Clean It Up
UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Smurf on September 06, 2016, 09:35:37 am
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Does anyone else struggle unblocking guttering hoppers with a guttervac?
The badly blocked ones with large sods growing in them I found a nightmare to try clear.
To be honest it would have been quicker to do by ladders than all the faffing around trying to get the sods out.
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Regards to faffing around.
First I tried an normal head on carbon gutter vac poles but done jack on the 3 storey sods. Then tried to break them up a bit using a makeshift hook on a wfp and then tried the vac again but still no joy.
In the end got me heavy old omni ali poles out with a omni dirt breaker ali bend on the end and gave it some whellie. With a bit of force and more faffing around managed to break the sods up and lifted them out.
Surely there is a better way/tools out there for the job apart from using laddersand/ or any other access equipment to clear them by hand. ???
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On some occasions I have disconnected the downpipe wherever possible and use gutter rods from below with a hook attached to break up while using the Vac from above
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Thanks that's an idea but would that not be a pain in the arse for the likes of 3 storey hoppers?
As I was struggling was contemplating using a telescopic pressure washer lance but would not have reached into the 3 storey ones. Good job too if I’m honest the recoil using the gutter bend on the end of those things fully extended is shocking ;D
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Not really
If its a straight run and you have plenty of rods its easy and works
Sometimes with enough force you can pop the sod straight out the hopper and its falls straight to the ground
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Nice one... Just need now to buy enough rods for future 3 storey hoppers and then when the issue arises again maybe give it a go.
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I also thought about using a pressure washer drain jetting hose from the bottom instead of rods but I'm guessing what with weight of the hose might not manage to reach the top. Has anyone tried this method as I don't want to be forking out on drain jetting hose and making myself look like a twit if it's not going to work?
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I don't think you will fail on the 'twit' bit.
I also thought about using a pressure washer drain jetting hose from the bottom instead of rods but I'm guessing what with weight of the hose might not manage to reach the top. Has anyone tried this method as I don't want to be forking out on drain jetting hose and making myself look like a twit if it's not going to work?
A drain jetting head runs at anything from 3 - (to about) 8 rear jets and can have a forward jet as well, though under the scenario you are talking about that is not advised.
There won't be an issue with the hose crawling up the downspout.
Have you got any pictures of the home made gutter hook - the shortcomings may be with the design?
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Thanks Rob. I think you're right I need to look at getting better guttervac tools sorted for awkward stuff like hoppers etc.
Regards to trying to break the sods up and maybe hook them out I was just using a carbon angle adapter extension with a spike and bent fork thingy tapped and cable tied on the ends.
Bit like this vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TY0nm_k3iw
I also found this that might come in handy on some jobs too http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SkyVac-Gutter-Cleaning-Accessory-Gutter-Fork-/252242610489 What do you think?
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We made an attachment for our kits called the downpipe fork that you put into the hopper and the prongs get into the weed and you can then lift it out. We've found that no matter how powerful your vac is (we've had 4200 watt machines in the past) there are times where suction alone won't get certain weeds hence why we developed our tools.
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Thanks BDCS, when you say pressure washer pole do you mean a carbon wfp modded for pressure washing?
Year ago I took a look at an omni pressure washing pole and could hardly lift it up it was so heavy. Mind you the crappy 7.2 metre ali/ fibreglass pole I have is just a pile of crap for any serious work too.
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/JBL-Single-Barb-Spear-Tip-6mm-/131823734584
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Drain jetting nozzle you would need to manually push it up after the first floor and it would make a hell of a mess!
I've found with stubborn gutters by the time you mess about trying to clear it, it's just quicker getting the ladders out
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Drain jetting nozzle you would need to manually push it up after the first floor and it would make a hell of a mess!
I've found with stubborn gutters by the time you mess about trying to clear it, it's just quicker getting the ladders out
Obviously 2 storey gutters you would get a ladder out but on jobs where RAMS won't allow you would need other options to complete the job. My jetter easily climbs 60 ft without assistance with a 3 r nozzle - we don't all have a girlie jetter http://www.flowplant.com/drain-jetters/products/van-pack-jetter/light-van-pack/. I also have a 13m ladder when needed.
I thought we were discussing options to complete awkward jobs not wanting to upset some amateur without the forsight to take anything he can't reach by standing on his milk crate ::)roll
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You won't get a 13 metre ladder up a down pipe!!!
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;D ;D
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You won't get a 13 metre ladder up a down pipe!!!
Least-ways not with you on it Rob ;D
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I've sold all me long ladders so now stand on a shoe box instead ;D
I don't mind using my ladder setup still on 2 storey roofline work but sod 3 storey roofline ladder work now.
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I've sold all me long ladders so now stand on a shoe box instead ;D
I don't mind using my ladder setup still on 2 storey roofline work but sod 3 storey roofline ladder work now.
They must be flogging cheap shoe boxes in Lidl this week ;D
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I've sold all me long ladders so now stand on a shoe box instead ;D
I don't mind using my ladder setup still on 2 storey roofline work but sod 3 storey roofline ladder work now.
They must be flogging cheap shoe boxes in Lidl this week ;D
Indeed ;D
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I go up 3 floors from time to time on Zarges triple section ladders. Don't like it much but needs must
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Drain jetting nozzle you would need to manually push it up after the first floor and it would make a hell of a mess!
I've found with stubborn gutters by the time you mess about trying to clear it, it's just quicker getting the ladders out
Obviously 2 storey gutters you would get a ladder out but on jobs where RAMS won't allow you would need other options to complete the job. My jetter easily climbs 60 ft without assistance with a 3 r nozzle - we don't all have a girlie jetter http://www.flowplant.com/drain-jetters/products/van-pack-jetter/light-van-pack/. I also have a 13m ladder when needed.
I thought we were discussing options to complete awkward jobs not wanting to upset some amateur without the forsight to take anything he can't reach by standing on his milk crate ::)roll
What's with the hostility? Why does having a less powerful jetter make me an amateur?
You might want to look at the limitations of using high pressure in pipes because you'll end up blowing out of the side of one if your not careful.
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Powerful don't always equate to high pressure ! If you were to stick to two storey houses then fine get your ladders out. I would not have to manualy push my jetter hose. I don't give a st1t of you think I'm hostile as I was just giving options on over coming a problem. If you think I'm hostile just ignor my posts
Will do
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Powerful don't always equate to high pressure ! If you were to stick to two storey houses then fine get your ladders out. I would not have to manualy push my jetter hose. I don't give a st1t of you think I'm hostile as I was just giving options on over coming a problem. If you think I'm hostile just ignor my posts
Will do
Dare you to ask him about Asians
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Oh great another topic spoiled... Thanks chaps ???
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This is the device we've built to allow us to unblock swannecks without the need for ladders. In this video the customer had reported a blockage in her downpipe we put the device in and it unblocked it without us using ladders or taking the swan neck apart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2SxVJ1kxVE
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nick can u do a nother vid please using this device but not on standerd easy leafs i mean like a propa sod like a stalk matted with grass or weeds ;D
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i must addmit i luv my vac but down spouts and hoppers can be a pain in the ars and my 7.5 meter tripple has come up a tad short on the last few jobs so ive missed out on big £££££ ::)roll wish i got a 10 meter one now from bps ladders as there very lite and no bother geting them off the van and seting up
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The leaves aren't actually the blockage on the video, they were sitting on top on a blockage further down. We did a job earlier this week with 9 blocked swan necks that were all glued together (the owner told us before you ask how we know!!) we cleared them all in 10 minutes with this device and one was part of a weed that was also pulled out with this device. Just wish I'd a the blooming camera on at the time!!!
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We do a lot of gutter clearing and find the vac works for most things. We do have a beast of a ladder though if needed, a Zarges 3 Part Trade Skymaster Combination Ladder - 3 x 14 rungs. We only need it for access for one job we do twice a year but good to have. I don't like to use ladders though really unless absolutely essential.
I like that setup you have Nick, is that a screwdriver attached to the pole to motor the tool? I am finding a few jobs where we need to get up there and I want to minimise this, I've got a few 3 storey jobs coming up with loads of foliage in the gutters. We use a SkyVac commercial machine.
We also have a regular job with very wide box gutters and the vac struggles with that a bit too as can't get the angle to get in there properly.