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Freezing windows.

ECLM
WCF

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Heated my water to about 40 degs this morning and had no problems all day thankfully. I've not had problems working at -2 all day like this unless it very windy as well in which case it's touch n go depending on the jobs themselves and how exposed they are.

 
Does freezing/defrosting cause the pure to leave marks? It's my first winter and it's ridiculously mild
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We use cold. We have cleaned a couple of properties over the years where the water has frozen on the glass. We used a lot more water to 'warm' the glass up and then were able to wash and rinse it. Within a few minutes of rinsing the water on the glass froze. Once the temps warmed up those windows were fine.

We haven't had an issue for a number of years now. But we leave properties with north facing conservatories to the afternoon and do south facing conservatories in the morning.

.

 
We use cold. We have cleaned a couple of properties over the years where the water has frozen on the glass. We used a lot more water to 'warm' the glass up and then were able to wash and rinse it. Within a few minutes of rinsing the water on the glass froze. Once the temps warmed up those windows were fine.
We haven't had an issue for a number of years now. But we leave properties with north facing conservatories to the afternoon and do south facing conservatories in the morning.

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Cheers spruce. Would have been yet another unwelcome spanner (£££££) in the works!

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Cheers spruce. Would have been yet another unwelcome spanner (£££££) in the works!
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Financially, you are always going to be on the back foot in winter cleaning windows with shorter daylight hours and bad weather. We are no different to other trades that work outside. So we make hay whilst the sun shines in summer and put a bit aside each month for the lean winter months. On the North coast we had a rather bad winter in 2012. We hardly did any work for 6 weeks. That was difficult. We had a few shops to do which we did traditionally. We used to (we no longer do Sainsbury's locals as they do them themselves now) do them wfp as we did the signage as well. That didn't get done until the freezing weather finished.

99% of the properties you clean have central heating so even when temperatures are really cold you shouldn't have an issue with water freezing on the glass. In fact the issues we had of water freezing on the glass were mostly all in 2012 and were not the norm.

The first was a holiday home we cleaned in December before the owners came back from Dubai. The central heating had packed up and there was a gas engineer booked for the following day. When we checked back after the boiler was working the windows were fine.

The second was the local council offices which I usually clean between Christmas and New year when there is no one around. I've done this for the past 10 years. This year the heating was off. The job usually takes just short of 2 hours. This time it was twice that time. I checked the following week when the offices reopened and the windows were spotless.

The third was a north facing conservatory. I checked back when the weather warmed up a bit and again the windows were spotless.

In fact when the weather is freezing is a nice time to clean windows as the hoses very really get dirty due to the frozen ground. We carry a bucket of salt/grit on the van and sprinkle that down on pathways and around doors. We dry doors off. Obviously we wouldn't clean rows of street houses as the water will freeze on the pavement and could cause a slip hazard. We wouldn't get ladders out but may use the step ladder (4 feet) if pushed.

We are careful as our coastal area is hilly and, if the roads are slippery, then we stay at home. The cost of writing my van off in an accident doesn't make sense when compared to the chance of earning a couple of pounds cleaning windows.

When the ground is freezing you mustn't switch your water off for too long. I've had jets freeze up. As I carry a spare pole in the van swapping them over solved that problem. Only on one occasion in 9 years have I had a my van ports freeze up on the way to work. I went home.

I'm fortunate as I don't feel the cold as some do. My father always used to say about me that where there's no sense there's no feeling and I could never argue with that. But one of the luxuries I do have in the van is a diesel air heater. If it's particularly cold outside I can retreat to the van for a bit to thaw out.

I recommend you dress up warmly as you need to just crack on. Having warm dry shoes/boots is most important.

.

 
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I'm glad i am so close to london..never gets too cold

I do remember-13 a few years ago though

A balmy 5° tonight woo

 
Hi jess seen you around we cover same areas I was working in willand and it was freezing and that was trading I started in 2008 this cold is not normally for long the odd days but as your wfp I'd be tempted to fit a hot water system20170103_092235.jpg

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It's my first winter as well. Tried to do a 1st clean this morning and gave up half way through :-( by the time the water hit the sill it was a frosty sludge. Water turned to nice in a patch under front window with a minute or two and the drive sloped toward the road. Not worth a claim for a few quid, gave up for the day. Pain in the **** though, I've got plenty to do over the next few days :-(

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It was a bit nippy here last few days. I just crack out the trad gear and power on. You'll soon warm up, plus a nice hot bucket of water is lovely

 
Water froze for me today also i just pole as quick as possible and once i rinse it freezes but Ive checked a few and also have done in the past and all been fine so try to crack on as usual without breaks as the tube tends to freeze up and I can't pump water through.

 
Hi jess seen you around we cover same areas I was working in willand and it was freezing and that was trading I started in 2008 this cold is not normally for long the odd days but as your wfp I'd be tempted to fit a hot water systemView attachment 13151View attachment 13152
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Hi. I have also seen your van around. Nice to make contact. I may have a possible job for you in silverton. Bit far for me to travel for 1 job. If your interested that is. [emoji3]

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It's my first winter as well. Tried to do a 1st clean this morning and gave up half way through :-( by the time the water hit the sill it was a frosty sludge. Water turned to nice in a patch under front window with a minute or two and the drive sloped toward the road. Not worth a claim for a few quid, gave up for the day. Pain in the **** though, I've got plenty to do over the next few days :-(
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It's a pain! But I waited until 11 and then stared. It was fine then. I always just do a quick check on my own windows to see if it freezes. Saves wasting time and looking like a ninny at a customers house.

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