Interested In Advertising? | Contact Us Here
Warning!

 

Welcome to Clean It Up; the UK`s largest cleaning forum with over 34,000 members

 

Please login or register to post and reply to topics.      

 

Forgot your password? Click here

Kev R

Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« on: November 14, 2007, 12:18:37 am »
Thought you guys might find this post helpful. We recently bought an Omnivac system for a large commercial job.

The learning curve was large and the job was not without its technical problems. However we do gutter cleaning for domestic customers and so we did the following experiment to look at its viability domestically.

 I cleaned the gutters on a bungalow using a mixture of techniques so I could decide the best way forward. I decided to do the experiment on a bungalow as it had sections of guttering that were all at the same level from the ground and very long when compared to a normal house. Also It would be easier to use the telescopic equipment at a lower level and therefore learn the technique a little quicker, just like learning on ground floor windows.

I have a camera system on trial from omnipole to survey and record the gutters before cleaning and after cleaning. So today I used this to record the results.

There are four major sections of guttering on the bungalow all about the same length. The gutters and fascia boards needed cleaning.  I used a different approach on each and timed the results.

Method

1st section- by ladder and by hand- I have not cleaned a gutter like this for an age, I hated being on the ladder but cleared the gutter by hand and the washed the gutters outside and the fascia by hand. A very good result due to being up close and personal- green brackets difficult. Total time not including setting up 16 mins. Holes in lawn.

2nd section- high pressure telescopic lance inside and outside. Messy  but a good result. I got a little wet and dirty as usual. To be fair this is the way I usually clean and clear gutters. Total time not including set up 7 mins. However pressure washing alone wont remove all green as agitation is sometimes required. A floor sweep would have defiantly been required!

3rd section - camera on record, playback and note dirty areas, Omnivac areas where needed, then wfp on outside of gutter and fascias. camera on record for result.
Another good result. Wfp not brilliant for green brackets. Total time not including set up  9 mins.

4th section- A mixture- Camera on record, playback then omnivac areas where needed, high pressure flush inside and then outside concentrating on brackets. wfp over main sections of gutter and fascia. camera record then playback. The best result of all. Mint clean inside and out. 11 mins not including set up time.

Summary

My favorite way was the last as it was easier, less messy therefore I stayed dry and clean, and the result was outstanding. Ok if you had to set up all this equipment the job would take as long as doing it by hand.

Now heres the way I would do it now.

Out the van, camera and survey whole house. review results. if lots of debris present then get the  omnivac out and do affected areas only, if clear or lightly soiled leave the omnivac on the van, flush with pressure lance inside and out only. wfp quick once over. camera on record. review results. This would give you the results to be able to show your customer on the player and limit how much work you actually need to do.

Advantages

Quick, clean, safe. Easy to use once technique is mastered. Customer can see the job you have done, referrals more likely. Much quicker commercially as the set up would be required once.

Disadvantages

High equipment costs, a lot of setting up and packing away. Technique for equipment needs to be learnt.

Now heres the real deal

The overall advantage is safety as at no time do you risk your health and livelihood. Another major advantage is being able to clean gutters above a conservatory etc as with wfp.

The is no doubt the set up is expensive, but so was wfp in the early days. Im sure the omnivac will become cheaper as more people buy it or competition appears (gutter keeper possibly)

To be honest we bought the omnivac specifically for a very large commercial job. If I did not have this contract would I have bought it for domestic work alone  is another question. 

I added a picture to show us using the omnivac in a  commercial setting.

Kev  ;)   


Tim Rose

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2007, 08:43:29 am »
Seems like you used the vacuum itself hardly at all, so that says a lot about it doesnt it?  Why vacuum it if you have the high pressure jet on it?

Kev R

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2007, 10:41:53 am »
There is no point vacuuming a whole section of gutter if there is nothing in it. So the omnivac was used only where needed. You could vacuum blind but that would just waste time. So a camera then omnivac is the quickest for gross removal.
The high pressure jet makes a real mess if the gutters are really full. Also washing a lot of debris into down pipes is never a good Idea as you are likely to block them.

The commercial job we just finished  had no inspection hatches on the down pipes and were closed at the bottom end so blocking one would mean dismantling. The gutters were  on schools so lots of tennis balls were present which were just the right size to get stuck and cause a blockage. The omnivac removed these with ease.

I have been using high pressure alone on domestic for some time and it works well but is messy. Commercially with large section guttering its not as effective so thats why we bought the Omnivac.

Its a very good tool and has been modified extensively since it was first released. I was aware of the bad press it had on the forums. So we had the system on a trial basis. Omnivac were very supportive during this time. They even developed a new tool for a particular job we had. We had a few teething difficulties to start with but now its a real time saver commercially.

Domestically its expensive for sure.  ;D


Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2007, 12:37:34 pm »
Hi,

If you're not into vacuuming gutters, perhaps because of the capital cost, but already have a pressure washer and lance (or Omnipole gutter hook) have a look at our low cost camera system, at http://www.andwat.co.uk/acatalog/WINDOW_CLEANERS_&_CAR_VALETERS2.html

As Kev points out in his post, you can record "before & after" views, either still or video - all date and time stamped, and show your customer what you have achieved.  Best of all, there's no need to clean sections of guttering that are seen to be already totally clear.

Yours,

Andrew

Tim Rose

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2007, 01:31:41 pm »
There is no point vacuuming a whole section of gutter if there is nothing in it. So the omnivac was used only where needed. You could vacuum blind but that would just waste time.
Do you tell the customer that only part of the gutter needs cleaning then?  Assuming you are honest, and you do tell them that not all the gutter needs cleaning, by whatever means, do you reduce the price?

Kev R

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2007, 01:43:28 pm »
There is no point vacuuming a whole section of gutter if there is nothing in it. So the omnivac was used only where needed. You could vacuum blind but that would just waste time.
Do you tell the customer that only part of the gutter needs cleaning then?  Assuming you are honest, and you do tell them that not all the gutter needs cleaning, by whatever means, do you reduce the price?

On commercial jobs especially the larger ones we do a survey and then we charge for the work required. This is important because if the gutters were full of construction material then a pressure washer or omnivac would be ineffective so a mobile elevated  work platform would be required for instance.  So the answer is we charge for a survey then for the work required. This allows us to be efficient and cost effective for the customer.

Tim Rose

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2007, 01:47:21 pm »
Got you.  I've had a customer who was convinced that her gutters must need cleaning out, as they never had been to her knowledge, but when I got up the ladder to have a look, they were completely clear, so I earnt nothing for that.  if you had a camera costing £400 you would have to make a not small charge just to have a look, and then hope that they are actually blocked.  Charge for surveys then, even if just using a ladder.

Kev R

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2007, 02:03:12 pm »
Domestic houses are a bit different. Usually the customer wants the gutters and fascias to look nice on the outside. I very rarely get a call for a blocked gutter domestically. So  I charge for what ever they need doing. I have different charges for each job. If we don't clean the windows there we usually try to sell a wfp window, conservatory and fascia clean as well. The customers are usually very impressed and we often get either regular window cleaning or once / twice yearly follow on work.

One of my advertising methods is to offer a free ground level survey. If the gutters are clear at the very least it shows I'm honest an I will usually get follow on work.

Grafters Cleaning Services

  • Posts: 1287
Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2007, 04:20:36 pm »
Got you.  I've had a customer who was convinced that her gutters must need cleaning out, as they never had been to her knowledge, but when I got up the ladder to have a look, they were completely clear, so I earnt nothing for that.  if you had a camera costing £400 you would have to make a not small charge just to have a look, and then hope that they are actually blocked.  Charge for surveys then, even if just using a ladder.
hi rosie,
on my flyers it states that i can do a survey using the camera the cost for this is £10 (only takes 5 mins)
if the gutters are okay then they pay me the £10 if however they do need cleaning then i charge accordingly and deduct the £10, by doing this i find i am not doing free surveys and wasting my time for nothing
JAY "GRAFTERS"
From Southampton
www.high-shine.co.uk

DASERVICES

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2007, 05:27:36 pm »
Kev,

Could you take a photo of the nozzle please, I have a Ionics gutter vac and the problem I have is the design of the nozzle.Did a job the other day and the middle of the gutter it sucked up no problem, the sides it did nothing at all. This is a commercial gutter than has overlaps on both sides so when you move the nozzle at an angle the suction is not strong enough. The nozzle has to be flat on the surface of the gutter to work. Did you find any problems with yours or did it suck up ALL the debris.

Thanks

Kev R

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2007, 06:10:04 pm »
The first picture is of our commercial nozzle. Its made up of multiple grey pieces that allow you to change its shape and placement in the gutter. The flat end section kept sticking when we first used it especially when in contact with a flat bottomed gutter and water. so we drilled two small holes to stop this problem. It works fine now. This is our commercial nozzle, our domestic one is smaller.

The second picture is of a hook which attaches to an omnipole. we use this to break up clumps of earth when necessary. Omnipole made this for us as a special. They have a smaller hook that works well for domestic gutters but it was not big enough for our lates project. They made it free of charge which was very nice.

Kev R

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2007, 06:15:01 pm »
To be honest we have found the omnivac too powerful at times. So sucking is not a problem. There are three motors so if the power is too strong we turn one off. We have also found it easier to use at an angle.

Bobs Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 1257
Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2007, 06:22:16 pm »
Kev

I roughly charge around £1 per meter so its around £30 per Average  house and takes me around an hour.

Doyou charge more as you are using your Vac and do the customers seem happy to pay more?

Bob
Why oh Why did he spell my name as bod & not bob on my wedding invites.

Kev R

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2007, 06:29:29 pm »
for an average 3 bed semi I charge £65 minimum to just empty the gutters. If its a fascia, soffit and gutter clean and clear I charge between £100-200 depending on size and degree of difficulty, eg, working above a conservatory.

I have no problem finding work these prices in my area. I do on average a gutter clean per week domestically.

However as I said earlier I don't charge domestic customers for a survey and If no work is required I make nothing.

Bobs Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 1257
Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2007, 06:59:07 pm »
Blooming eck.

Anyone else get away with those prices on here.

Good on yer Kev.
Why oh Why did he spell my name as bod & not bob on my wedding invites.

mick hay

  • Posts: 1072
Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #15 on: November 14, 2007, 07:11:29 pm »
Kev,
   Have you cleaned a gutter above a conservatory with the vac?  If so, was it difficult?

Kev R

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #16 on: November 14, 2007, 07:17:07 pm »
Kev,
   Have you cleaned a gutter above a conservatory with the vac?  If so, was it difficult?

Yes I have and really It does depend on the conservatory size and access. The best way I have found is to stand along side the conservatory and do half the gutter from there then change sides. It does become difficult if you try to reach over the length of the conservatory.  If I have a real problem I just use the powerpole lance on a high pressure setting from the end thats with out the down pipe and flush.

DASERVICES

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #17 on: November 14, 2007, 10:21:36 pm »
Thanks Kev, the nozzle is designed well for the job. The Gutter Vac is slightly lacking on this, it has a u bend on both sides which I feel is effecting the suction.

Kev R

Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #18 on: November 15, 2007, 08:34:09 am »
Thanks Kev, the nozzle is designed well for the job. The Gutter Vac is slightly lacking on this, it has a u bend on both sides which I feel is effecting the suction.

No worries. Do you have the petrol driven gutter keeper? Do you have any pics of the working end including nozzles?

bluez

  • Posts: 519
Re: Gutter Cleaning Techniques - Omnivac etc
« Reply #19 on: November 15, 2007, 11:09:05 am »
Hi Kev R
Thanks for the info I was looking into gutter vacs and was about to post looking for info on them. very informative. Can you advise how high you have used it and how difficult it gets as the height increases. Thanks
hi