Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Steven Butler on January 28, 2013, 10:00:56 am
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Hi, I'm currently employed but have also recently started a carpet cleaning business but am considering whether window cleaning may have been a better option for my circumstances, young kids, school runs etc.
I'm not 1 of these people who think its a get rich quick business, I appreciate how hard you must all work.
As I said its all thought in my head and am still unsure what to do but if I was to consider it would it be possible to have a wfp set up in my car, it's a vauxhall zafira? Also what kind of price should I expect to pay for the set up?
Any advise appreciated
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Look at the Pure Freedom trolley which carrys a 25ltr container you might get one off ebay or something similar second hand .
And buy a tds meter to find out your water quality. Mi,e
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Lots of people run your kind of set-up.
As to price, do some research. You will need (if your tap TDS is more than about 25-30ppm) an RO and DI system - Pure Freedom is a good place to start. You will also need somewhere to store your pure water - depending on your usage (say 300-400 lt per day for a full time round) - either an Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) or a garden rainwater butt if it's big enough and a method of filling 25lt barrels (set the storage tank up on blocks so you can get the barrels under the outlet tap)
As M&M says a trolley would probably be your best way forward - it has a built in pump and battery. Plus you will need a couple of poles - fibre glass are the cheapest unless you feel confident to make your own (All the bits are available from Window Cleaning Warehouse)
As I said, have a look on a few Window Cleaning Supplies sites to get an idea of what you might have to spend.
Bear in mind the objective: You need to have a supply of water with less than about 10 parts per million dissoved solids and you need to deliver the water to a brush at the top of a pole - if you can achieve that, you've got it made.
Don't be fooled into paying hundreds for fancy equipment that only does what I've described above.
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Thanks for the replies.
For a start up package, would I be able to get a decent kit for under £1000?? Like you rightly say I need to research in depth but was just looking for an idea.
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k systems on ebay show a zaifira with a wfp system.
for under a grand u should be able to get going
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get some barrels and backpack a clx pole and a way to purify the water ro system and di vessel and you will be away
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If you're doing both and you've got off street parking get a trailer that will let you use a 250L tank.
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I started with a Renault Scienic.
2x poles
4 x 25 ltr Barrels
Trolley system
1 x 200 gpd Di Ro set up
2x 100 gallon storage tanks
No transfer pump as used gravity.
Trad gear and a ladder.
Most of this was all diy. Reserched on line and from forums.
Yes it can be done for less than £1000
Now have progressed to a van and van mount set up.
Started with 8 clients.
All the best!
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Thanks everyone for replying, made things alot clearer as to what I would need. Appreciate it. Now it's time to have a think .... Carpets or windows!?!?
Thanks again
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Thanks everyone for replying, made things alot clearer as to what I would need. Appreciate it. Now it's time to have a think .... Carpets or windows!?!?
Thanks again
windows huh !! .......... were nicer on this part of the forum
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Must admit, been very impressed with all your advise and replies so far.
All I need now is a breakdown of exactly what to buy and prices! :)
Cheers
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Looks like trolley systems my best bet. Is the pure freedom one the best or are there other places that sell similar??
Or shall i keep a look out for 2nd hand on ebay and on here??
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forget trolley far to bulky lifting in and out of vehicle..unless
you are going to use as van system...then i would just buy a pump
battery hose and flow controller if needed
if you want something portable go with backpack
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Gary can you recommend a good back pack, its not something i have looked into, how would you refil it at each job?? Obviously with a trolley i could take as many filled drums as id need.
Cheers
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Backpack all the way .
You dont need a trolley to start with its pointless and bulky .
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I used freedom trolley but gives lower back and knee aches.
I now use pump box.
I will put some links up this evening mate.
Off go dentist now :-O then work.
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All I need now is a breakdown of exactly what to buy and prices! :)
And that's when it all went wrong.
We were doing so well, too ;D.
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Cheers Lee please do
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Gary can you recommend a good back pack, its not something i have looked into, how would you refil it at each job?? Obviously with a trolley i could take as many filled drums as id need.
Cheers
backpacks are all much of a muchness and before anyone mentions
quality the vast majority are made in china.
if using everyday and this is a personal opinion dont buy shurflo they
are overpriced and the pcb breakdown easily..you can get a equilivant
backpack from john hewitt or gardiners for a lot cheaper.
preferably get one with controls on top of your pack,most of them
have the controls underneath as they were not originally designed for
wfp.
i have single speed ws18 and ws15 single speed which works fine for me
but variable control would more or likely be better for your self
i refill with barrels which weigh 25kgs fully loaded..if you will find this challenging
i would get a pump box instead which will have pump battery and flow controller
and hose connectors you can still use barrels if you dont want a tank in
your car..you would just drop one hose into a barrel and the other hose
would connect to your reel of microbore,would save all the humping around
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Cheers Gary
For now i only expect to be cleaning 2 days a week, not full time.
Can you recommend which might be best to buy mate? Cheers
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i like john hewitts ws backpacks nice and cheap and spares
are always available if needed and dirt cheap aswell.
like all backpacks they can have their issues the on/off switches are crap
so i wire a through switch to the top of the pack.
for the money you pay they are a real bargain.
best thing to do is ring john hewitts and talk to him,he is
spot on and wont sell you anything you dont need.
gardiners backpack looks decent i havent used one myself
but havent heard any complaints and they are another company easy to deal with
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ste, if you are sure i would produce pure water first, once you have mastered this you will have no problems, this is a must. get this sorted first. ro, di. booster pumps ,resins, tubing, drumms for water storage. tds meters. then the main object CUSTOMERS. everyone is trying to find extra work now. well almost everyone.
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Hi Steve, I started out with freedom trolley great reliable.
Cons: £700, everything is squashed in and not quick to access things to replace.
Have used a back pack also window cleaning warehouse type 1 cheap but a bit cheap and cheerful
not used gardiners back pack but have heard goo things.
If your working out of the boot of a car then i'd go backpack if you do want a trolley then i'd say freedom trolley probably the best around.
Pole wise CLX-27 hybrid (glass fibre and carbon mix; cheapish pole but pretty decent)
I have CLX-22 and i wish i had bought 27 as can't reach all my work.
Yes the SLX will be better (i don't have) but as a newbie master the clx 1st before you spend all your hard earned cash.
I started out with freedom trolley starter pack (trolley, 1 barrel, 22 foot glass fibre pole and 200 gallon per day ro unit)
As mentioned by others unless 30 tds (soft water) you will need ro unit to process (make pure water)
Don't buy anything less than 200 gpd ro unit (this make 800 litres of pure water in 24 hours)
In reality 650-700 litres.
I have 625 litre, I.B.C static tank in my parents garage (i live in flat)
I average 200 litres a day usage, i clean everything wfp except doorways.
I use less water than many on here using fan jets, gonna swap to 1mm pencil jets (jets are where water comes through brush)
Also a must have is aqua-dapter, you will be limited using a car in how much water you can carry so aqua-dapter will save you 25% on water combined with fan or 1mm jets i think you can save 35% on water.
http://www.aqua-dapter.co.uk/
Many on here use 400 litres a day you could cut that to 260 litres (35% of 400=(140 litres saved)
Also if you had to Steve you can do smaller downstairs windows by hand.
http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/Gardiner-Pure-Water-Trolleys-Backpack.html
CLX-27 pole
http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/clx-slx-super-max-telescopic-poles.html
http://www.ro-man.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=22_93&product_id=100
Alex Gardiner is a great guy and well worth speaking to.
I myself have ford escort van use 8x25 ltr barrels average, have 100 metre 6mm micro bore hose on one of gardiners reels
http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/premium-lightweight-metal-freestanding-microbore-hose-reel-cart.html
Also now use pump box cheapest i've found
http://www.daqua.co.uk/pumps_controllers.htm
Hope some of this helps Steve, trouble is one question leads to another and another ;D
One of the biggest problem you will have is weight of water in car 1litre=1 kilo soon mounts up.
Hence why i keep water usage as low as i can.
Good luck Steve, we were all newbies once :D
Just keep researching, posting ;)
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Thanks everyone, really appreciate ur advise.
Lee how much do you think I can get a back pack set up for, inc all bits required? Email me if u like supreme_clean@btinternet.com
My cars a vauxhall zafira and to be honest has a massive space with the back seats down.
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Hi Steve, can't see that link, sorry.
To answer your next question i reckon £1000.
To get back pack, pole mentioned, you need brush, barrels say 8-10
ibc tank i have 625 litre think i paid £125 but you can get a few rain butts.
Ro-man system mentioned, oh submersible pump to fit in static tank to pump pure water out into barrels.
resin, connectors, spares, scrims 5-10 or micro fibres, applicators, squeegee, pouch, bucket on belt, scraper, ladder to get over gates, ladder stay.
Some might say you can set up with £600 and maybe you can but i've used cheap poles, tried taps on hose to shut off water etc.
I've wasted alot of money on crap gear over the years.
I would email alex gardiner Steve, alex@agardiner.co.uk
I think back pack wise Gardiners are one of the best they also do a trolley doesn't have a digital controller to my knowledge though.
You could do what i do steve and get a pump box and hose reel.
But the weight could cripple your car :'(
As said email the resident expert.
I'l look out for your posts Steve.
I'm off to bed.