Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Rcs on November 30, 2009, 04:27:02 pm
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hi were recently started a new wc business using traditional methods
all our work is currently at ground level ie bungelows and 2 storey work
including consevatories which we use ladders for
some windows were are having trouble reaching also have has a few inquiries from a few blocks of 3 storey flats and houses in really tight areas ie hard to reach
we need a water fed pole system of some sort
thinking backback
have not really got the cash to spend on a van mounted set up at the moment or even a trolley
do you think a backpack will do the trick
where can we get a full set up inc pole hoses backpack etc
also the cheapest place to buy the necessary equipment to produce a small amount of pure water
thanks
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Are you in hard or soft water area?
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where you live?
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west sussex hard
i see theres a merlin for sale not far from me but will it be suitable
the pressure aint great round here
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Unless the water pressure is really poor, and by that i mean flowing water is almost non exsitent then the marlin should cater for your needs at this time until you can afford more better kit
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west sussex hard
i see theres a merlin for sale not far from me but will it be suitable
the pressure aint great round here
merlins need at least 60psi (dependant on temperature - check their website for full spec) - if you dont have that you will need a heavy duty booster pump. approx £150-200
otherwise your better off wiith a RO man type 200/300 gpd ro system.
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i would just buy a couple of different trad poles and a fishing pole , plus a couple of different wagtails .if you look on youtube MyWagga ,he shows you how to get at the hard to get windows and still stay trad
i only do houses ,but a few are 3 storey and ive had no problem doing these with a fishing pole+wagtail .
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Going wfp looks a costly exercise, I'm looking at possibly getting a trolley set up but to get set up from scratch looks like I would need to spend the thick end of 1k, and I need to be confident that it will make me money in the long run.
I was thinking I'd be able to take on higher windows, awkward to reach windows ect.
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Keep your eye out on the forums and ebay for a cheap second hand van with system fitted. You can get some bargains. Trust me!
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ive use trad poles for years on awkward/dangerous off a ladder windows.no problems.takes a bit of getting use to.im quite fast now!WFP is not the only option.i just pop my normal T MOP on a pole,soap up then put my swivelock squeegy on then detail with a dry microfibre in a fixiclamp.simple and effective!and no trailing hoses!! ;D ;D
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dazmond,I hink your talking yourself out of getting a WFP set up with every post ;D seriously,what is your reason for considering WFP,as you seem to be doing v.well trad
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rcs where abouts in west sussex are you?
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littlehampton
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i think what it is chopsie is that ive never tried it and all these guys on here cant be wrong!im thinking a wfp would be a lot quicker for some of the bigger houses ive got on my books esp georgian/leaded.also u can clean the frames everytime and i bet its quicker than using trad poles.extras like conny roofs,fascias,gutters also easier and safer.still on the fence though!!again!! :-\ :-\ ::) ::) :P ;) :) :D
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never mind i had an idear but your not close enough to me to make it work. anyway, best advice is cary on as you are, save up, get a proper van mount system, ive always believed that doing things by halves is just a waste of good money, when your round is full and you are out every day, it will be easy to pay for the right kit. a full van mount can be bought for as little as £1000
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rcs the window cleaning warehouse backpack will be fine.
Any ro that produces 100 gallons per day or more with a booster pump, a rain water butt, water containers, your backpack + plus pole and you are away.
The pole would be your most expensive single item. A 25ft pole would cover most domestic work.
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I hear what your saying dazmond,I have only just started out and have just bought a van today and been buying poles and RO etc for last few weeks,I have already got a backpack which is very good,I am loads quicker using that than trad,plus I don't want to use ladders and end up regretting it!! I will still do some trad I think as I would love to be really good and quick at it,I bet you and a lot of others on here could easily beat a lot of WFpolers.
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west sussex hard
i see theres a merlin for sale not far from me but will it be suitable
the pressure aint great round here
merlins need at least 60psi (dependant on temperature - check their website for full spec) - if you dont have that you will need a heavy duty booster pump. approx £150-200
otherwise your better off wiith a RO man type 200/300 gpd ro system.
I do get by on 32 - 40 PSI with my Merlin. Obviously it doesn't run at optimum but I find it sufficient for a sole trader (produces around 30+ litres an hour most of the time). Not the cleanest of ROs. Even with fairly new membranes TDS can be above 010 but a bit of resin soon cures that.
It's not ideal but is certainly workable - even without a booster pump.
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west sussex hard
i see theres a merlin for sale not far from me but will it be suitable
the pressure aint great round here
merlins need at least 60psi (dependant on temperature - check their website for full spec) - if you dont have that you will need a heavy duty booster pump. approx £150-200
otherwise your better off wiith a RO man type 200/300 gpd ro system.
I do get by on 32 - 40 PSI with my Merlin. Obviously it doesn't run at optimum but I find it sufficient for a sole trader (produces around 30+ litres an hour most of the time). Not the cleanest of ROs. Even with fairly new membranes TDS can be above 010 but a bit of resin soon cures that.
It's not ideal but is certainly workable - even without a booster pump.
yea same here mines at just under 40 psi.tds is always around 40 before resin.still i get a good 6 months out a sack so not too bad
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west sussex hard
i see theres a merlin for sale not far from me but will it be suitable
the pressure aint great round here
merlins need at least 60psi (dependant on temperature - check their website for full spec) - if you dont have that you will need a heavy duty booster pump. approx £150-200
otherwise your better off wiith a RO man type 200/300 gpd ro system.
I do get by on 32 - 40 PSI with my Merlin. Obviously it doesn't run at optimum but I find it sufficient for a sole trader (produces around 30+ litres an hour most of the time). Not the cleanest of ROs. Even with fairly new membranes TDS can be above 010 but a bit of resin soon cures that.
It's not ideal but is certainly workable - even without a booster pump.
yea same here mines at just under 40 psi.tds is always around 40 before resin.still i get a good 6 months out a sack so not too bad
I've had a 300gpd ro with booster pump for 3 1/2 years. tds is 480. I have replaced the filters once. And am still on the same 25 litre sack of resin.
The booster pump is the key to how efficient this has been.
I am not on a water meter either so i flush very well and often.
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what sort of money am i looking at for a backpack set up inc pole etc and all that is needed to produce a qty of pure water
itll surely pay for itself over a few months and even better if its stops me killing myself by over stretching
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It will pay for itself pretty quickly just by the extra money from windows above conservatories on your existing work.
rcs the window cleaning warehouse backpack will be fine.
Any ro that produces 100 gallons per day or more with a booster pump, a rain water butt, water containers, your backpack + plus pole and you are away.
The pole would be your most expensive single item. A 25ft pole would cover most domestic work.
here is a list of what you need to start with.
Windowcleaningwarehouse is a good place to price up the above.
http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/
gardiners for the pole if you want to start with the bestles.
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I got back pack 300 gpd ro with di,1x 25' slx pole,with superlite brush,1x17' xtel pole with vikan brush,water butt,submersible pump for £736 give or take a few pence,bearing in mind though the slx cost me £378(with a tap fitted and vat)so you could reduce that amount considerably,I just got the best pole I could afford while I had the money,
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cheers for that
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sorry,forgot to add back pack price,another £120 ::)
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I got back pack 300 gpd ro with di,1x 25' slx pole,with superlite brush,1x17' xtel pole with vikan brush,water butt,submersible pump for £736 give or take a few pence,bearing in mind though the slx cost me £378(with a tap fitted and vat)so you could reduce that amount considerably,I just got the best pole I could afford while I had the money,
That's very good. You have bought wisely i reckon. Where from?
rcs, this setup is fantastic for the price. Add a booster pump to this kit and you have a very efficient ro. Almost halving the production time with purer water as well.
The above is the benchmark i think. That is a wise investment.
All he needs is water tank, cleantech pumpbox and reel of hose and he has everything.
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Window cleaning warehouse Backpack 100. quid ro unit 200 galon Us from Filtration on line.109.00 quid with Di 10 inch.WAter but from Wicks 200 litres 21 quid.some fittings from W C W extro 50 quid.Pole made my own harris pole from B Q use a web site google "make your pole"or google for other forums for help, and super lite brush 38.quid. There is more odds and endsThat approx cost me 350- 400 quid.
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Get the best pole you can afford and build around that. A harris pole will let you work cheaply, but compared to carbon fibre poles they are crap. Same as glass fibre poles.
Buy carbon, buy well and reap the rewards from day 1.
A good pole will save you loads of time per day. With few if any, aches and pains over the long term.