Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: mark311069 on July 12, 2008, 12:48:16 pm
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hi guys
i have been thinking of buying the omnipole gutter vac for a while now, and have finally got enough money together for the 36ft vac and camera. but should i get one? nobody in my area has got one so how much work do you think it will bring in? i have several large commercial contracts that are intrested depending on the price. overall iam just not sure and i can come up with loads of fors and against all day. can anybody help me make up my mind?? its a lot of money to spend....
thanks all
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Mark
I am not going to give you a sales pitch.
All I will say is you will get your total investment back in about five days work.
So in real terms its not a lot to invest and it wont take years to be in profit.
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Glyn, when i get my vac of yourselves, will you be able to give me ideas on getting commercial and other work?
Also the generator you supply says with wheel kit...do you have a pic of that, if its what i think it is, would 1 man be able to wheel it on and off a van?
(sorry to hijack a mo there mark)
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How much are they? Anybody got a link?
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GLYN H - ive also been thinking about buying a gutter-vac,after talking to KEV R im 95% ready to buy one , after looking at your website im interested in the 48 ' set up
Camera and Omnivac Combination using only one PowerPole
24' complete system £2070.00
30' complete system £2120.00
36' complete system £2170.00
48' complete system £2250.00
All + VAT and carriage
can you clear something up for me, when i phoned up i was told you get a modular style pole with the vac,on this ad its says you get just the power pole,is that right you just get 1 powerpole and you have to swap from vac set up to camera
cheers steve
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I have the full set up, it has paid for its self over and over again.
I would get the 48 ft kit if you can as the higher the work to better the value. Over that its cherry picker time.
I was the first in my area, I currently look after five large commercial companies. One of these clients has 180 properties at three stories and above. I also get many enquiries a week.
I would advertise in your area by investing in a website, as most of my work comes from there.
The generator is a large bit of kit, but its necessary. You can't really lift it by yourself but if you had a ramp it would be fine. I keep mine in a small box trailer as it makes it easy to move around on site, over grass areas where the van can't always go. The small wheels on the generator dig in where as the large tyres on the trailer dont. (you are limited to 40m of 2.5 cable)
There is so much work for this service, go to you local trading estate and look for plants growing out and 9 out of 10 times you'll get the job.
I have stopped doing this now as I have enough from the phone. It won't take you long to get known.
Good luck ;D
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How much are they? Anybody got a link?
ht tp://www.omni-guttervac.com/
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The gutter vacuum upright tubing is aluminum and is semi-modular
The power pole (telescopic) can be used to pressure jet, to hold the camera, to hold a gutter spike, or be used as a support pole or even as a water fed pole!!!
I own 3 power poles, one is 48 ft with 6 x 8 ft sections, this is used on all work over three stories, The other two are 36 ft with 6 x 6 ft sections. These are used as support poles and lower level pressure washing poles, camera poles etc.
If I was starting again I would have bought one 48ft and one 36 ft, but I originally thought the 36's would be long enough for my needs.
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how much do you charge per meter for clearing gutters with a vac? i've also been thinking about adding this to my services as i get a lot of gutter jobs that i turn down due to being to dangerous
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how much do you charge per meter for clearing gutters with a vac? i've also been thinking about adding this to my services as i get a lot of gutter jobs that i turn down due to being to dangerous
Most of the jobs I do are commercial. We do not charge by the meter, but by time. The minimum fee is four hours work. You can do a massive amount of work in this time. I dont really want to put a price on here but we charge about 4-5 X what you can get in a day cleaning commercial windows.
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hi kev,could you tell me if one man can operate the vac at full stretch(48ft),can you clean house gutters when the slates cover half of the gutter,how long does it take to do an average 3 bed semi,and do you ever use customers electric to save bringing the generator-thanks
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also do you really need the power washer-thanks again
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Hey Mick
Glyn, when i get my vac of yourselves, will you be able to give me ideas on getting commercial and other work?
I am working on a project at the moment to help purchasers market the service to domestic and commercial customers -our previous purchasers will also be supplied. :)
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Mark,
With this present climate and with all the rain were having, you will be making a wise investment, My work has doubled this year for guttering.
It doesn't matter about the costs, with a pro system and a good image, it will pay for its self in no time at all.
What a lot of guy's tend to forget, is your offering a specialist service, many people can often get up a ladder to clean there own windows but ask them to get up there to clean the guttering and that's a different story.
Don't just stop at commercial work, there is loads of it in the domestic market as well.
My advice is go for the kit.
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have got one myself i would say go for it ;)
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Just had a look at the system on Omnipoles website, it seems a lot of money for what appears to be basically a Numatic Wet/Dry Vac, a pole, some 2" piping and an upturned U tube.
Am I missing something?
These are basically the items we use for cleaning out high level guttering:
www.northerntooluk.com/products.asp?partno=22824E
www.northerntooluk.com/products.asp?partno=1573211E
www.northerntooluk.com/products.asp?partno=1807235E
You just need about 15m of 1.5" tubing (type used by carpet cleaners) and a U connector to fit into the gutter and off you go, also a pressure washer, but keep the pressure quite low (under 1000psi otherwise you'll blast everything out of the gutter and it will go everywhere.
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hi guys
i have been thinking of buying the omnipole gutter vac for a while now, and have finally got enough money together for the 36ft vac and camera. but should i get one? nobody in my area has got one so how much work do you think it will bring in? i have several large commercial contracts that are intrested depending on the price. overall iam just not sure and i can come up with loads of fors and against all day. can anybody help me make up my mind?? its a lot of money to spend....
thanks all
If you were going higher then I would say consider the DIY gutter vac as its a lot lighter and can be operated by one man.
If you were on a tight budget then I would say consider the DIY as its cheeper.
www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=51156.0
But if you want a "plug and play" straight out the box type system and you have the money ready then GO FOR THE OMNIVAC.
Lots of useful addons, good backup, fast service, does the job and it looks the part...
(All though I personally think the system would look better with a black hose connector on the vac rather than green or red)
As already stated it will pay for itself very quickly. Yes the price you charge will seem expensive at first but then it is a lot of money to pay out and a lot of learning to do. A bit like when you start with WFP. But the price you charge will still be cheeper than the cost of scaffolding or cherry pickers and plus you will be quicker and cause less disturbance than either of the other options.
If cleaning with via scaffolding will take a day to put up half day to clean and half a day to take down and cost £1000 but you can do the job in just the half day and charge £500 then everyone is happy.
(Only used those prices for ease and not actual costings)
Go to a hire shop and look at their daily charges compared with buying a piece of equipment..... It only takes a couple of hires for them to have recovered the cost of the machinery so why not the same for gutter equipment....?
If no-one else in your area has one then thats an even better reason to get a gutter-vac set up of some sort going. Its a bit late when some-one else has already got the big jobs and contracts sorted out.......
Regards
Mr H
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I remember on another forum that Glyn threatened to take legal action against anyone who went diy on a gutter vac??? wonder what happened there.
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please lets not stray from my original post!!!!!
how much do you charge for a domestic gutter clean on a 3 bed semi ??
and glyn h how long does it take from order to delivery?
thanks for all your posts on this subject
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I believe £90.00 - £150 is resonable on a three bed semi - others I am sure will have imput on this.
We can usually supply a system within five working days, dependant on any special requirements that need to be custom made.
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hi kev,could you tell me if one man can operate the vac at full stretch(48ft),can you clean house gutters when the slates cover half of the gutter,how long does it take to do an average 3 bed semi,and do you ever use customers electric to save bringing the generator-thanks
Hi Darren,
I operate the system up to 35 feet on my own after that I usually use a second person and a support pole.
The omnivac is supplied with different attachments which will enable you to clean gutters even when the slates partially cover the gutter.
I would never plug into the customers supply. For a few reasons, 1, the current draw is heavy, a standard extension cable is not sufficient. 2, overloading their electrical system is a possibility especially if you plug into an unprotected spur at their house. 3, It limits when you can work. 4, Plugging in on most commercial jobs is not an option.
I dont do three bed semis, I did my own house it took under 10 mins, but the set up is quite a bit longer.
;D
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also do you really need the power washer-thanks again
Occasionally you will get a blocked down pipe. The easiest way to clean this is with a pressure washer / telescopic lance.
Dont look at it as a separate tool, its extremely useful.
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Kevin,
I'm a bit tied up and going on hols in a few days, but i was wondering if you'd be prepared to do a bit of business mentoring with me and set me on the right path?
I've reached a bit of a plateau and I can make no inroads into commercial at all so need a strategy setting out.
What do you think?
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I believe £90.00 - £150 is resonable on a three bed semi - others I am sure will have imput on this.
We can usually supply a system within five working days, dependant on any special requirements that need to be custom made.
£90 -£150 !!!! iam sorry not where i live. i wouldnt be able to charge that much. £50 tops if i was lucky.
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I have thought about the Guttervac but for me with a medium sized van i would need to tow a trailer, have space to store it etc. The problem with residential properties would be a bit like trad v wfp where you need a fairly high outlay and still end up competing with the guy on a ladder. You can have your facias and soffits painted in my area for £150 so i'm not sure how high you could push the price. Obviously commercial would be where to make the best money. Still would like to try one though.
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so you can earn about 800-1000 in a day doing commercial gutter cleaning?
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Kevin,
I'm a bit tied up and going on hols in a few days, but i was wondering if you'd be prepared to do a bit of business mentoring with me and set me on the right path?
I've reached a bit of a plateau and I can make no inroads into commercial at all so need a strategy setting out.
What do you think?
As long as your not in my area I have no problems with that ;)
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so you can earn about 800-1000 in a day doing commercial gutter cleaning?
With the right job - yes no problem ;)
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We charge £2.50 per linear metre, most jobs are around the £40-£50 mark. Would never get away with charging £150 on anything but the biggest properties.
We still also use ladders and stand offs for gutter cleaning with great effect, very quick, most 3 bed properties in about half an hour.
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Kevin
No not in your area. I know what questions i need to ask of you.It'll be to do with improving my website and where I should advertise,yellow pages safe contractor etc.
Glyn H,
I am getting more interested in this gutter cleaning kit. If you had an email with pictures and description of a package i would be happy to receive it.
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We charge £2.50 per linear metre, most jobs are around the £40-£50 mark. Would never get away with charging £150 on anything but the biggest properties.
We still also use ladders and stand offs for gutter cleaning with great effect, very quick, most 3 bed properties in about half an hour.
Ladders on commercial properties can only be used as temporary workstations, and where any other system is seen as impractical. (for example you wouldn't hire a cherry picker to re- connect a down pipe at 8m as the cost would be prohibitive. A properly secured ladder and a trained operative would be fine) But you wouldn't and couldn't use a ladder to clear a whole stretch of guttering.
Some of our commercial customers have active ladder bans on their sites.
As with wfp the world is changing ;)
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We charge £2.50 per linear metre, most jobs are around the £40-£50 mark. Would never get away with charging £150 on anything but the biggest properties.
We still also use ladders and stand offs for gutter cleaning with great effect, very quick, most 3 bed properties in about half an hour.
probably the best way of doing domestic jobs as long as the ladders are been held..
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if your using ladders its not the best way.
If I was just doing gutters on domestic properties I would do them with a pressure lance as a minimum. I have a 9 m Ladder, occasionally I have to use it, but its rare, I want to keep it that way. When it is used (once this year so far) I set it up with two safety devises and a person footing it.
The trouble with a repetitive job, using ladders like window cleaning or gutter cleaning is that one day just by statistics alone you will get injured. You might be the most careful person in the world but its still a possibility.
At the prices your charging your risking yourself for a few quid. For a few hundred quid you could get a pressure washer and a lance that will keep you on the ground, make the job easier and safer.
Its a no brainer really ;)
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so kevin r just to recap!! do you think i should spend the money and get the system???
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so kevin r just to recap!! do you think i should spend the money and get the system???
If you want to get involved with commercial work, earn much more money than you can from window cleaning, and you are aware of the health and safety regulations (not the made up ones often quoted on here) and the alternative costs to do the job with cherry pickers or scaffolding or towers if low enough, then go for it.
But be aware there is a downside. :-\
It takes a while to become established, payment is usually 30 days or more, the work can be much more demanding at times, you will go from mad busy to slack depending on the weather once established (heavy rain brings loads of work all at once).
Do your homework, add the service and you'll not look back.
My biggest bit of advice is you have to speculate to accumulate. you can have the best kit in the world but its useless if know body knows you have it. So spend some of your earnings on targeted advertising ;)
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thank you kevin for the really usefull advice ;D
regards mark
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The trouble with a repetitive job, using ladders like window cleaning or gutter cleaning is that one day just by statistics alone you will get injured. You might be the most careful person in the world but its still a possibility.
Good advice Kev,... pity so many will not accept this simple fact.
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I am thinking of getting one also. What is the best way to get work? And what is the miimum financial outlay to start with?
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Glynn,
I was very impressed with the attachements on veiw at Windex. Would these fit the Ionic gutter vac by any chance.
Will be waiting until doomsday until it is modified, it's a good piece of equipment bu the attachments are not designed to do the job.
If your attachments can fit them will buy some off you.
Cheers
Doug
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I know one user who made over £2000 in one day from his DIY gutter vac, beat that!! talk about 5 days to get your investemnt back....thats too long if you ask me!!! ;D Luke
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talk about 5 days to get your investemnt back....thats too long if you ask me!!! ;D Luke
How long have you been taking mind altering substances - how long did it take you to get your wfp investment back?
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well ive made my mind up and will be ordering mr gutter vac on friday. thanks everybody for all the advice.. ;D ;D
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How long have you been taking mind altering substances - how long did it take you to get your wfp investment back?
that was a joke!!!!! Soon after getting my wfp system I had a job that practically paid for it in one go. Luke
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well ive just spent the dosh and ordered my gutter vac so wish me luck ;D ;D ;D
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well ive just spent the dosh and ordered my gutter vac so wish me luck ;D ;D ;D
good luck
Post pictures please - especialy closeups and the poles and the underside of the motors etc.
Thnx
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Hi
After watching the various debates on the gutter vac i have also decided to take the plunge and was wondering if any of the guys who have been running with the vac for a while now have any good ideas for marketing- images or template for a flyer.
REGARDS
Billy
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Initially i will be running from a generator - will be looking at producing a flyer outlining the benefits and the reason why your gutters should be kept clear.
Given that people are holding onto there cash - will be outlining potential savings that could be made in the long run by investing in protecting there properties.
Off to Lanzarote tommorrow and will be putting my all into marketing this product on my return.
REGARDS
BILLY
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Initially i will be running from a generator - will be looking at producing a flyer outlining the benefits and the reason why your gutters should be kept clear.
Given that people are holding onto there cash - will be outlining potential savings that could be made in the long run by investing in protecting there properties.
Off to Lanzarote tommorrow and will be putting my all into marketing this product on my return.
REGARDS
BILLY
The gutter vacuming is the next big thing ! Invest now ! I am ;D ;D ;D
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Mrk have you bought the whole set up including camera :) cheers clinton
i have got the 42ft gutter vac and camera, i will be running it from a generator.
i am also in trested in a flyer so any art work will be great
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Anyone got any images to share of the gutter vac in action- placed my order yesterday- looking to get some flyers in place prior to delivery.
regards
Billy
William.cooper1@sky.com
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Yes saw your post mark sounds a good set up you have bought...Am thinking of geting the set up to add on to my services..What sort of a generator do you use and how big is it mark?If i do get a set up you will be welcome to a copy of my flyer from me mate..Think it good to headline the no scafolding,saftey side,no mess,camera,the benefits to the client what the tools can do for them for a small outlay..
ive ordered a loncin lc 5000 ddc generator. its the same model omnivac sell for the 240volt gutter vac. but i got it from another supplier as it was a lot cheaper.........sorry glynn :( :(
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Yes planning a leaflet drop and to update my current website- have been touting this service with exsisting customers and have a head of work to start with.
My friend runs a call centre and canvass team for his upvc business and may use
some of his resource.
Not sure as to push health and safety line on flyers eg accidents in the home % of accidents due to ladders - accidents in the workplace
eg
Ladders deadliest DIY danger
.
Seventy people die each year in DIY accidents with one person a week killed while using a ladder.A further 100,000 are so seriously injured they need hospital treatment.
what do you think
regards
Billy
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How much was the generator mark?....Do you find that your van is full when you have your pressure washer, water container and generator etc? cheers
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the generator i got is the loncin 5000 its the same as the one omnipole sell for £660+vat, but i got one from www.pump.co.uk for £379inc vat so a big saving
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Am i right in saying there is more than one company selling these systems?Just having a look on the web or are they just different from each other.. thanks
there are a few different ones online
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mark - omnipole supply the 6.5 kva with there kit for 660+ vat but its still only 440 at pumps uk. does your 5 kva generator run the vac ok, im only asking as they recommend a 5 kva but supply the 6.5kva
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mark - omnipole supply the 6.5 kva with there kit for 660+ vat but its still only 440 at pumps uk. does your 5 kva generator run the vac ok, im only asking as they recommend a 5 kva but supply the 6.5kva
i bloody hope so its being delivered monday!!!!
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At this time the Generator we supply is either a Stephill or a Loncin and the type chosen and supplied depends on the choice of a 240 volt or 110 volt GutterVac, a wheel kit is supplied and fitted as standard with our generators.
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The Loncin will only power the 240 volt guttervac and the Stephill will only power the 110 volt guttervac - due to amp requirements.
This generator will power either www.hondagenerator.co.uk/pages/Honda_EM5500.htm (http://www.hondagenerator.co.uk/pages/Honda_EM5500.htm) but will cost over £1700.00
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Hi Clinton
It depends on where you think you will be using the GutterVac the most.
If you are goiing to be carrying out commercial work then I would recommend you go for the 110 volt GutterVac as building sites,large companies etc. with strict H&S requirements will not allow 240 volt tools.
If you are going to carry out domestic work then a 240 volt GutterVac will be fine.
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glyn h
so the loncin 5000 will power the 240volt gutter vac that i have ordered??
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Hi Mark
Yes it will.
I would highly recommend you also buy a wheel kit as the generator is very difficult to move around if it doesnt have one - its almost impossible if you work on your own and are not a power lifter.
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thanks glyn, yes i got a wheel kit as well. iam looking forward to hopefully getting my gutter vac this week.
i would just like to thank yourself and your team at omnipole for all the help and advice that you have given me over the last few weeks, and i hope to be making it pay asap, (i have had to spend the money we had put to one side to go to greece for a holiday on the gutter vac ??? ???)
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42ft gutter vac + camera system (without pole) is just over £2400
i would have got the powerpole to go with the camera but only had so much money to play with, as it is the camera can be fitted to the gutter vac pole, or as i hope to do i have a sl2 which i can fit it to if needs be.
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Hi Mark
No probs with the help :)
Clinton
Yes you can use the 240 volt machine from a clients house.
If you bought a 240 volt system and then got a big commercial contract then we can just supply the vac head so you wouldnt need to buy a whole new kit and a commercial contract would more than pay for the additional head.
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hi glyn,could you tell me do you have the vac in stock at the minute and delivery costs to northern ireland-i am looking the 48 ft vac without the camera,also how many have you sent to ni before,i am very interested
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also very interested in one of these how easy are they use on your own?
anyone got one around north wales or shrewsbury who wouldn't mind me tagging along to have a go
thanks
dave
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Hi all,
Where do you dispose of the rubbish that you get out? Tip it down the drain? and charge for drain clearing the week after? ;D
Dave
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Hi Darren
Their are several companies operating the GutterVac in Northern Ireland.
I personally dont know how much the carriage is, but if you could call our office and speak to Jules or Andrea they will be able to tell you.
Hi Dave
I am not sure if any GutterVacs are being used in North Wales, but if you call our office then one of our staff wil be able to tell you and maybe put you in touch.
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Hi all,
Where do you dispose of the rubbish that you get out? Tip it down the drain? and charge for drain clearing the week after? ;D
Dave
Usually its good well rotted organic material, spread it on site (with permission of course) take it home put it on the compost heap or recycle it on the council compost heap or if really lazy take it home in black bags and put out for bin men or buy trade waste bags and send it for land fill if there really is loads.
Try the environmentally friendly route first. Most of my clients with gardens are happy as long as you spread the waste sensibly.
It is an offense to put it down a drain!!!!
Hope that helps ;)
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Kevin,
Yes it does help thanks. I knew it was illegal to put it down the drain, like speeding, talking on a mobile whilst driving, i was joking. Or was i? ;)
Dave
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Does anyone rent these machines out ? Would like to try one for a week , I have got a full weeks work to try it out on ! ;D
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Omnipole rent the complete kit or part of, have a look at their website all the prices are listed as well.
John
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Omnipole rent the complete kit or part of, have a look at their website all the prices are listed as well.
John
Many thanks for that ;D
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Been silently sitting reading this thread with great interest.
I too am soon investing in a gutter vac and have been considering how to market it.
To the residential market, apart from your window customers, door knocking has to be the way. I think that a 5% success rate at knocking (5 in a 100) would be achievable, at an average price of £50 per house.
For those who have actually used this on a house, what is the time spent including set up and down to complete a clean?
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Just the actual clearing of the gutter, not cleaning the outside.
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Been silently sitting reading this thread with great interest.
I too am soon investing in a gutter vac and have been considering how to market it.
To the residential market, apart from your window customers, door knocking has to be the way. I think that a 5% success rate at knocking (5 in a 100) would be achievable, at an average price of £50 per house.
For those who have actually used this on a house, what is the time spent including set up and down to complete a clean?
That is too cheap IMHO ! I charge double that working off ladders , dont sell youreself too cheaply mate .
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I have pretty much stopped residential gutter cleaning unless all fascias, soffits outside of gutters are included in the clean. I charge about £200 for a 3 bed semi. This may sound expensive to some but I don't want to do them why?
Well its about 1 hr to set up and put away all the kit and domestic customers dont want to pay and IMHO dont give a fig if you do it from ladders and kill yourself or not as long as the price is cheap. let the ladder boys fill their boots I have no interest in this market.
Commercial customers are different they are bound by the HSE and you can't use ladders to clean gutters anymore if an alternative is available which it is!!! So these commercial customers are your prime target. When faced with a cherry picker at about £300+ Vat for the day plus the associated staff costs or scaffolding then £50 an hour is still very cheap!!!
We have a four hour minimum charge also this removes the price shoppers and brings only serious clients to our door. The Omnivac if used correctly can save a company hours of time and £1000's of £££££ so don't charge pence for it or you will spoil this new opportunity for all concerned.
Do you need a powerpole?
Ok the Omnivac will clear gutters beautifully but if you have a blocked down pipe you need a high pressure jet to clear it from above. The power pole from Omnipole is excellent for this job. The cheap flimsy poles available are fine for residential but when clearing deep commercial gutters the powerpole is the weapon of choice in my opinion.
Also if you need to break up plans and roots etc before using the Omnivac then you need a gutter spike which fixes to the powerpole.
You really do need to spend some cash to do this job properly. We signed up a new client last week with 180 commercial properties with all types of gutters. This is not uncommon! Spend the cash and you'll not look silly or leave your clients with blocked down pipes etc.
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This is very good advice, thanks. £50 per hour is cheaper than a plumber here (Sussex) - they charge about £30 plus VAT for each half hour.