[dave741]

Hi Guys

I have tried to do loads of research as a newbie so hopefully no repeated questions....just want to check I am on the right track so far in my research (at that level currently)

RO/Di Sysytem probably best situated at home?
Gardners Poles very good to use?
Need answer to this one...how many poles (or brushes) do you guys have or would I need to cover all needs. (probably domestic to start with but some small commercial would be good as well)
Another quick question (sorry) If I was interested in Hot water system (on a budget) is it better to heat say 20l in a small container with a l5 heater (such as the one advertised in Brodex) for about £230 while im setting up poles and hoses or heat large container at house with diy immersion heater then put in insulated container in van?
Im presuming most of you also carry ladders as well as traditional equipment

I will be based near Ipswich when I start so I presumed an Ro will be necessary (not there at present but have made couple of assumptions)

Thanks again and hope bad weather doesnt continue

Dave
 

[simonr]

about the poles, if you get a clx27 its small & light enough for all domestics & long enough to get a lot of big stuff, get a 10" carbon gooseneck with it as well & a sill brush thats the only pole you need. brushes you have to try out but a stiff bristle does everything

[Paul Coleman]

about the poles, if you get a clx27 its small & light enough for all domestics & long enough to get a lot of big stuff, get a 10" carbon gooseneck with it as well & a sill brush thats the only pole you need. brushes you have to try out but a stiff bristle does everything

Good post.  To it I would add - get a soft sill brush too as sometimes the stiffer brush might knock the strips off stuck on leaded windows.

[dave741]

Thank you Kybl and Paul, your valuable advice is very much appreciated:)

[mister bit]

it sounds like you're on the right track ... lots of factors involved ... you could spend a couple fl hundred and be cleaning windows professionally in a week or you could spend a few thousand and still be scratching your head come the winter

depends really but at some point the theory has to convert into a practical skill so are you a theorist or a practical person ... confident in your hands and eyes or need the comfort of kit ?

i would say start basic pick up customers and learn as you go along

[dave741]

Thanks Mister bit

Im quite practical and probably will build DIY system.  Only thinking of hot (well warm) as read few posts of water freezing problems in winter...budget probably 2k but want to try and cover all bases to start with.  I like to have as much info to hand before I start so I can make informed choices and learn from people with vast amounts of experience....then hopefully I can start on a sound footing

Thanks again

[EandM]

On the poles again:

Gardiner very good - other manufacturers are probably available but I'd never go looking again.

[PurefectWindowCleaning]

Thanks Mister bit

Im quite practical and probably will build DIY system.  Only thinking of hot (well warm) as read few posts of water freezing problems in winter...budget probably 2k but want to try and cover all bases to start with.  I like to have as much info to hand before I start so I can make informed choices and learn from people with vast amounts of experience....then hopefully I can start on a sound footing

Thanks again

Ive DIY'D it myself, and am intrested to learn about heating the water.

[dave741]

Thank you E and M Im glad that my research so far doesnt seem to be too far out

Hi James Milton, from reading endless threads on here I discovered some people love l5 heater..some use plumbed in current setup and some use secondary container so as not to leave sytem running unattended.  However some people dislike the system and the associated issues with gas.  Not having budget for purpose built one my only other option as far as I could see was an immersion heater.  Im presuming that these are based within the IBC at home.  I wish I could be more use but that is as far as I have got with my research currently.  I havent decided as yet on what option I favour.

[Perfect Windows]

Need answer to this one...how many poles (or brushes) do you guys have or would I need to cover all needs. (probably domestic to start with but some small commercial would be good as well)

If I had my time again, I might well get an SLX-25 and tell customers that any window it won't reach won't get done.  My domestic customers don't expect me to have a 40-footer (even though I do) and I think most of the handful where I have to use it would have been fine with "that window's out of reach".

Keeps it simpler and is cheaper for you, so you can afford the one pole to be better quality.

Vin

[AuRavelling79]

You can put an immersion in an IBC at home but you will often be unnecessarily heating 700 or 1000 litres of water.

I have separate immersions in my 200, my 400 and my 650 vehicle tanks and I heat each of them as necessary for the day's work/ambient temperature.

Immersions are only £25 a pop.

BTW - I have the budget for a bought system but see no need for my use pattern.

I've just read Vin's post ( the next one after mine) prior to posting and that makes a lot of sense.

[dave741]

Top advice Vin thank you for that.

Now that is a great idea Gold.....I think that may just be the route I will consider... I presume it wouldnt take to long to heat say 500 lts.

Thank you everyone so far.....really top advice!  

[Splash 4 Cash]

I would not put an immersion heater in the first a cheaper on power would be a 1000 watt fish pond heater with a 2nd if needed as I leave my fish pond heater all night and find is electric consumption very low.THis you can get off e bay at about tenner and I leave it in the tank all night which drings the temp up to 35 degrees.One will need to insulate the tank This I did with that crome bubble wrap stuff which cost me 11 quid.This water stays warm till lunch.

[ben M]

for all domestics: The Super-Lite Radius-Sill Brush Dual-Trim Medium Bristles (White) with carbon gooseneck 10'
 conservatory roof and gutters: The Super-Lite Radius-Sill Brush Flat-Trim Stiff Bristles (Red)

pole: slx 25

 

[Total shine cleaning services]

I have gas heated water and I have really scrutinised my work whilst using it,I find if I run it warm it does not make to much difference,if I run it very hot it does make a big difference but is complete overkill on maintenance cleans,so now it only comes on when I do 1 st cleans and my maintenance cleans still come good using cold only.
My system is as follows ibc tank at home with a 650gpd ro system from streamline that goes thru a di straight into tank, I have a Clarke transfer pump in the ibc, only cost me about £38 and transfers 40L a minute, in the van I have a 400L tank and a shurflo pump, one clx 27 pole for the majority of my work and a couple of heavy cumbersome streamline poles for back up,I recently bought a 2nd hand pure freedom trolley with a load of containers for £260 off eBay so I have around a 600L capacity on the van,the trolleys are very good and do exactly the same as a van mount system, the only downside is swapping the containers over but this only takes half a minute, I now have a part time worker 2 days a week and we alternate between van and trolley when we work, you can spend a lot of money in this game or spend very little but the end results are the same so spend wisely

Graham

[dave741]

thanks....

Splash 4 cash.....would pond heater heat 500 ltrs?  Thanks for that I shall look into.

Ben M....Top advice for brushes thank you so much.

Graham...Very helpful description of your system...sounds similar to my thoughts for my setup, may have some questions for you a bit nearer the time;)

Appreciate the answers guys