behind and have 5 to do today, hence late start ;).

Now, if anyone can help me recoup the hundreds of £ I lost in November due to the constant heavy rain we had here in West Wales I’d be grateful…


Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: groundhog on December 04, 2010, 09:50:56 am
What was the chemical everyone was putting in their water tanks last year? It was supposed to stop the water from freezing, I can't remember its name. Does anyone still use it, and if so does it work??  :)
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Klean07 on December 04, 2010, 09:58:00 am
Ispyonol.
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Jeff Brimble on December 04, 2010, 10:39:47 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol
 keep it stirred with your bypass otherwise it floats to the top.
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: dazmond on December 04, 2010, 11:01:23 am
so it just goes to show that wfp WILL be ok if its hovering round the zero/-1 mark if


1.all our equipment is inside overnight and/or good heater in the van

2.later starts(10am/11am)and earlier finishes

3.keep hose lying on frosted ground to a min and keep water flowing while cleaning.

4.trad some lower windows

5.salt/grit the odd pathway

i really dont want to go down the trad pole/ladder route for upper windows if i can help it!! ;) ;D ;D ;D


ive brought 7 barrels of frozen pure water inside my flat and  their defrosting nicely!all poles.di/trolley/pump etc have been inside since monday.

so ill be good to go monday morning!ill just see how i get on!!


dazmond
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: groundhog on December 04, 2010, 11:44:53 pm
Ispyonol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol
 keep it stirred with your bypass otherwise it floats to the top.

Thanks guys, but does it work??
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Mike #1 on December 05, 2010, 07:30:34 am
i belive it does help to stop water freezing but i have had times when it has froze on glass but this has been on cold porches and windows in the shade which are always typically colder but it was between -2 / -3 degrees had hose laid in snow and on ice and it does'nt freeze up in hose , Just keeping a low flow rate when you are wiping down sills until you get everything back in your motor
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Dave Willis on December 05, 2010, 07:36:49 am
Yes it will stop freezing but the quantities required are surprisingly high. Interestingly the guy on here who reckoned he could work all day long with a coke can of the stuff in his tank was frozen up last week  ???
Title: Re: WFP - when can we use in cold?
Post by: Mike #1 on December 05, 2010, 07:53:25 am
i think  you do need to put a good glug in i put about 100ml in my 25ltr containers yesterday worked well enough although i might need to put more when its a bit colder possibly a 150ml , But not any more than that its to bloody expensive well sort of £9 for ipa £9 for delivery bumps price up