Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on January 03, 2015, 09:24:25 am
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ive been using hot water for 3 months(oct/nov/dec)and had my L5,hose and reel set up running like clockwork.ive spent £156 on gas in 3 months but do we really need to use hot water or is it a luxury?
my L5 is frost damaged now and i can easily afford to buy a new one and have all my fittings,hose and reel to swap over but i dont know whether i can be bothered now.
yes hot water is more comfortable to use with the hoses etc but its still over £300 a year in gas to use it for 6 months which would pay for cleaner planner for a year and vision(if i decide to keep using it).
thoughts please guys! ;D
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Yea I don't bother anymore. I used to use hot if it was below 0, just to keep us ticking over in particularly cold spells. If it's too cold for unheated water - go back to your bed.
Make hay when the sun shines.
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I use cold all year round. Haven't lost a day due to cold weather since the winter of 2011, mainly because the last few have been very mild. Also we do a few build cleans where we can still be earning whatever the weather / temperature.
Horses for courses I suppose but I'm happy staying with cold water only.
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Only used my heater one day in 2014 just to keep the hose supple about two degrees outside.
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I haven't used hot so far this winter.
Probably had it twice last year.
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i'll probably use hot abit in the summer too, its more that it melts the crap then the cold water so less scrubbing for me.
one of the best things i did was add hot to my system
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I don't think hot water is needed, after all i have been able to work with wfp for over 10 years now without it and back then I was not aware of it being used with wfp. Not saying that it might not be quicker or useful but its not essential so that makes it a luxury. Why fix what isn't broke ?
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I use hot summer and winter so I'm biased plumed into fuel tank so don't really notice cost even though I know ther is one
I mainly use hot as I personally find it easier to work with less scrubbing, and quicker overall with less strain on my body, which is of concern to me as few years ago was told I should not carry on working by hospital, but good acupuncture and Chriopacter I'm back full time
When you've been poleling as long as me, you do take that into account
Heating has downsides, more flexable hose can be an annoying I go through brushes quicker yet still I feal benefits outweighs cons
Ironically though I wouldn't pay for cleaner planner purely as george is sufficient for needs as sole trader I don't print work schedules, majority invoices emailed, don't use the accounts side of things just monthly financial reports
But if you're younger and given lack of heavy winters with hard frost even given week or so when could be so bad you couldn't work, so very rare these days
cold water is absolutely fine used it for over 16 years been on hot over 5 now maybe 6
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I was thinking about hot but only for cleaning conny roofs n maybe on realy cold mornings . I also would prefer doing it through the fuel tank how much did it cost to do that tony
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i'd agree hot isnt essential but is a nice luxury and definatly helps make the clean easier, melts the green stuff unbelievably.
i set my hot water system up thinking about being able to use it in winter when the reality is i now know i still wont work when its frozen due to the freezing water on the ground etc, i never thought about the actual cleaning side and the assistance it gives you with scrubbing etc or melting green,bird poo.
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It's a websto sadly there expensive,
I Went to websto dealer was £120 all in inc vat, as it was T5 and its a pressurised fuel systemt, which means needs its own separate draw from tank
on the T 4 its easy to do there a non return fuel pipe under bonnet near battery with good mounting point form there
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I can't be bothered with the hassle, you don't miss what you haven't got, colds always been fine
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I haven't found any evidence as of yet that it makes the job quicker or easier the best you get is that it
makes it more comfortable.
But I am also at the stage now where I am as quick and efficient as I need to be so adding hot would just be a waste
of money.
If you want speed on conservatory roofs use a degreaser and the customers tap, talk about speeding up the process.
But its like everything else in this game if it makes you happy then go for it.
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100% cold only for last 5 years ... if too cold I don't try and work as there is always tomorrow .. if I loose a day or 2 then can soon catch up.
however .... if I can get as many connies and plastic jobs this year that I am planning on then yes may make the move but still wont clean windows in the winter with hot if cold enough to freeze on the ground.
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i used hot water through last winter as well and (as some of you know!)i blew up my hose! ::)roll ;D
this year its been smoother until heater broke!the thing is the last 2 winters have been mild.
ive only ever had a couple of days in 4 years WFP when it was below freezing when my jets froze with a cold water system but easy fix(extra flask filled with hot water).my hose froze once as well along the ground.
its the extra faffing....driving to change gas bottles when they run out,expense,draining heaters every night,heavier hose to drag around,room in the van taken up,extra weight etc.
also for f/s/g cleans and conny roofs i use outside taps if available with 20m of extension hose.it saves on pure and speeds the job up due to stronger flow.virosol helps as well.
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I can't be bothered with the hassle or expense.
We don't work a full week ever so can juggle days around to miss the really cold days, as I'm DI only I have plumbed in the Combi boiler so its switchable to the outside tap so I can fill the tank with warm water if it is really cold.
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Just hassle I can do without more than happy with cold water .
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Only used mine 1 day so far
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i used hot water through last winter as well and (as some of you know!)i blew up my hose! ::)roll ;D
this year its been smoother until heater broke!the thing is the last 2 winters have been mild.
ive only ever had a couple of days in 4 years WFP when it was below freezing when my jets froze with a cold water system but easy fix(extra flask filled with hot water).my hose froze once as well along the ground.
its the extra faffing....driving to change gas bottles when they run out,expense,draining heaters every night,heavier hose to drag around,room in the van taken up,extra weight etc.
also for f/s/g cleans and conny roofs i use outside taps if available with 20m of extension hose.it saves on pure and speeds the job up due to stronger flow.virosol helps as well.
sounds like you have answered your own question and are in a better position than cold only users in that you have tried hot for yourself and come to the conclusion its not necessary ;)
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Got hot not used it yet trying to cut down on spending spent £500 new clutch then cam belt snapped £1180 so any saving helps.
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Hot all year round for me. (other vans are cold but getting converted by there owners this year)
Its not needed, but neither is a slx or an extreme because a harris pole will do the same job.
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Daz: surely Cawoods can repair you water heater?
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I've been using cold water since day one and have never had a problem yet
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I've been using cold since I started 10 years ago. I've looked at hot, but the cost of running it, the purchase price, additional complications and the reliability factor made me think that it just wasn't worth it.
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Hot all year round for me. (other vans are cold but getting converted by there owners this year)
Its not needed, but neither is a slx or an extreme because a harris pole will do the same job.
This is very true.
There is no doubt that hot is better, but how much better is out for debate.
I use hot water when it's needed in the winter, and on really green Conny and facias.
I needed it last month as water was freezing on conservatories, so for that it was invaluable. I managed to get my days work done where previously I'd probably have gave up.
I'd never be without the option of hot water now, but I don't use it unless I deem it necessary.
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That's a very valid point, why do people buy xtreme or slx poles when they can use a clx!!
I know for me it's definstely helped the cleaning process and it's not really expensive when you work it out, £100 for a cheap heater and £25-30 for a 19kg that lasts 5-6 weeks that's peanuts for me!
Leak issues isn't a problem either if you make sure hoses are clamped properly.
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Never used hot, dont really see the point in it, the only time I could see it helping my day is during the summer months to speed up the removal of insect poo, snail trails, pollen and birds poo etc
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thats anouther point i didnt mention, it makes quick work of the snail trails too even with a gardiner xtreme brush!
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thats anouther point i didnt mention, it makes quick work of the snail trails too even with a gardiner xtreme brush!
How much quicker though ?
so much quicker that its an issue if you don't have hot water ?
I'm not denying its benefits, but do they outweigh the hassle as Daz has mentioned ? costs , fittings , faffing -
two posts already this weekend regards to frost damaged boilers. It seems to complicate what was a very simple procedure - cleaning a window. Sorry if its getting a bit off topic but wfp was meant to be the greatest thing since sliced bread in the window cleaning trade, remember how we were all sold on the notion that pure water cleans better than ordinary tap and does so because it strives to return to its impure state virtually melting and absorbing the dirt from glass and leaving it sterile ? the sleepless nights some folk had when their tds rose to 002 ppm ! Now we all need to use hot water or pre soak a window with tfr or add a top secret ingredient to our pure tanks, and thats before we've even decided what brush we are going to use ! :o :o :o ::)roll ::)roll :P oh shoot me, I've just had a bad day >:( ;D :-*
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thats anouther point i didnt mention, it makes quick work of the snail trails too even with a gardiner xtreme brush!
How much quicker though ?
so much quicker that its an issue if you don't have hot water ?
I'm not denying its benefits, but do they outweigh the hassle as Daz has mentioned ? costs , fittings , faffing -
two posts already this weekend regards to frost damaged boilers. It seems to complicate what was a very simple procedure - cleaning a window. Sorry if its getting a bit off topic but wfp was meant to be the greatest thing since sliced bread in the window cleaning trade, remember how we were all sold on the notion that pure water cleans better than ordinary tap and does so because it strives to return to its impure state virtually melting and absorbing the dirt from glass and leaving it sterile ? the sleepless nights some folk had when their tds rose to 002 ppm ! Now we all need to use hot water or pre soak a window with tfr or add a top secret ingredient to our pure tanks, and thats before we've even decided what brush we are going to use ! :o :o :o ::)roll ::)roll :P oh shoot me, I've just had a bad day >:( ;D :-*
Nah-I think you've got a point.
Thing is, window cleaning is simple.
So,e people like to over complicate it.
Some people like to make a few extra quid out of a product.
Some people just wanna make an honest crust as easily as possible.
Nothing wrong in any of that.
I am hot.
I may try vision-just as a punt.
But, all in all, I just want an easy life.
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I see your point but window cleaning as well as everything in life moves on to make things easier and better, could you imagine if we was still using fishing rods or those big heavy brodex poles rather than the poles we have now, people like Alex and Steven thinking of ways to improve things to make life easier, honestly addibg a hot water system is really simple and not complicated as some people say and regards to the systems freezing and cracking that can happen to cold systems as well with pumps di tanks etc, you just need to drain the system down to prevent that for any hot or cold set up!!
I just don't want people to be put off reading some of the posts about hot water systems as I feel it's one of the best things I've added!