That's impressive too, what's your van?

Quote from: dazmond on January 06, 2026, 07:15:58 pm

Professional fit every time esp if you want a diesel hot system. Get it fitted into a brand new van if you plan on window cleaning for many years to come.

Nothing worse than messing about every few years switching systems from van to van.

I've had this van 16 years Daz but as I'm scaling down to doing less as I'm now only part time so for a start I don't need a 500 litre system a 350 will be fine I also want a nicer more up to date van etc which I'm hoping when I retire fully in around 3 years time I'll be able to sell for a decent price.

16yrs,thats impressive, what van have you  got?

When I first started in business over 20 years ago getting van insurance was quite easy and very cheap. However after around 5 years most of the usual ones that I used to use like Direct Line wouldn't insure me anymore because of the "tank" even though it had been bolted to the chassis by a garage. This then became an excuse that other insurers would use which was frustrating. Ever since then I've used A-Plan now called Howdens as they're part of only a few insurers that offer me the coverage that I need.

Quote from: Klean07 on January 05, 2026, 04:32:50 pm

I deal with the * we're ok this month brigade* by dumping them . Then the ones that drag their feet with payment I'll text them to say that I'm calling round later to get payment. They usually pay straight away. Then there is the ones that try it on like a regular one I did before Xmas. She was out but her hubby opened the back gate for me then along with his teenage sons watched me clean the back windows. Payment was still outstanding over Xmas so I sent her a message for which she replied did I clean her back windows because hubby said I was only there for 10 minutes. She paid but now she's dumped!

The trouble is she will bad mouth you as unreliable to neighbours and friends.  "You just can't get anyone reliable and honest these days. They are all the same. He obviously didn't clean the back windows as he was only here for 5 minutes."  They never see themselves as the problem.

I wouldn't care in the slightest if one of my 'dumpees' badmouths me to any of my other customers because they know I am reliable and don't miss out windows.

I notice the adverts for new tank systems and the prices they are demanding and laugh at what is often a common thin baffled plastic tank fitted with a few pre cut and folded sheets of thin mild steel with a logo or two on and think to myself I'm in the wrong business.

What's with powder coated steel frames, they rust from the inside out and weaken the frame that holds the tank or ground mounted system that is bolted through the floor once the powder coating is damaged and the mild steel is exposed to air. I have experience in powder coating steel from previous employment in the fishing industry. Talk about safety, what a joke using powder coated frames because of economics.

I have an Ionics crash tested tank inside a stainless steel frame which I bough secondhand and fitted myself being an ex coded welder and fabricator so I know it is truly safe one hundred percent and will last my working lifetime.

Good to see a local wfp supplier is introducing Kevlar based base pole sections instead of fibreglass base sections regarding electrical conductivity.

Better off priming and painting a mild steel frame. Its easy enough to rub down and repaint. Plastic coated frames once they fail look a mess and you have to strip it all off to re coat it. To be fair it will take a hell of a long time to rot out 3 or 4mm steel but its just looks crap