Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: clearviewwc on November 18, 2011, 09:34:40 pm
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Hi, at the moment I clean everything traditional but am considering using pure water with an 18 ltr backpack (maybe on a trolley) for upstairs windows. My question is, how many average sized windows will 18 ltr clean? Can someone help me with flow rate etc ( I understand this can be varied on most backpacks as they have a flow/ speed controller)? Thanks
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3
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when you first start you will be using lots of water so you
will be lucky to get one house per fill,but as you get used to it
your water usage will come and you will do more for each
fill.
i can do two standard semis and at least three standard terraced houses
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when you first start you will be using lots of water so you
will be lucky to get one house per fill,but as you get used to it
your water usage will come and you will do more for each
fill.
i can do two standard semis and at least three standard terraced houses
with 18 litres of water!!!!
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Hi clearviewwc,
You're unlikely to get a definitive reply to this, as experienced WCs all use different amounts of water for various reasons.
A back-pack user I know told me that, with an Aqua-dapter (and the same may possibly apply if using a trigger), he uses approx 11 litres per semi. Water conservation isn't his primary concern (speed is), so you could probably 'squeeze' more out of it, but you would sacrifice speed.
Then you have to start considering, what's an average semi, what's an average sized window, what flow rate to use, how long is a piece of string...
Even so, hope this helps!
Paul
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Hi clearviewwc,
You're unlikely to get a definitive reply to this, as experienced WCs all use different amounts of water for various reasons.
A back-pack user I know told me that, with an Aqua-dapter (and the same may possibly apply if using a trigger), he uses approx 11 litres per semi. Water conservation isn't his primary concern (speed is), so you could probably 'squeeze' more out of it, but you would sacrifice speed.
Then you have to start considering, what's an average semi, what's an average sized window, what flow rate to use, how long is a piece of string...
Even so, hope this helps!
Paul
thats an honest answer (refreshing on here!!!) but i still think 11 litres is ambitious unless its modern "affordable housing" type estates
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up to 20 windows .after they have had a first clean ,
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when doing just tops, I am counting windows from memory here, between 12 to 16 windows sometimes maybe 20 before refilling, that was using a tap of some sort to cut flow after every window immediately, I had an auto brush but an aqua adapter, trigger would do the same. flow doesn't matter to me the quicker the better= less time cleaning
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i must really be missing some trick cos i started wfp with a diy trolley and yes it had varistream and old 60 psi surflo and pole taps etc....and if i could do a three bed semi with one 25ltr barrell then i was happy......twenty windows????........suppose it depends on the window size......you based in lilliput????
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when you first start you will be using lots of water so you
will be lucky to get one house per fill,but as you get used to it
your water usage will come and you will do more for each
fill.
i can do two standard semis and at least three standard terraced houses
with 18 litres of water!!!!
no sorry have to correct myself there,i meant i 25ltr barrel
of water :)
you dont have to blast water at windows to clean and im
quick
i use a 15 ltr backpack
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i must really be missing some trick cos i started wfp with a diy trolley and yes it had varistream and old 60 psi surflo and pole taps etc....and if i could do a three bed semi with one 25ltr barrell then i was happy......twenty windows????........suppose it depends on the window size......you based in lilliput????
You in the Fire brigade L J? ;D
I reckon 1.5 litres per window on repeat cleans. Therefore 12 windows or two council house semi's tops only.
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LJ, I see a pattern repeating here, as per DIY purefreedom post. Perhaps you should give impact a call and ask if you can do the other 2 days of that course.
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Yeah I can see a pattern too. Student of the year ;D
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Ok, thanks that's a help, sort of. 12-20 depending on all sorts of things. I'll give it a go. Unfortunately (now i want to change methods) I would say 80% of the work I've picked up over the last few years are people who haven't liked the wfp system. I am thinking I might struggle to introduce it to them fully so I thought I'd try doing the upstairs wfp and down traditional for now. Hopefully they will give it a chance and will see its as good or better than traditional.
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Ok, thanks that's a help, sort of. 12-20 depending on all sorts of things. I'll give it a go. Unfortunately (now i want to change methods) I would say 80% of the work I've picked up over the last few years are people who haven't liked the wfp system. I am thinking I might struggle to introduce it to them fully so I thought I'd try doing the upstairs wfp and down traditional for now. Hopefully they will give it a chance and will see its as good or better than traditional.
Its not what they like its what you like, explain that your life is more important then perhaps a little bead from a poor frame window they may have,
its not worth doing ladder work mate by all means trad the downs to save water but stick to your guns and replace customers that force you to risk your life is my advice!
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Ok, thanks that's a help, sort of. 12-20 depending on all sorts of things. I'll give it a go. Unfortunately (now i want to change methods) I would say 80% of the work I've picked up over the last few years are people who haven't liked the wfp system. I am thinking I might struggle to introduce it to them fully so I thought I'd try doing the upstairs wfp and down traditional for now. Hopefully they will give it a chance and will see its as good or better than traditional.
I have succesfully converted customers who were previously not happy with the WFP system when they were cleaned by other window cleaners.
Most of these customers had said they didn't like WFP because it leaves the windows with streaks and spots.
99% of the time this is the fault of the window cleaner and not the WFP way of cleaning.
When done correctly WFP is very good and those customers are still loyal regulars of mine and have never complained about the quality of the work. ;D
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Same here. Tell em you clean by hand for free if pole leaves any marks. Which it won't, if job done well.
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Ok, thanks that's a help, sort of. 12-20 depending on all sorts of things. I'll give it a go. Unfortunately (now i want to change methods) I would say 80% of the work I've picked up over the last few years are people who haven't liked the wfp system. I am thinking I might struggle to introduce it to them fully so I thought I'd try doing the upstairs wfp and down traditional for now. Hopefully they will give it a chance and will see its as good or better than traditional.
I had exactly the same worry, as most of my new customers are people who didnt like reach and wash. however i changed over about 6 weeks ago, and i only clean the top windows, and havent had 1 cancellation. Just give them the sob story that health and saftey laws have forced you to buy all this expensive equipment, and that you have no choice. i think people realize that its all about safety these days. Plus its DEFINATLEY worth it!
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And when they find out you've been lying to them, I hope they sack you !!!
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up to 20 windows .after they have had a first clean ,
i will second that one.
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i must really be missing some trick cos i started wfp with a diy trolley and yes it had varistream and old 60 psi surflo and pole taps etc....and if i could do a three bed semi with one 25ltr barrell then i was happy......twenty windows????........suppose it depends on the window size......you based in lilliput????
;D Gullivers cleaning services
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And when they find out you've been lying to them, I hope they sack you !!!
actually its not a lie because i work alone, and the ladder is supposed to be footed at all times, so therefore it would be against health and safety. I was actually told that by an ex health and safety officer who is a customer of mine.
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lillyput no up the valleys yes .25ltrs on a 3bed semi was that insides as well . best u buy a fire engine .a 1000ltr tank no good to u .
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1800 lts
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am thinking of using back pak same as you at moment trad downs. use wagtail on pole for most ups but cant get some awkward windows or small windows with wagtail let us know how it goes.
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LJ, I see a pattern repeating here, as per DIY purefreedom post. Perhaps you should give impact a call and ask if you can do the other 2 days of that course.
perhaps you should bite me
backpacks may have their uses but the best way to stop spotting etc is to rinse properly and if you are scrimping on water you will have problems
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when you first start you will be using lots of water so you
will be lucky to get one house per fill,but as you get used to it
your water usage will come and you will do more for each
fill.
i can do two standard semis and at least three standard terraced houses
with 18 litres of water!!!!
no sorry have to correct myself there,i meant i 25ltr barrel
of water :)
you dont have to blast water at windows to clean and im
quick
i use a 15 ltr backpack
its not "BLASTING" water i use a 60psi surflo with a mk3 analogue varistream set at about 70percent with a gate valve to turn flow on/off using 100mtrs of microbore. Pressure and flow are different things
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when you first start you will be using lots of water so you
will be lucky to get one house per fill,but as you get used to it
your water usage will come and you will do more for each
fill.
i can do two standard semis and at least three standard terraced houses
with 18 litres of water!!!!
no sorry have to correct myself there,i meant i 25ltr barrel
of water :)
you dont have to blast water at windows to clean and im
quick
i use a 15 ltr backpack
its not "BLASTING" water i use a 60psi surflo with a mk3 analogue varistream set at about 70percent with a gate valve to turn flow on/off using 100mtrs of microbore. Pressure and flow are different things
i wasnt particurlary aiming the comment at you,maybe you
might consider you may and im only saying may be using more
water than needed
standard terrace round here generally has 6 windows plus
i patio window and front door and i can definatley do 3 and
bit of these houses on maintenance cleans with one barrel of
water
i use a ws15 with a 70psi pump which chucks out 2.6ltr per min
by time gets tobrush it prob a little less im really quick and on
my 4 weekly cleans i rarely have to rinse unless there is bird
crap or something stubborn hanging on,as long as im using
000ppm i never have spotting issues
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seriously are you saying that you DONT rinse as a matter of course!!!!????
really??
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When i use the trolley with 25lt barrel, i can do 2 semis side by side on maintenance cleans. These semis had 14 windows each.
On 1st cleans i would use 25lt and rinse off every window, but after awhile i got to know which windows needed more work and which came up good regardless.
I only rinse off the glass with really stubborn muck or debris on them.
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seriously are you saying that you DONT rinse as a matter of course!!!!????
really??
on my 4 weekly maintenance cleans i rarely have to,my flow
is around 2lt per min with my superlight dt mono and i never
have a prob,unless its work on a major rd then i rinse.
6/8 weekly cleans i always rinse, lets face it the windows might
actually be really dirty over that length of time ;D
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i dont have any 4 week cleans round is too big lucky if i get done in 8
i always found with barrels that i was watching how much water was left
with 650 litres i dont often have that problem