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

prestige cleaners

  • Posts: 1038
is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« on: April 07, 2010, 02:13:39 am »
ive heard of it being done, i would need a lance extension (karcher) but can it damage gutters, vents?
would it be quicker than brushes? only probs would be electric, they would have to be in?

Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2010, 06:49:37 am »
I have gone down this route now.I have a petrol washer and 7m extendable lance...oh how i wish i had this equipement a long while ago.It is so much quicker from cleaning the gutters out (once you get the hang of handling the lance) to cleaning the fascias and soffits.
I allways had problems cleaning those damn gutter brackets with the wfp,and on the odd occassion climbed a ladder to get the real crud off,but the pressure washer combined with a quick spray with some TFR(ecover from gardiners) brings the plastics up like new.Any stubborne dirt can be quickly brushed with a pole just to loosen off,but this is hardly necessary.Dont try connie roofs with it though,the seals just wont hold up to that much pressure,but overall the system is a timesaver and from the ground the safety aspects outweigh the initial setup costs.
Make sure your customers have outside taps though,unless you get a system that can syphon water from a holding tank.

Frankybadboy

  • Posts: 9024
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2010, 07:19:42 am »
what sort of pressure washer would we be looking at.?????
surely petrol washer is better than elctric so if custys not in then they can still be used.

what cost would we be looking at

daz1977

Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2010, 08:26:09 am »
i was going down this route, as i found a pressure washer on ebay for about 180  but it is only 2200 psi 5.5hp,  i got told this isnt bigger enough, but i think it is for what i want it for

Jack Wallace

  • Posts: 625
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2010, 08:57:14 am »
I have gone down this route now.I have a petrol washer and 7m extendable lance...oh how i wish i had this equipement a long while ago.It is so much quicker from cleaning the gutters out (once you get the hang of handling the lance) to cleaning the fascias and soffits.
I allways had problems cleaning those damn gutter brackets with the wfp,and on the odd occassion climbed a ladder to get the real crud off,but the pressure washer combined with a quick spray with some TFR(ecover from gardiners) brings the plastics up like new.Any stubborne dirt can be quickly brushed with a pole just to loosen off,but this is hardly necessary.Dont try connie roofs with it though,the seals just wont hold up to that much pressure,but overall the system is a timesaver and from the ground the safety aspects outweigh the initial setup costs.
Make sure your customers have outside taps though,unless you get a system that can syphon water from a holding tank.
I like this idea as i find gutter cleaning to be a real pain, where did you get the lance from?

Nathanael Jones

  • Posts: 5596
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2010, 09:11:21 am »
Northern tool sell lances.

Personally I find most gutters can be cleaned with an x-jet spraying the right chems,.. spray, leave to soak for 10 mins & rinse. If they're really dirty a rub of the wfp brush may be required in places, but I find it easier than hefting the 24' lance around as mine is very heavy & VERY whippy at full extension.

I use a 13hp petrol washer on gutters and even with the lance have never done damage. Avoid using a turbo nozzle on the long lance tho!

davidpitts

Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2010, 04:33:59 pm »
Nathaneal whats an x jet and where would you get one, also what chems would you recommend, cheers Dave.

prestige cleaners

  • Posts: 1038
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2010, 07:44:51 pm »
ive been using a cheap £80 karcher from tescos to do drives and patios, seems to do the job, maybe a bit slower than a more powerful one, but i think would be fine on gutters.

wezzy32

  • Posts: 654
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2010, 10:53:17 pm »
 wen cleaning out the gutters how much mess does it make with a press washer 
keep on smiling

daz1977

Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #9 on: April 07, 2010, 11:07:40 pm »
depends how dirt it is,  lots of dirty water would go every where i think

cleewindows

Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2010, 11:10:08 pm »
lol £80 pressure washer from tesco and your bragging thay you have been charging £100 for a hours work ;D
yeah right,what you cleaning 2 slabs a hour? ;D ;D

ive been using a cheap £80 karcher from tescos to do drives and patios, seems to do the job, maybe a bit slower than a more powerful one, but i think would be fine on gutters.

prestige cleaners

  • Posts: 1038
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #11 on: April 07, 2010, 11:16:36 pm »
lol £80 pressure washer from tesco and your bragging thay you have been charging £100 for a hours work ;D
yeah right,what you cleaning 2 slabs a hour? ;D ;D

ive been using a cheap £80 karcher from tescos to do drives and patios, seems to do the job, maybe a bit slower than a more powerful one, but i think would be fine on gutters.

why would i need to lie about that? have you ever used one? does me fine thanks! maybe youve wasted all your money on one, and are jealous your not getting a good return on it? ive used mine countless times, and got my money back on the first clean!

JSMC

  • Posts: 3511
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #12 on: April 07, 2010, 11:18:13 pm »
never used mine to clean inside of guttering. reckon it will create some mess

wezzy32

  • Posts: 654
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2010, 11:35:27 pm »
thats y im unsure about using a press to clean out the guts its got to makr a rite mess
keep on smiling

cleewindows

Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #14 on: April 07, 2010, 11:37:13 pm »
fair play then
i have a cobra 150 and a 14" mosmatic cost me £1100
done a few jobs thanx  ;D
lol £80 pressure washer from tesco and your bragging thay you have been charging £100 for a hours work ;D
yeah right,what you cleaning 2 slabs a hour? ;D ;D

ive been using a cheap £80 karcher from tescos to do drives and patios, seems to do the job, maybe a bit slower than a more powerful one, but i think would be fine on gutters.

why would i need to lie about that? have you ever used one? does me fine thanks! maybe youve wasted all your money on one, and are jealous your not getting a good return on it? ive used mine countless times, and got my money back on the first clean!

prestige cleaners

  • Posts: 1038
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #15 on: April 08, 2010, 12:21:32 am »
fair play then
i have a cobra 150 and a 14" mosmatic cost me £1100
done a few jobs thanx  ;D
lol £80 pressure washer from tesco and your bragging thay you have been charging £100 for a hours work ;D
yeah right,what you cleaning 2 slabs a hour? ;D ;D

ive been using a cheap £80 karcher from tescos to do drives and patios, seems to do the job, maybe a bit slower than a more powerful one, but i think would be fine on gutters.

why would i need to lie about that? have you ever used one? does me fine thanks! maybe youve wasted all your money on one, and are jealous your not getting a good return on it? ive used mine countless times, and got my money back on the first clean!

looks a bit over the top for patios? is it worth it having one that powerful for domestic work? maybe industrial? for getting chewing gum up? (these are serious q's im not being sarky btw)

just checked mine its 110 bars, yours is 150, not a lot more is it? ive noticed a karcher model which you use off the mains, has 150 bar and is £300 surely that would be better than shelling out over a grand?

Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #16 on: April 08, 2010, 06:56:46 am »
Ok....does it make a mess cleaning out the gutters...YES IT DOES,until you get the hang of it.
My pw has an adjustable flow to it so you can slow the output.They also come with several differing sizes of nozzles which allow you to go from an extremly powerful jet to a much wider output for applying chemicals (and this is ideal for cleaning out of gutters).
On the quality of pw...ok yes you can do it all with a small domestic pw,but the results will definatley be differant.I bought a washer from northern tools on the advice of Jeff1 (thanks jeff) and this has proved a great piece of equipement....but even this has its limits and with a 5.5hp engine and flow rate of 10lpm at 2200psi i would consider this a great piece of kit for the general gutter/upvc clean,and although i have done several driveway/patios/deckings with it i wouldn't want to push it to hard.I have looked at various others and feel the advice given about honda engines is something to take  into account.
IMO you need to be able to provide your own power to run this side of the business efficiently and professionally...ie have a petrol driven machine,it will certainly pay for itself in no time. :)

jonnyald

Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #17 on: April 08, 2010, 07:15:47 am »
where do you stand when cleaning out the inside of a gutter with a pressure washer ?  does it really work good on a "full un "   

jeff1

  • Posts: 5855
Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #18 on: April 08, 2010, 12:07:45 pm »
where do you stand when cleaning out the inside of a gutter with a pressure washer ?  does it really work good on a "full un "   
Take a look at my video and it will give you some idea on how it works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsmF7EN2FpU

I would never go back to ladders for gutter cleaning, the lance is so much faster and does an excellent Job.

cleewindows

Re: is it advisable to clean gutters with a power washer?
« Reply #19 on: April 08, 2010, 07:37:19 pm »
yes m8 its definately worth it,it will last for years,it looks good,does a very good job,i prefer to get the best tools so you are prepared and ready to do the best job possible to get more work and recommendations.
 im picking up lots of work so will pay for itself very quickly.
 with the mosmatic looks the bis!
 might the extending pole to do the gutters myself.
 i have a 80 litre gutter vac and attachments but its always good to have alternatives!
 i think i might try the pressure washer pole and if works well might do a way with the gutter vac because that is a very big beast!
 ive got to gutter clean jobs on saturday morning one for £80 and one for £75.both bungalows too ;D


fair play then
i have a cobra 150 and a 14" mosmatic cost me £1100
done a few jobs thanx  ;D
lol £80 pressure washer from tesco and your bragging thay you have been charging £100 for a hours work ;D
yeah right,what you cleaning 2 slabs a hour? ;D ;D

ive been using a cheap £80 karcher from tescos to do drives and patios, seems to do the job, maybe a bit slower than a more powerful one, but i think would be fine on gutters.

why would i need to lie about that? have you ever used one? does me fine thanks! maybe youve wasted all your money on one, and are jealous your not getting a good return on it? ive used mine countless times, and got my money back on the first clean!

looks a bit over the top for patios? is it worth it having one that powerful for domestic work? maybe industrial? for getting chewing gum up? (these are serious q's im not being sarky btw)

just checked mine its 110 bars, yours is 150, not a lot more is it? ive noticed a karcher model which you use off the mains, has 150 bar and is £300 surely that would be better than shelling out over a grand?