Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: sunshine windows on September 10, 2015, 07:41:04 am
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Hi guys.
Not that impressed with the clearing ability of the gutter vacs we're using to be honest. I've got a choice of 2 different angled, round ended sections. Also a tapered flatter ended section to get into tighter gaps.
No matter how much a think I've cleaned back and forth within the guttering I just seem to be creating a cleared channel within the muck.
What tools do you guys use to ensure all the muck from the gutters is cleared from the edges of the gutters and not just the middle.
Cheers
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Do you have a solid bend or a bit of silicone pipe.?
We use a solid Ali bend so can be angled slightly inside the gutter run without deflecting away from the edge.
Sometimes certain gunge takes a bit more work, it's not all about whacking a nozzle in the slot thinking that's job done, those really full gutters with weeds look impressive, but in fact are the easiest to clean as it all comes out in a lump. Moss filled are trickier as it's easier to leave stuff trapped at the sides.
Experience will help no end
Darran
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Dry stuff is quite easy to suck up from the edges but compacted damp/wet tile grit moss and sludge well that’s a different story especially if the gap between the tiles and guttering is quite narrow. I've found different types of tile like the ones with rounded sides can be harder to clear under them properly especially if square line (flat bottom) guttering and have narrow gap. Also don’t help when cables run in gutters and large overhangs of roofing membrane in guttering can be a pain in the butt too.
Just wait until you get to do some badly block corners with sods going up the roof valley too. Now that can be fun for sure.
All so say guttervac sellers will not admit they don’t work very well on all types of jobs so you have to look at ways to make your own tools yourself really and even sometimes still use ladders if need be.
I'm sure someone will be along in a mo to say you should have brought skyvac's industrial instead as it's the best thing since sliced bread...Oh the joys of guttervac clearing ;D
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All I've got are the 3 carbon (I think) ends that come with the Grippa vac.
I was thinking something with a toilet brush type rim around the end of the nossle, would be great for flicking all the moss off the sides, so the vac could grab it easier.
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Worth a try,
I have at least half a dozen different ends and bends, why not try one with hedgehog gutter brush wrapped around it
Darran
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If they have an outside tap you can use a garden hose cable tied to a wfp with a cone nozzle on the end to flush the gutters and downspouts through if need be or use a pressure washer & telescopic lance but best you only use a pressure washer as a last resort as can make a hell of a mess.
Like smudger mentioned gaining experience is the key as no two jobs are the same.
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I take it you also use a gutter cam whilst you work as can help no end too.
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The worst type is the half a 50p shape with the brackets on the inside, do my head in they do ! Best thing is to use a small pressure washer using low pressure and a long adapted pole to wash the stuff ya missed ;D
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like this one do you mean ;D
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I've found using a large drum vac may take up extra space in the van and bit harder to hump about than a smaller type vac but saves constantly emptying the thing when on a large badly blocked job.
Not only that it impresses the ladies too... that's a big one you have there ;D
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There isn't a gutter vac out there that will remove compacted dirt, what you need is a gutter spike to loosen up the
compacted dirt before using the vac.
What you will need is a piece of pipe wide enough to fit over a resi neck (threaded end )so that you can fit it to you pole.
If you have an old Harris pole the outer pipe can be cut into lengths and made to fit and attached using screws.
Then flatten the end and shape it in whatever way you feel digs/loosens the dirt out best for that job, I have a few different designs spoon shape pointed end and so on.
Its just a matter of fitting the one needed to your pole by removing the brush half of the resi neck and attaching the matching
half with your attachment.
Hope that makes sense as have explained it as best I can.
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Here we go....
I ditched my spike after two jobs, they are a pain in the @r$€ - use a solid bend and nozzle combo and it will easily dig into compacted moss etc..
Darran
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I recently started using a gutter vac. Although I didn't buy the vacuum from this supplier I did buy their carbon poles and tools which I'm very satisfied with. http://www.guttercleaningsystems.co.uk/
I believe they sell the tool pack as a separate lot if required.
As previously stated, I haven't found the gutter vac system to be the complete answer but as I'm getting more experience with it I'm learning what works and what doesn't.
Hope that helps. :)
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This is the type of bend smudger was on about
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I have an omni vac ali bend/breaker nozzle that I made different width ends that I shaped with a heat gun that can slide into it if/when need be. The gopro attached is so that you can see what you are doing in real time too as is far better than those chepo crap baby wifi camera/monitors being sold at a ridiculous high price as gutter cams.
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Cheers David.
Anybody else know of any useful end attachment?
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Yes Lance a ladder set up like this if all fails as is sometimes quicker than faffing about with a gutter vac ;D
Progutter tools on the end of a stripped down wfp also works just as well most of the time too.
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Not forgetting it's sometimes part of a job to sort out gutter creep, leaking joints etc so ladders are essential bit of kit for roofline work if you ask me.
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We weren't asking you ! ;D
I agree, we now do lots of repairs and even complete gutter replacements so ladders are now used on a regular basis
Darran
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We weren't asking you ! ;D
I agree, we now do lots of repairs and even complete gutter replacements so ladders are now used on a regular basis
Darran
Oh ok ;D
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Ladders are for people who don't care if they die . . . . I value my life, so choose not to use them 😜
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Ladders are for people who don't care if they die . . . . I value my life, so choose not to use them
I've not died yet using my ladder set up but me missus has come close to doing me in more than once apparently ;D