Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mist A Bit on December 20, 2014, 10:42:32 am

Title: high/low flow debate
Post by: Mist A Bit on December 20, 2014, 10:42:32 am
Hi all, been reading a lot of posts about flow rate. I use veristream on number 4 which isn't to slow, I've decided to try on number 7 . I used more water but did an extra 40 quid in the day and with the quicker pace I was buzzing and loved working harder. I felt more dedicated and enthusiastic than I have in years. So I'm converted . Eco clean got its mojo back.
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Jakey boy on December 20, 2014, 10:56:00 am
Hi all, been reading a lot of posts about flow rate. I use veristream on number 4 which isn't to slow, I've decided to try on number 7 . I used more water but did an extra 40 quid in the day and with the quicker pace I was buzzing and loved working harder. I felt more dedicated and enthusiastic than I have in years. So I'm converted . Eco clean got its mojo back.


I'm starting to use a higher flow rate as well, I find its much faster, and probably not much in it with regards to wate usage as your rinsing is quicker so probably balances out the water consumption... When on a low flow, you spend much longer rinsing, so probably use around the same anount of water per house...
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: slap bash on December 20, 2014, 11:03:36 am
I am glad to see a few braking out of the old hat mold. We can only benefit as a industry by trying new things. If it was not for this experimenting we would still up ladders with sham-mi mops and falling on our heads.
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Window Lickers on December 20, 2014, 11:05:27 am
IMO there is no debate.

I've been WFP 6 1/2 years and have always ran my pumps at full flow. its false economy to try to save water in the hope you can work longer into the day. Ramp the pumps up and work faster.

I recently upgraded one of our pumps to a 10 LPM instead of the usual 5 or 6 LPM. This makes noticeable difference in the amount of water used. I've found with this were getting through a significantly larger amount of water, in all honesty this does need turning down a tad as for regular cleans it's excessive. For connie rooves its a joy. I'm finishing putting together my e-bay/maplin controller this weekend so will be able to regulate it from then on, I imagine I'll be running it at about 75% it's max potential.
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Jonny 87 on December 20, 2014, 01:26:50 pm
Do you use 6mm hose or 8mm?

I use microbore on my reel which is the 6mm internal diameter. I've heard some say they much prefer the flow of 8mm though.
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Deangsi on December 20, 2014, 01:30:31 pm
I don't run on full but I say 80 percent, low flow really doesn't cut it for me at all that's why I use a 400 litre tank all to myself lol
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Smudger on December 20, 2014, 01:35:34 pm
To me it was always a contradiction in terms of trying to clean a window but use as little water as you can ( in terms of flow ) I could see 'bits' and worse spiders nests just not being rinsed away.

We use microbore (6mm) you need to up the flow controller a little and adjust the pressure settings on the controller (if you have them)  in general it's not going to make a huge difference because from the hose you drop down to pole hose, then you get to either pencil or fan jets which can only allow so many LPM to pass through them.

Darran
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Window Lickers on December 20, 2014, 01:46:53 pm
Do you use 6mm hose or 8mm?

I use microbore on my reel which is the 6mm internal diameter. I've heard some say they much prefer the flow of 8mm though.

Ive always used 6mm but recently upgraded to 8mm. Dont like it, particularly in this cold weather. Ive a reel of unsued 6mm, so I might swap them over and have the reel of 8mm for particular jobs that require more than 100 metres of hose and go back to using the 6mm, See how that might affect flow with the new pump.
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: slap bash on December 20, 2014, 02:03:35 pm
The using of a 6mm and 8 mm should make no difference as the water will just run faster in the 6 mm hose. The strain on the pump is minimal and if it was the pressure switch would deal with that..
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Window Lickers on December 20, 2014, 02:46:56 pm
But if you increase the size of pump along with the hose it will make a difference.
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Ian101 on December 20, 2014, 03:51:28 pm
Hi all, been reading a lot of posts about flow rate. I use veristream on number 4 which isn't to slow, I've decided to try on number 7 . I used more water but did an extra 40 quid in the day and with the quicker pace I was buzzing and loved working harder. I felt more dedicated and enthusiastic than I have in years. So I'm converted . Eco clean got its mojo back.


amen to that  :)
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: windowswashed on December 20, 2014, 07:07:37 pm
When the brush is sat flat on the glass I have my flow of water just reaching slightly above the top bristles when it's flowing and then turn down the flow so it's level with the top bristles on the brush head and go with whatever that is ???
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: DG Cleaning on December 20, 2014, 07:29:21 pm
If you use a larger diameter hose you'll get more flow
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Smudger on December 20, 2014, 07:37:59 pm
If you use a larger diameter hose you'll get more flow

Will you ?

So if I use a 3 inch diameter hose but still have a 1mm diameter jet hole it will flow faster than 1/2 inch hose ??

I'm not being padantic but you can only get so much water through a jet, this is the smallest bore in your system. More flow would not just mean bigger hose and pump but larger jets as well.

A key factor in the flow rate is to know what lpm a jet can pump out, x2 on the brush head, if this is over 5 lpm them bigger hose and pump can be used, if not your just going to get back pressure

Darran
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Jonny 87 on December 20, 2014, 07:46:56 pm
Do you use 6mm hose or 8mm?

I use microbore on my reel which is the 6mm internal diameter. I've heard some say they much prefer the flow of 8mm though.

Ive always used 6mm but recently upgraded to 8mm. Dont like it, particularly in this cold weather. Ive a reel of unsued 6mm, so I might swap them over and have the reel of 8mm for particular jobs that require more than 100 metres of hose and go back to using the 6mm, See how that might affect flow with the new pump.

That's interesting as I thought you'd like the flow from 8mm better. It makes sense though.

Your right in what you say smudger that at the end of the day we are restricted by pole hose and jets too.

Think I'll stick with 6mm then. :)
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: duncan h on December 20, 2014, 08:16:55 pm
then pressure comes into it  ???
The more you turn up the pump, the more comes out of the jets. Not at full restriction yet then  ;D
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: DG Cleaning on December 20, 2014, 08:46:34 pm
If you use a larger diameter hose you'll get more flow

Will you ?

So if I use a 3 inch diameter hose but still have a 1mm diameter jet hole it will flow faster than 1/2 inch hose ??

I'm not being padantic but you can only get so much water through a jet, this is the smallest bore in your system. More flow would not just mean bigger hose and pump but larger jets as well.

A key factor in the flow rate is to know what lpm a jet can pump out, x2 on the brush head, if this is over 5 lpm them bigger hose and pump can be used, if not your just going to get back pressure

Darran

Your right of course the flow is restricted by the smallest diameter in the circuit.
I was making the point that a larger hose equals more flow.

Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Smudger on December 20, 2014, 08:48:37 pm
No problem, I tried to reply in a way that made sense but no appear rude, your point is noted  ;D

Darran
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Walter Mitty on December 21, 2014, 12:58:44 am
I'm currently on a much lower flow than usual as I'm having to backpack it temporarily - the less water I need to hump around, the better.  Normally though, I do use a decent flow rate.  I've always preferred it.  Even if it is too high a rate for my working speed, at least I'm less likely to do a duff job.
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: robert mitchell on December 22, 2014, 12:44:52 pm
The diameter of a hose will affect flow , the longer the hose the more it will affect it .......however i can't see it making enough difference to be noticeable for window cleaning unless your running out hundreds of metres of hose.
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Window Lickers on December 22, 2014, 01:53:51 pm
The diameter of a hose will affect flow , the longer the hose the more it will affect it .......however i can't see it making enough difference to be noticeable for window cleaning unless your running out hundreds of metres of hose.

100 metres of hose is 100 metres of hose whether its all wound round a reel or laid out on the deck  ;)
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: LWC on December 22, 2014, 11:48:29 pm
The diameter of a hose will affect flow , the longer the hose the more it will affect it .......however i can't see it making enough difference to be noticeable for window cleaning unless your running out hundreds of metres of hose.

What about friction loss Rob  ;D
Title: Re: high/low flow debate
Post by: Ian101 on December 23, 2014, 07:31:13 am
The diameter of a hose will affect flow , the longer the hose the more it will affect it .......however i can't see it making enough difference to be noticeable for window cleaning unless your running out hundreds of metres of hose.

What about friction loss Rob  ;D

get yer self some vision .... job sorted