[Sean Dyer]

That is the question!

I have been using my system without one, but finding i am out of water FAST although  have usually earned ok, but it means i cant carry on without filling up which is difficult as i work 20 miles from home mostly

I was looking through some posts on another site and found this

  Re: digital varistream promblem
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2010, 05:51:54 PM » 

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The best use for a varistream is a door stop. Failing that flog it some other idiot.

Varistreams are the most utterly Pointless and useless gadget for WFP.
The basics of WFP are:

Activate dirt into water with brush,
Rinse dirty water off leaving pure water to evaporate naturally.

So who in their right mind wants to slow the flow down and stand there longer rinsing???

The faster you can do this process the faster you can work and earn more.
Obviously a few dimwads do But simply follow these directions to for trouble free pump working for years to come.

Connect pole and turn on pump,
Undo pressure switch adjuster gradually until pump stops,
gently turn screw back in until pump starts again.

This will set the pressure switch to stop the pump a few seconds after disconnecting the pole and provide trouble free operation for years. I know i have been for the last 6 years.

No more varistream junk to waste time and money on. I find it hilarious that guys struggle on with varistream problems when just get rid of it is the best option.

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Can anyone explain the pressure adjusting bit? my pump cuts out when i turn tap off at end hose already??

And do you think i should get a controller or not??

[Mike_G]

You will use a lot less water with a varistream or similar

[mci services]

If it cuts off after stopping flow already just leave it as it is sean, you only need to adjust if it running on to long or cutting in and out, if it is ok just leave it as it is.

I also agree with that post you quoted, as you have found, sure you run out of water quicker but you do the work in less time

[Sean Dyer]

Im just worried when it comes to changing over alot of work that i will only get very little earned

Might have to change over in stages and do some ladder work on the first few times to keep £££ earned

[Tom White]

Just get a flow controller!  Some jobs you may want a fast flow, some jobs you may want a slower flow.  On real leaded windows, which leak, I prefer a slower flow, for example.

It protects both the pump and the battery life, and it's just a lot nicer to use.

As for rinsing, there logically must be an optimum flow rate, and anything above that is just a waste of water.

[Sean Dyer]

On the real lead that you talk about tosh i have used my pump on full blast , i just did them quick

Water will find its way in fast or slow, in fact doing it slowly is just as bad!

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

There are MANY who don't actually understand how a varistream works. They hook it up & because it doesn't do what they think it should in five minutes rip it back out & slate it! I've read it many times & when you offer advice & dig a little deeper it becomes obvious that the user hasn't a clue what it's for or how it should even work!


My advice, get one, it's got to be one of the very best pieces of kit I have ever bought! I used a bypass system system before that & I've now been using the varistream for about 3+ years & it's never missed a beat! You'll use less water, you'll have a constant & reliable pre-set flow rate regardless of height being worked, uses less battery power, I could not work without one now.

I would advise you buy it as kit with shurflo pump, connectors & strainer. I would also use 8mm hose instead of 6mm.

Hope that helps.

[Sean Dyer]

got a pump strainer etc and using 8mm

Will probably get one and use it on high becuase as you say at least it will still save some water and battery

However when taking the pressure switch off teh pump to connect it, and then using the controller, if i turn the tap off will the pump still cut out once the pressure builds in the system??

[alanwilson]

no way!

We have took our varistreams off, too slow to start between windows.  With the pump going full speed and all poles on triggers we only go through 1300ltrs a day (2 vans, 4 men), we start between 5 and 8 each morning and finish between 1 and 4.

Max flow, less time on each job = approx same vol of water used.

[Tom White]

Yes, Sean, the pump cuts off with the flow controller when it reaches the required pressure.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

no way!

We have took our varistreams off, too slow to start between windows.  With the pump going full speed and all poles on triggers we only go through 1300ltrs a day (2 vans, 4 men), we start between 5 and 8 each morning and finish between 1 and 4.

Max flow, less time on each job = approx same vol of water used.

Perfect example!

My flow starts IMMEDIATELY as soon as I turn the tap back on!

[mci services]

There are MANY who don't actually understand how a varistream works. They hook it up & because it doesn't do what they think it should in five minutes rip it back out & slate it! I've read it many times & when you offer advice & dig a little deeper it becomes obvious that the user hasn't a clue what it's for or how it should even work!


My advice, get one, it's got to be one of the very best pieces of kit I have ever bought! I used a bypass system system before that & I've now been using the varistream for about 3+ years & it's never missed a beat! You'll use less water, you'll have a constant & reliable pre-set flow rate regardless of height being worked, uses less battery power, I could not work without one now.

I would advise you buy it as kit with shurflo pump, connectors & strainer. I would also use 8mm hose instead of 6mm.

Hope that helps.

not at all, I used mine for months, I know what works for me and like alan I think it is the way to go, however experience of forums tells me 99% of members will not agree, that is fair and it is up to members to find what suits them

[alanwilson]

I think it comes down to how much water you can carry - personally I cannot understand anyone trying to scrimp on water - small tank?  get a bigger tank.

but there's simply no way anyone using a low flow (less than 2ltr/min) can keep up with a high flow - its simple, we flood each pane with water, next to no scrubbing, easy

[Tom White]

Max flow, less time on each job = approx same vol of water used.

But common sense tells me that there is an optimum flow rate which ensures you can work quickly without overkill.

For example, if you had a flow rate of 20 litres per minute (obviously a gross exaggeration; but I'm reductio ad absurdum (reducing the argument to absurdity), then that would be no more effective than say 10 litres per minute.

My point is, there is an optimum flow rate, where anything over is overkill and a waste.

I haven't measured what the optimum flow rate is, but I have a pretty good idea of what it is on my flow controller, and it's not full blast.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Max flow, less time on each job = approx same vol of water used.

But common sense tells me that there is an optimum flow rate which ensures you can work quickly without overkill.

For example, if you had a flow rate of 20 litres per minute (obviously a gross exaggeration; but I'm reductio ad absurdum (reducing the argument to absurdity), then that would be no more effective than say 10 litres per minute.

My point is, there is an optimum flow rate, where anything over is overkill and a waste.

I haven't measured what the optimum flow rate is, but I have a pretty good idea of what it is on my flow controller, and it's not full blast.

Absolutely spot on Tosh.

For me it's nothing to do with saving water, I'm DI only, in Scotland (no water meters) & so have the option to fill up anywhere when needs be.

[Sean Dyer]

Yes tosh

I am a believer in not using a dribble of water yet i notice that when no varistream its almost splashing back off. and its just too much

I would like  a way of slowing it down a bit, but still have a high flow rate!

I have a 500 litre tank so saving water isnt a major issue, but still at full belt it can be gone in no time, ie the pump is 5 litre a minute with no control which is 100 mins , whereas at 2.5 ltr-3 i reckon itd be just as fast but saving enough water to get a longer day in???

Thats what im wondering

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Yes tosh

I am a believer in not using a dribble of water yet i notice that when no varistream its almost splashing back off. and its just too much

I would like  a way of slowing it down a bit, but still have a high flow rate!

I have a 500 litre tank so saving water isnt a major issue, but still at full belt it can be gone in no time, ie the pump is 5 litre a minute with no control which is 100 mins , whereas at 2.5 ltr-3 i reckon itd be just as fast but saving enough water to get a longer day in???

Thats what im wondering

I agree, also you'll not be causing extra "unnecessary" ice hazards in winter too!

[alanwilson]

pumps are rated at open flow - ie no back pressure.

the pump has to push the water through the hose which creates back pressure, the faster the flow, the more back pressure which reduces the flow rate.

with no flow controller I reckon our pumps run around 3.5 ltr/min - which I believe is close to optimum, maybe a little more flow would help but I'm pretty pleased with it.

tosh - believe me mate, I was right about the self priming spray for the floor of the van (which probably saved you half a days work), now just trust me on this one.  Test it out for yourself.

winpo - ICE hazards?  seriously even the slowest trickle will create a hazard in winter - we just throw a handful of ice melt down round each job in winter. 

[Ian Sheppard]

That is the question!

I have been using my system without one, but finding i am out of water FAST although  have usually earned ok, but it means i cant carry on without filling up which is difficult as i work 20 miles from home mostly

I was looking through some posts on another site and found this

  Re: digital varistream promblem
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2010, 05:51:54 PM » 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The best use for a varistream is a door stop. Failing that flog it some other idiot.

Varistreams are the most utterly Pointless and useless gadget for WFP.
The basics of WFP are:

Activate dirt into water with brush,
Rinse dirty water off leaving pure water to evaporate naturally.

So who in their right mind wants to slow the flow down and stand there longer rinsing???

The faster you can do this process the faster you can work and earn more.
Obviously a few dimwads do But simply follow these directions to for trouble free pump working for years to come.

Connect pole and turn on pump,
Undo pressure switch adjuster gradually until pump stops,
gently turn screw back in until pump starts again.

This will set the pressure switch to stop the pump a few seconds after disconnecting the pole and provide trouble free operation for years. I know i have been for the last 6 years.

No more varistream junk to waste time and money on. I find it hilarious that guys struggle on with varistream problems when just get rid of it is the best option.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can anyone explain the pressure adjusting bit? my pump cuts out when i turn tap off at end hose already??

And do you think i should get a controller or not??

This may help

if the pump is cycling but at full speed (Varistream has no variable control) then the pump is hitting the pressure switch.

If the unit still has variable control (you can turn the pump rate up and down with the Varistream) then try turning the flowrate on the Varistream down. If the cycling stops then the dead end detection is incorrectly set and needs to be adjusted.

If the cycling does not stop even when the flowrate is turned down low, then it sounds like there may be a problem with the Varistream.

In general we believe the Varistream is designed to work with 5l/min pumps. The dead end detection is simplistic and has very little adjustment when driving a pump outside of this range

As for the Controller V no controller It has to come down to individual choice as a general rule a pump controller will help to
1) reduce water use so more jobs in a day
2) reduce wear and tear on the Pump and Battery
3) controlled water flow to suit each set of circumstances

That said it has to be about what suits you.

[Paul Coleman]

There are MANY who don't actually understand how a varistream works. They hook it up & because it doesn't do what they think it should in five minutes rip it back out & slate it! I've read it many times & when you offer advice & dig a little deeper it becomes obvious that the user hasn't a clue what it's for or how it should even work!


My advice, get one, it's got to be one of the very best pieces of kit I have ever bought! I used a bypass system system before that & I've now been using the varistream for about 3+ years & it's never missed a beat! You'll use less water, you'll have a constant & reliable pre-set flow rate regardless of height being worked, uses less battery power, I could not work without one now.

I would advise you buy it as kit with shurflo pump, connectors & strainer. I would also use 8mm hose instead of 6mm.

Hope that helps.

This is funny because I've never used one yet  .  I just have a return to tank setup for surplus water.  I'm not saying it's better.  It's just the way my system was set up and I've never changed it.  I do have a 800 litre tank in the back though so maybe that's why I don't look so hard at water usage.
Maybe a Varistream would improve my system but it's a case, for me of, it's not broken so don't fix it.