Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: wizard on January 08, 2010, 11:56:36 am
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O K GUY lets hear it, What will we be doing better next winter and what have we learned for this winter chill’s. So we get something positive to work on . Please name a least one thing.
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GO ON HOLIDAY sum were warm
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Gonna put some more money by for next year and insulate everything.
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put more to 1 side to make sure not struggle as much,i can survive a couple of months of this but feel a little better if i wasnt taking it to the edge
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if my wife didnt work in a school a months long holiday through january would definately be on the cards, i was discussing this exact same idea with my work partner this morning...
and maybe save up enough money to use isopropanol only instead of water because the amount of iso i put in only works down to about -5 (only joking about using isapropanol only)
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put money aside
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Yes mate go away is 1, god i wish i was away now !
This is the coldest snap for 29 years. Lets hope its another 29 before it happens again so ill be retired ! :)
Over 50 weeks of the year put £40 away , that will give you 2 grand for emergensies like this.
Were in it together m8 ;)
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put money aside
goes without saying, number one rule about being self employed......
what makes me feel better is the fact that a very large majority of the uk are in the same boat, its not good but at least im not the only one not making money (it can be justified)
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as above but im going to look at internet business this year as a side line
bob
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They are saying this is the longest cold snap since since 1962!!!
are these winters going to be the norm becuase of "global warming"?
Matt
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They are saying this is the longest cold snap since since 1962!!!
are these winters going to be the norm becuase of "global warming"?
Matt
Global warming is caused by weather conditions over a very long period of time. There will still be infrequent weather such as we are experiencing now from time to time. It has nothing to do with global warming.
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on the news last night they said its going to b the worst winter in a hundred years,but to b honest i dont think they really no wats going on think they just make educated guesses,was going to do a leaflet drop while i cant work but lets face it nobody is botherd about havin there windows cleand at min so think its not worth it
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the next ice age, armageddon maybe (i dont believe in global warming)
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i wll try to save up emergency fund.
i say try because, shortly i will be living off credit card. (will have to pay that back 1st)
as to going on hols in winter time, if i could afford it i would propably be delayed at airport due to weather.
as said by someone else a sideline would be good, i have a real bad year 09. 2010 has started 5hit.
just gonna pay the taxman.
Got to look after the people; that God bless'em..... just don't want to work ;)
To those who are sitting on an emergency fund preaching :P
i'm sure you learnt the hard way as i'am now :'(
send me some ££ :-*
roll on spring ;)
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Two lessons:
1 - Have an ICE fund (ICE = In Case of Emergency)
2 - Have a sideline - involving indoor work
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They are saying this is the longest cold snap since since 1962!!!
are these winters going to be the norm becuase of "global warming"?
Matt
i let you know over the next couple of years matt. ;) ;D
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no need to do anything different,between me and my dad weve been in this game since 1970,so always knew this could happen again as weve had it before, so always ready for it
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I think I'm just going to get a hot system. I want one anyway, so its just an extra excuse for a new toy.
Thing is, last year they said it was a one off and would never happen again etc. So two years in a row. I may as well be prepared for the next one.
Even if it doesn't happen, I'll still have my new toy.
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Sorry about the pun, but One Swallow Doesn't Make A Summer.
My lesson from this winter, to gear up for hot-water.
Just recieved my 3KW tank heater today, its out there as we speak working on my cold tank, can heat the water to boiling if needed.
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O K GUY lets hear it, What will we be doing better next winter and what have we learned for this winter chill’s. So we get something positive to work on . Please name a least one thing.
i will be going on holiday in jan rather than august
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There is some sound ideas .the general pattern seems to provide a fund for difficult time like these. Don’t let this thread die as I think the best ideas are still to come as we brain storm this challenge. There is some thing in putting heads together that brilliant thoughts come forth. Its something like a new years resolution for each of us. Well done to those who have contributed so far.
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Just a comment about global warming first...
IMO jury still out on that one, the problem for us is that global warming (if true) could move the gulf stream that usually keeps us warm. Part of the reason it's so cold is because the wind is blowing from the east. Normally the prevailing wind is from the west, which is warmed by the gulf stream. Look at a map and you will see that quite a bit of scotland is on a similar latitude to russia, but we are normally kept warmer than Moscow by the gulf stream. If global warming does move that, we will be v chilly actually.
At times in the past when the gulf stream has stopped large parts of europe including us have been under ice, or so they say
What a boring post sorry.
Next For what I would do different this year...
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save up put money aside jokers i have been bled white recently no chanceto save let alone spend
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This year I plan to insulate my external storage tanks use polystyrene sheets and plywood. Perhaps mount an aquarium heater in there as well.
I insulated my previous van with self adhesive foam and that worked well.
I also plan to do my books after year end and save for my tax bill instead of scratching round in November again
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Two lessons:
1 - Have an ICE fund (ICE = In Case of Emergency)
2 - Have a sideline - involving indoor work
That's what mini cash ISAS are for.
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Have a sideline - involving indoor work
wally out of intrest what do you do?
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first thing im gonna do is lag the back of the van out roof floor sides the lot , then im gonna save as much money as possible ;)
so next time im ready for it .
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Refresh the slush funds that I am currently using.
Re-build the static r/o system and it's cabinate..i.e complete insulation and 2x boat style tube heaters with thermostats.
Whole round has now been jiggled around and my aim to is to make the money I need for the year between Mid Feb and Mid December...anymore is a bonus but not replied upon.
Buy 2x600litres IBC and have them built into the r/o cabinate (full insulation) pump to move water between ibcs and van tank..so I can empty the van tank at will. Run all hoses in van so they can be drained with minimal effort possibly with the aid of my compressor. Rebuild the cleantech pumpbox so that it is insulated.
Holidays in Jan/Feb 3 to 4 weeks away.
Considering something like Veritech Hot.
Cheers
Dave.
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Hi Matt,
I've wondered about aquirium heaters and read the threads.I don't like the idea that they are glass.
I'm probably like everyone else and want something i can plop into the lid of my ibc or van tank, will heat the water, and not electrocute me.
You are the most clued up on this stuff so what is this 3kw heater you have?
Regards Clive
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Hi Matt,
I've wondered about aquirium heaters and read the threads.I don't like the idea that they are glass.
I'm probably like everyone else and want something i can plop into the lid of my ibc or van tank, will heat the water, and not electrocute me.
You are the most clued up on this stuff so what is this 3kw heater you have?
Regards Clive
Not all aquarium heaters are glass.
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look on bright side if we are not earning nor is tax man ;D
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I bought a 3kw emersion heater when I first started wfp(2004) and used it a bit the first winter, and have just pulled it out again. It cost me about £200 then, but you can get them much cheaper than that now.
3 problems, at 3kw they use a lot of electric
I have blown a number of extension leads with it
and if you leave them on to long the ibc tanks begin to sag.
But they keep the garage warm and also when the warm water is pumped into the van, it also keeps the van warm.
Should have started to use it earlier, maybe could have done a bit more.
After thawing everything out, got to work about 11.30 today, couldn't get the microbore to work, 1/2" hose worked but had to clean an unheated consv and it just froze solid, so gave it a miss.
Thankfully some cheques are starting to be delivered by postman, so had something to put in the bank, first time for quite some time.
If still bad next week, will def heat the water up, but those hot machines are looking more attractive evryday.Maybe get one instead of contributing to taxman's bonus.
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Have a sideline - involving indoor work
wally out of intrest what do you do?
Believe it or not - I give private tuition for GCSE maths and science students. It doesn't pay that well, but it's real fun and keeps the brain cell working at peak capacity.
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nice 1 ;)
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i started out 18months ago and this yea ri already have purchased a 2kw oil filled radiator and aquarium heater for tank. I also have money by for my tax which i may have to use but maybe ok also. i have reasonably low outgoings i think so i am doing ok.
this year save more i reckon
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dont take three weeks of in december.. but then ive been lucky ive been able to work this week a bit.to start to catch up..one good move i did make for this winter was get myself a good pair of boots..horse mucking out boots made by moutain horse. cant praise them enough....
link to where you got em?
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Have a sideline - involving indoor work
wally out of intrest what do you do?
Believe it or not - I give private tuition for GCSE maths and science students. It doesn't pay that well, but it's real fun and keeps the brain cell working at peak capacity.
What field of science? What field of maths? Just curious.
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Hi Matt,
I've wondered about aquirium heaters and read the threads.I don't like the idea that they are glass.
I'm probably like everyone else and want something i can plop into the lid of my ibc or van tank, will heat the water, and not electrocute me.
You are the most clued up on this stuff so what is this 3kw heater you have?
Regards Clive
Slumpy this 3KW monster, and by aquarium standards it is big! isn't made from glass; so safetywise its the bees bollox; its made from Titanium.
One of the nice things about this bit of kit is that it can just be plopped into your IBC/van mount and starts heating the water.
I put it in my outside tank today and bearing in mind that the tank is uninsulated and standing in minus temps throughout the day got 400 litres up to 40°C. Id expect it to be able to heat that tank up to 50° in about 4 hours most times of the year.
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Have a sideline - involving indoor work
wally out of intrest what do you do?
Believe it or not - I give private tuition for GCSE maths and science students. It doesn't pay that well, but it's real fun and keeps the brain cell working at peak capacity.
What field of science? What field of maths? Just curious.
I do mainly maths. At GCSE there is no real specialisation. My own leanings are towards geometry first and foremost and I'm pretty hot on algebra as well. At A level, I'd be struggling with A2 Pure maths, but the Applied maths is easy for me.
As regards science, my forte is physics, but I'm pretty good at chemistry as well. My biology is good enough for GCSE.
I particularly love working with youngsters in what is known as the third quartile. These are the youngsters who are slightly below the Government's cherished 5 A* to C category. I'm probably in that quartile myself for most things, but I have two wonderful gifts.
First of all, I have a gift with maths and physics
Secondly, I have a gift in helping youngsters sort out their thinking.
Errr ... and I'm a pretty crap businessman!!!!
That's why I'm looking for the lessons here.
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Thank you for your informative reply. I have been reading some of your recent posts and although I am by no means accademical by any standards, I have enjoyed reading almost all of what you have written.
I feel you may be lost on most of these egostistical guys however and will eventually deem yourself to move to better pastures.
Good luck wally.
Ronnie.
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clear the frozen ice off my van roof!! stopped at traffic lights earlierand 8 inches came of transit van roof over the windscreen and broke the wipers :-\
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put more money aside and insulate ro and di better, its been a learning curve making mistakes is the only way we all learn