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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: tony talbot on August 03, 2009, 08:49:19 pm

Title: the winter
Post by: tony talbot on August 03, 2009, 08:49:19 pm

here is a question for fellow wfc users. last winter i had trouble with my water freezing in the pipes on the van. solved this by putting heater in van on low overnight. the problem then is with the brush freezing between calls, also the water freezing before it could sheet of the windows. is there any additive you can put in the water to prevent this or is there any tips you could pass on, i would like to be ready this time.

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: Sir Squeaky on August 03, 2009, 08:54:58 pm

Isopropanol is your stuff, or IPA for short.

Won't stop it completely once you get under about -5c, but it's a help.

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: paul beckett on August 03, 2009, 08:57:54 pm

a bit of antifreeze you use on your windscreen or something with a high alchol
content.

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: R.V.A Window Cleaning Services on August 03, 2009, 09:01:24 pm

If your brush is freezing between calls & the water on the glass is freezing then its to damm cold to de cleaning windows, some days its even to cold for a hot water system.

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: tony talbot on August 03, 2009, 09:03:40 pm

thanks mr squeaky, how much for a 175L tank and is there any downsides to using it such as residue on the glass or higher water readings, also where cani get it?

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: ftp on August 03, 2009, 09:11:59 pm

You can get it on ebay but first I would advise you find a chart to work out how much you'll need (gallons of the stuff).

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: ftp on August 03, 2009, 09:14:49 pm

There you go:


http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ispropanol-water-d_988.html


You'll need more than ten percent volume to cover you for -4c


A 650ltr tank would need more than 65litres of isopropanol to prevent freezing at -4

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: tony talbot on August 03, 2009, 09:19:32 pm

what about the anti-freeze option can anybody give me the gen on that ? many thanks

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: ftp on August 03, 2009, 09:25:18 pm

http://www.mobil.co.uk/UK-English/LCW/Files/Car_Care.pdf

12% for minus five?

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 03, 2009, 09:35:13 pm

the good old ipa debate will soon be upon us once again  ;D
ive used ipa for the last 2 years i put 1 ltr into my 400 ltr tank and ive never had a problem with freezeing .
ftp opinion will allways be diffrent as he was working in printing where they use ipa , dont think hes ever tryed it for window cleaning as the amounts used are too much , how untrue .

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: ftp on August 03, 2009, 09:37:57 pm

Yep, I've used no ipa for two years and probably lost one day.  ;D

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: pingu on August 03, 2009, 10:15:07 pm

Ftp did also tell us about the alcohol evaporating and to be honest he is totally right...

These alcohol additives do work but they work in sealed/closed systems...not open ones...

For those who think that a coke can full in a 400litre tank will do the trick are living an illusion...that amount will have very little to do with whether your water freezes or not...

Also...temporary drops in temp you can get away with alot but continued freezing temps during the day and night are a very different matter.

Cheers
Dave.

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: Mike #1 on August 04, 2009, 06:57:52 am

i would'nt use car anti-freeze it will leave a chemical residue behind know a trad window cleaner tried it years ago said it made a mess of windows use IPA found it works well for me down to -5

Title: Re: the winter
Post by: DaveG on August 04, 2009, 08:24:22 am

Last winter was an exceptiomally cold one!!! lets hope this one is a normal (mild) one