Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: lee_dewing on February 01, 2021, 04:12:47 pm

Title: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: lee_dewing on February 01, 2021, 04:12:47 pm
On 2nd univalve

Don’t think this one’s barely lasted a year

Just plain fed up with this now
Last one had for nearly 2.5 - 3 yrs

This on barely a year
I know there not ££’s but it’s still about £40

Fed up of time lost mucking about with them

Would try gardiners one but doesn’t work with their swivel 🤦‍♂️

Their new jet pods gardiners
Black bit keeps popping out of grey casing 🤬

What do you guys do that don’t use univalve?

Pinch hose

See gardiners video
Shows tap in hand ✋
Ok I suppose

Just fed up mending crap 💩
😳😁
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Smudger on February 01, 2021, 04:16:11 pm
perhaps your 3 times as busy now ??


I hae to say my univalves seems to go on for a long time - what's wrong with it?

Darran
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Stoots on February 01, 2021, 04:24:15 pm
Ive had 4 and only one has let me down so far. Ive probably had all them over 2 years.

 
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: KS Cleaning on February 01, 2021, 04:49:06 pm
My ones usually last a couple of years but even if they only lasted a year, at 40 quid I would still consider that decent value for money.
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: david mark on February 01, 2021, 05:40:01 pm
I use a 1/4  ball valve conected
To the bottom of the pole Made my own bracket to fit each pole
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Bungle on February 01, 2021, 05:45:29 pm
Never used a univalve and probably won't. I use a tap. Female ez connector on the pole (stops drips and leaks in the van) and a male ez on the tap. I kink the hose between windows.
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Splash & dash on February 01, 2021, 06:08:46 pm
On 2nd univalve

Don’t think this one’s barely lasted a year

Just plain fed up with this now
Last one had for nearly 2.5 - 3 yrs

This on barely a year
I know there not ££’s but it’s still about £40

Fed up of time lost mucking about with them

Would try gardiners one but doesn’t work with their swivel 🤦‍♂️

Their new jet pods gardiners
Black bit keeps popping out of grey casing 🤬

What do you guys do that don’t use univalve?

Pinch hose

See gardiners video
Shows tap in hand ✋
Ok I suppose

Just fed up mending crap 💩
😳😁



Lo, that’s good mine stoped working after 8 months , won’t ever buy one again , it’s easier to squeeze the hose , that’s what we do .
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Smudger on February 01, 2021, 06:34:00 pm
I use a 1/4  ball valve conected
To the bottom of the pole Made my own bracket to fit each pole

you need to post some picture so hman can see  ;D
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: lee_dewing on February 01, 2021, 07:02:48 pm
Smudger

Pull on/off not giving stop

There’s becoming a knack to it 🤦‍♂️

Put some grease on moving arm of univalve
Worked fine for 10 minutes

Then not turning water off

Easy to pull water flow on
Impossible to pull water flow off
Keeps going

😭
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: dazmond on February 01, 2021, 07:36:28 pm
i bought 2 univalves when they first came out......my first one gave up the ghost after 3 years...so im on my second one now on my main pole.....

i also bought 3 univalves about 6 months ago(it was cheaper to buy 3 at once and i put one on my xtreme 47)so ive got 2 spare....

mine have been fine and i wouldnt want to work without one TBH...i think their great.....
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Smudger on February 01, 2021, 07:42:09 pm
have you seen P@F video on taking it apart to apply grease on the spring inside?

I think possibly your pressure/flow is too high - I had one of my guy constantly moan his univalve was crap but when I tested it it worked fine - so I got him to clean a couple of windows and show me - he had bumped the calibration to 70 and was using 95 on the flow - there was too much pressure for it turn off correctly

maybe worth looking at this before taking apart

Darran
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: lee_dewing on February 01, 2021, 07:44:52 pm
I agree Daz

Great when they work 👍

A real pain when there on the way out.

Need a spare pretty much hooked up
For quick swap.

2 of everything and a spare van 😁
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: lee_dewing on February 01, 2021, 07:51:22 pm
💡💡
Thanks Smudger 👍👍

Yes My pressure is a bit high,
I recently fixed a leak on my diy pump box

Forgot to turn speed regulator down
“Glorified dimmer switch” 😁

Look out for the 🇿🇦 South African variant
It’s east of England 😳😷
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: lee_dewing on February 01, 2021, 07:54:19 pm
Yes Smudger 👍

See p@f video on servicing univalve
Managed to breathe new life into
1st univalve
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: SB Cleaning on February 01, 2021, 08:38:47 pm
I couldn't be without a univalve, even if they only last a year its £40 well spent.
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Smudger on February 01, 2021, 09:55:25 pm
This is just an observation (may or may not have a bearing on univalves)

when using Gardiner poles and having to service the univalve (thx p@f) they were always full of black sludge - im now having an educated guess at this being carbon dust working its way into the valve

I have yet to have the need to service one since using ova-8 - but they don't give you black hands like the slx - as and when I service the next univalve I'd be interested to see if it has a black sludge build up

Darran
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Splash & dash on February 01, 2021, 10:19:19 pm
This is just an observation (may or may not have a bearing on univalves)

when using Gardiner poles and having to service the univalve (thx p@f) they were always full of black sludge - im now having an educated guess at this being carbon dust working its way into the valve

I have yet to have the need to service one since using ova-8 - but they don't give you black hands like the slx - as and when I service the next univalve I'd be interested to see if it has a black sludge build up

Darran




I don’t understand  how carbon dust would  get inside the univalve ,surely if dust can get in water can get out ????? Also all carbon poles will produce black dust doesn’t matter what make they are , carbon is carbon and as it wares black dust is inevitable, some poles have a lacquered finish so it takes longer ,  but they will all do it given time .
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Smudger on February 01, 2021, 10:53:00 pm
I think particles get in where the univalve is clipped together if it rubs the inside of the pole it would over time shave off tiny particles  - this at this stage I'm sumising

if you are tubeless I don't think will happen as the univalve travels with the section as extended - of course the black sludge maybe just dirt - but it had the feel of carbon dust

Darran
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: P @ F on February 01, 2021, 11:01:45 pm
I have one of the first ones out that performs the same as the day I got it , I also have what I would call a 2nd gen one , its a pain in the arse even after a service , switch on is easy but shut off is dire !

I believe as Smudger pointed out a lot of it has to do with pressure , but my 2 act so different even though pressure doesn’t alter !

I think I will just go back to hose pinching when these 2 give up , the only water lost will be when the pole is going up which 90% of the time is 2 sections , no biggie!
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Smudger on February 01, 2021, 11:14:48 pm
Would you say the cr@p inside your univalves resembled carbon dust or general dirt ?

didn't you update the spring in your second gen version?

Darran
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: P @ F on February 01, 2021, 11:30:06 pm
I think it’s a mix of both gunks to be honest .
The spring in the gen 2 was renewed by Steve on warranty but the newer springs just are not the same quality as the originals, probably done to make the Univalve a consumable rather than a repairable , Steve stopped selling the separate parts around the time that gen 2 came out .

Lee GLS sourced some stainless springs but I don’t know how it worked out ?
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on February 02, 2021, 02:46:36 am
I have one of the first ones out that performs the same as the day I got it , I also have what I would call a 2nd gen one , its a pain in the arse even after a service , switch on is easy but shut off is dire !

I believe as Smudger pointed out a lot of it has to do with pressure , but my 2 act so different even though pressure doesn’t alter !

I think I will just go back to hose pinching when these 2 give up , the only water lost will be when the pole is going up which 90% of the time is 2 sections , no biggie!
  all add in the fact that there not made as good , so they have upped the price lowered the quality
Mod note: these comments are not fact checked so have been removed for libellous reasons.
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: windowswashed on February 02, 2021, 04:08:55 am
They were a good idea in principal, but in reality they were more hassle than they were worth. Went over to using silicon hose with pneumatic push fit tap, so much simpler and less hassle.
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Simon Trapani on February 02, 2021, 06:49:00 am
Univalves were as big a game changer as wfp itself imo. I’m not going back to scrabbling around for a tap & certainly not gonna be pinching the hose.
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: the king on February 02, 2021, 07:20:00 am
I think there better than the old aquadapters as springs used to snap and catch you out the grommets used to leak after short time the univalve is defo a big improvement its not perfect but i wouldn't be with out mine not shore on quality of new ones i bought 3 quite some time ago still using my first one as its still going strong
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: richard connett on February 02, 2021, 07:46:01 am
I’ve got a univalve on all of my poles , they last me around 1-2 years . If they lasted 6 months I’d still buy them . Everything else is a pita
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: dazmond on February 02, 2021, 08:21:22 am
They were a good idea in principal, but in reality they were more hassle than they were worth. Went over to using silicon hose with pneumatic push fit tap, so much simpler and less hassle.

I think you need a check up from the neck up mate!👍😁

Theres no way a tap is more convenient than a univalve!

Some window cleaners are strange......🤪
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Mike Burd on February 02, 2021, 08:38:58 am
They were a good idea in principal, but in reality they were more hassle than they were worth. Went over to using silicon hose with pneumatic push fit tap, so much simpler and less hassle.

I think you need a check up from the neck up mate!👍😁

Theres no way a tap is more convenient than a univalve!

Some window cleaners are strange......🤪
But your hand when the tap is strapped to the pole is literally on the tap?
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: High-Tower on February 02, 2021, 08:46:00 am
They were a good idea in principal, but in reality they were more hassle than they were worth. Went over to using silicon hose with pneumatic push fit tap, so much simpler and less hassle.

I think you need a check up from the neck up mate!👍😁

Theres no way a tap is more convenient than a univalve!

Some window cleaners are strange......🤪
But your hand when the tap is strapped to the pole is literally on the tap?

But then you have to deal with ‘the loop’ and that’s the biggest pain!

Univalve and tubeless setup make a big difference to my efficiency. It’s a shame the univalves have decreased in quality and become a consumable, more plastic that ends up in the bin! I’d rather pay a bit more upfront and be able to service them with o-rings and stainless springs.
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Mike Burd on February 02, 2021, 08:49:04 am
They were a good idea in principal, but in reality they were more hassle than they were worth. Went over to using silicon hose with pneumatic push fit tap, so much simpler and less hassle.

I think you need a check up from the neck up mate!👍😁

Theres no way a tap is more convenient than a univalve!

Some window cleaners are strange......🤪
But your hand when the tap is strapped to the pole is literally on the tap?

But then you have to deal with ‘the loop’ and that’s the biggest pain!

Univalve and tubeless setup make a big difference to my efficiency. It’s a shame the univalves have decreased in quality and become a consumable, more plastic that ends up in the bin! I’d rather pay a bit more upfront and be able to service them with o-rings and stainless springs.
I've had the loop for 12 years. It's never bothered me.
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: david mark on February 02, 2021, 09:04:50 am
Ive had the loop with tap plus use rhino hose with a swivel conecter to the inlet side of the ball valve This stops the hose twisting .i made a bracket from a moutain bike handle bar stem . To hold the ball valve firmly to the bottom of the pole
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: lee_dewing on February 02, 2021, 09:25:27 am
[quote Univalve and tubeless setup make a big difference to my efficiency. It’s a shame the univalves have decreased in quality and become a consumable, more plastic that ends up in the bin! I’d rather pay a bit more upfront and be able to service them with o-rings and stainless springs.][/quote]

That’s it in a nutshell

I have that setup 👍
Great when it all works
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: lee_dewing on February 02, 2021, 09:26:50 am
Anyone got any good links for
“Pinchable pole hose”. ?

Thanks

Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: windowswashed on February 02, 2021, 07:05:56 pm
They were a good idea in principal, but in reality they were more hassle than they were worth. Went over to using silicon hose with pneumatic push fit tap, so much simpler and less hassle.

I think you need a check up from the neck up mate

Theres no way a tap is more convenient than a univalve!

Some window cleaners are strange......🤪


I hated them. Lifting a 50ft pole from waist level to turn the flow on, no chance. With a univalve you can't control the flow, only turn it on & off.
Anyway I use 10mm silicon pole hose with an internal 8mm diameter to 4 -6 jets fitted on each brush I use. Never get enough flow using univalve fitted to 8mm external pole hose with 5mm internal, way too slow waiting for the water to cascade along the glass.
Happiest using 12mm silicon flat hose connected to a pneumatic push fit tap draped in front of my wrist and flat hose sits  in my hand which is 3mm if that in the hand whilst grasping the base of the pole, no loop beside my feet, much easier. Nothing to go wrong with my method. 
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: lee_dewing on February 03, 2021, 03:57:59 pm
Thanks Smudger

That was it pressure and blockage in fanjet

Capsule, plant life
Cleared fan jet capsule’s and turn down flow.

Right as nine pence 😁👍👍
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Bungle on February 03, 2021, 05:10:04 pm
Anyone got any good links for
“Pinchable pole hose”. ?

Thanks

https://gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/reinforced-flexible-pole-hose-5mm-id-x-9mm-od.html


Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Smudger on February 03, 2021, 08:53:46 pm
gosh  - I will screen shot the post  ;D
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: Splash & dash on February 03, 2021, 11:31:27 pm
Anyone got any good links for
“Pinchable pole hose”. ?

Thanks

Gardiners green Pu
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: lee_dewing on February 04, 2021, 01:18:28 pm
Thanks Everyone 👍
☔️⛄️😭
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: rycalshaw on February 04, 2021, 01:20:24 pm
I,m having issues disengaging my univalve when the pole is extended, its fine when not extended and i,ve had it out and it seems to be working fine, could it be the hose thats stretched ?, it has been indoors for a few days due to the weather so it is very soft..
Title: Re: Univalve 🤦‍♂️🥊🥊
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on February 04, 2021, 03:14:04 pm
I,m having issues disengaging my univalve when the pole is extended, its fine when not extended and i,ve had it out and it seems to be working fine, could it be the hose thats stretched ?, it has been indoors for a few days due to the weather so it is very soft..

When I was using univalves, I found them to get unstable if either the flow and or the pressure was turned up too high.  Flow too high and I had trouble turning them off at height.  Cut-off pressure (CAL) on digi controllers too high and they wouldn't turn back on again.  Seldom had a problem at ground level though.