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Freezing windows.

Messages
50
Location
Devon
hello. My first day window cleaning with water fed pole in winter. Not going to lie- it's bloody cold and not nice! But I'm out and ready to work! However first job at 9am and the water is freezing on the windows. Are there any tips to prevent this? Providing I don't do traditional as I use water fed pole. Or is it just a case of starting later? It's 10.20am and it's still -5 degrees! Thanks.

 
Tbh if its that cold i would of stayed in bed, i use to do what your doing and believe me its not worth the hassle, and if the crusty is there they will not be very impressed. Im in Southampton and it was -5 last night and its still cold outside now proberly - 1. The issue i had was that becuase its taking until about 11 ish to warm up bye the time the windows have dried your maybe looking at 3 / 4 hours and bye this time the water on the windows could start to freeze before they have dried. Do your self a favor mate dont bother last thing you want is complaining customers. One complaining customer is the equivalent to ten satisfied customers. And from my experience crusty are not stupid and would realize its to cold.

 
Tbh if its that cold i would of stayed in bed, i use to do what your doing and believe me its not worth the hassle, and if the crusty is there they will not be very impressed. Im in Southampton and it was -5 last night and its still cold outside now proberly - 1. The issue i had was that becuase its taking until about 11 ish to warm up bye the time the windows have dried your maybe looking at 3 / 4 hours and bye this time the water on the windows could start to freeze before they have dried. Do your self a favor mate dont bother last thing you want is complaining customers. One complaining customer is the equivalent to ten satisfied customers. And from my experience crusty are not stupid and would realize its to cold.

Thanks for your quick reply. Yeah I agree - dosnt seem to be warming up quickly today.

 
I'm just on my way out now just fir the same reasons, this is my quietest day of the month so can start late no problem.

 
I've been pretty lucky in that so far it's only been below freezing over christmas.

I suppose it depends if it were -5 for kljust the odd day then just stay in bed but if it was prolonged weather then I would be looking at hot water systems.

 
I take my reel etc in at night and just crack on in the morning

No complaints yet in 25 years trad and wfp

 
All the frost had defrosted off my cars and van by 11 this morning, only about four hours work today so started later than normal my poles and rest of my equipt are kept in a coal shed which is frost free I have to cover my reel with a thick duvet as it is attached to my tank in the van.

P.s. No Question is silly if you don't know the answer ask away I have hundreds of times.

Thanks Den - this may be a silly question. How do you know when you can head out?
 
I've only come across frozen windows once in 2 years that was on just the one comservatory, so I'm probably lucky. My gear never freezes as heater in over night then with the van having no bulkhead it stays pretty warm in the back whilst working. The only problem could be it freezing in the hose whilst working but for that to happen it would have to be a few degrees below and in that scenario bed would be the best option.

On the face of it there are many reason we could not be able to work, wind, snow, rain and ice etc but in reality it's only a handful of days a year that really are unworkable which is should be no problem to a business

 
Had the windows freeze also on conservatory only the once about five weeks ago that's why I had a late start today plus the missus done a fry up lol.

 
There's a great vid (which I now can't find!) of a Canadian window cleaner tradding in freezing conditions with snow everywhere. He swore by hot water with screenwash mixed in which I tried a couple of years ago and never looked back since - each to their own though.

To be fair my water doesn't stay very hot for long once I'm out and about anyway!

 
-5 that's cold, so far in north Wales we have been lucky with the temperature able to work every day no problem .

To stop the water freezing on the glass I pour bio ethanol in to the tank as it is filling I use 3L to 600 L of water so every 200L of water 1L of bio ethanol.

£30 for 12L on eBay, it won't do the system or the water any harm,

When it's that cold with warm water you must be careful as not to pop the window as we have on a few occasions in the past when it's below -2 we don't use hot water cold with bio ethanol

 
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