[STEVE71163]

Thanks the Fed Man. I think i will get in touch with ott and ask for some literature and maybe a demo

Steve Lowe

[STEVE71163]

Can you clean windows successfully if it is raining with a pole or does the rain inter fear with the pure water

Steve Lowe

[The_Fed_Man]

The main thing that stops you cleaning in the rain is customer attitude.  No 2 is you don't like getting wet.  We used to squeegee up to the point where you couldn't finish them properly.  Rain doesn't harm windows in most cases, airborne dust and dirt make them dirty.
Waterfed poles there is no scrim detailing or cloth work so you can work in most weathers.  Unless it's torrential we work, or if the windows are being visibly spoilt as we clean, as in the case of seafront windows.

[STEVE71163]

Sorry to sound a bit stupid but how long are the hoses as i have some jobs that you would not get the van that near

Steve Lowe

[The_Fed_Man]

We run 3 reels of 150 feet each on one pole, at a push we have used 4 x 150 feet, one pole.  2 poles using 300 feet is no problem, but if you had one pole at 50 feet high and another say 10 feet high using these lengths, it might be too much for the pump.
But in general no problem.  If inaccessable you could use a trolley or backpack.

[STEVE71163]

Thanks Fed Man.    I think the next stage is for me to get information from the different companys

Steve Lowe

[STEVE71163]

Fed Man, Are your systems ott  

Steve Lowe

[The_Fed_Man]

Yes, I have the 1000 litre Reach & Wash Commercial in a one and a half ton Transit.  One ton vans will take 650 litre systems, one & a half ton vans take the 1000 litre systems, escort size vehicles take the 300 litre systems.

[STEVE71163]

Thanks Fed Man,  I will start having a look around and compare the different systems and then go from their.

Thanks again

Steve Lowe

[Majestic]

Fed Man
How much of your work is done by poles

[The_Fed_Man]

Majestic,
Virtually all of it.  Only on some older type, poor state of repair windows the system doesn't work so we squeegee as usual.
I've just had a look at your web page, which size Reach & Wash do you have and do you use it on Residential?

[karlosdaze]

Working in the rain shouldn't have any effect in theory. The idea of RO (Reverse Osmosis for hard water areas) and DI (De-Ionisation for soft water areas) water is that the water is pure when cleaning the windows. In theory the rain from the sky is pure and so in turn should not streak the windows. Where I live the wind whips up the sand from the Sahara and drops it on us. This is more difficult to clean with a water fed pole. In the UK airborne matter is what marks the water fed window.

For anyone who actually uses a water fed pole, please try this at home. Put your pure water in a glass and cover with alu kitchen paper. Remove after a day.

By the way, my tds in Mallorca runs as high as 1400!!!

[The_Fed_Man]

Karl,
Alu as in aluminium paper?

[sham33]

Would a cheap mobile system like the Cricket system from OTT be any good in a hard water area? The waters very hard down here.

[Majestic]

Fed Man
I have a 40ft OTT pole and a 18ft pole from Mr Fogewll
I use the 40ft for a school that I clean , and on a couple of other jobs , I use the 18ft  for a couple of other jobs ,most of my work  is terraced houses ,its quicker to use a ladder as most of the back alleys around here have lots of little dog droppings.I looked at the OTT system but I have not got the work to justify the amount it costs , I have to admit I do like using my pole it  has made the jobs I use it on alot easier to clean.
How do you price your jobs   I know that no 2 jobs are the same , I used to price on how long that it would take me to clean it , but now I price it on how long would it take me on a ladder then add some more for good look

[The_Fed_Man]

Majestic,
I price the same as ladderwork. Have you looked into the backpack system for those back alley jobs  What system are you using, Peter F's trolley?

[Majestic]

Fed Man
I have heard about the backpack, Jeff Brimble has one butI have  not seen one ,and would not know where to look for one
I use a 36 in mixed bed resin  tank, a 136 ltr water tank , flowjet pump  crude but it does the job.  

[The_Fed_Man]

Well, everybody was using the Hozelock 20 litre one around £100 ish but I have seen others.  I did see one in a Machine Mart catalogue the other day resonably priced but haven't looked at it in the flesh so to speak.

[Majestic]

Fed Man
Just had a look in Machine Mark but could only see a clarke 6litr one at £30.49

[Majestic]

Fed Man
Had another look in Machine Mart(with my glasses on this time ) they do a 20ltr liquid sprayer  back pack at £46.94 is that the same thing, with the pack on your back how do you get power to pump the water