Loads of advice needed please.

[Adams0211]

Hi guys. I'm after some advice. I'll try and keep it as short and sweet as possible.

A bit of background for those that don't know. I've been window cleaning since late 2014. I switched to wfp a couple of months back and love it. I'm currently using a Gardiner backpack on a trolley with an SLX pole. I drive a 13 year old Vauxhall combo which has been reliable but is really starting to show its age. I've got a small tank in the van along with half a dozen 25l drum. I purchase my water from a unit a couple of miles from my house.

As mentioned above, I currently buy my water. It's pretty convenient as its so close to home but I'm totally reliant on the place being open. I'd be in the **** if he decided to shut up shop tomorrow. There's been a couple of occasions recently where he's closed up at short notice. The place is also closed for two hours over lunch which can be a pain. In short, I'm 100% reliant on someone else for my water and I want to do something about that. Please can you advise me on what's best to buy. I don't need to be producing thousands of litres a day or anything like that. Something that produces around 300 litres a day would be perfect.

Secondly, I've been thinking a bit more about the future recently. I've really gotten the wfp bug and I know that this will be what I'll do long term now. My van isn't going to last forever and I can't spend the next X amount of years filling my backpack and lugging that around with me. I also think that my backpack will eventually start holding me back (there's no way I could do commercial work) and the 13 year old (non sign written) van isn't helping either.

I'm not going to have a massive budget but I've been looking online at small vans around the £4000 mark and there seems to be plenty of decent ones out there. I've also been looking at the facelift compact van mounted systems (with a power reel) and they seem like a good option. I guess what I'm asking is what you would do if you were in my position? I'm still new to the game but I already feel like there's things I can do to increase my earnings and smarten up my image. I know a lot of you guys like your DIY systems but I don't mind spending a bit more on something that is going to do the job well and last me for a while.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[kahoona]

My brother has been in the motor trade for over 30 years, the advise he always gives me when buying vans is get as low mileage as you can. Regarding the water production. I currently use a 200GPD RO system with a DI vessel into a holding tank. Then from there into tank and barrels in my van. I only do about about 200 ltrs per day. so this works for atm. but I will be upgrading to something a bit more waste water friendly such as a 40/40. My water bill has gone from £27 pm, to over £60 pm since I started using WFP regularly.

 

[Adams0211]

My brother has been in the motor trade for over 30 years, the advise he always gives me when buying vans is get as low mileage as you can. Regarding the water production. I currently use a 200GPD RO system with a DI vessel into a holding tank. Then from there into tank and barrels in my van. I only do about about 200 ltrs per day. so this works for atm. but I will be upgrading to something a bit more waste water friendly such as a 40/40. My water bill has gone from £27 pm, to over £60 pm since I started using WFP regularly.

Cheers kahoona.

Do you have a link to the RO and DI vessel you have so I can take a look?

 

[Jacob]

if your tds is low enough you can get away with a di vessel. Check out Ungers new Hydropower Di it come in different sizes and with built in tds meter. I have one and it is very good quality. Resin is in a bag and changing only take seconds.

But check the tds in your tap first, before buying a ro would be my advise.

 

[Adams0211]

Cheers. I don't know the exact figure of my tdi but I know it's high. Around 500 I think.

 

[Jacob]

Thats also high. I have a high tds too but i am only Di due to the fact i produce 50 liter a month more or less.

My supplier told my that if i was to produce over 500 liter and above a month a ro would would be a must have.

 

[David K]

Rainwater harvest , then DI ! I have a 1000 l IBC and it gets me a lot of good quality water . About 8-12 ppm .:thumbsup:

 

[kahoona]

here you go fella,

Pole Window Cleaning Water System - Vyair (UK) Ltd

the reason i went for this one as my first RO unit was because in the list of features it says it automatically flushed the membranes and its pumped so you don't have worry about mains water pressure.

Replacement filters are about £18 (for all 3) (Reverse Osmosis 3 Stage Filters - Vyair (UK) Ltd)

Replacement RO membranes are £31.74 currently (Amfor TW30-2012-100 Ultra Low Pressure Membrane - Vyair (UK) Ltd).

Of course all filters and membranes come with it when you first buy.

here is the DI Vessel I got. (11.7 Litre Resin Vessel - Vyair (UK) Ltd).

hope that helps

 

[kahoona]

Rainwater harvest , then DI ! I have a 1000 l IBC and it gets me a lot of good quality water . About 8-12 ppm .:thumbsup:

A local windy to me tried rainwater harvesting but gave up because we didn't have enough rain to keep up with his usage, but in theory its a good idea, you just need to get permission to harvest off a local retail parks roofs or something like that.

 

[Adams0211]

here you go fella,
Pole Window Cleaning Water System - Vyair (UK) Ltd

the reason i went for this one as my first RO unit was because in the list of features it says it automatically flushed the membranes and its pumped so you don't have worry about mains water pressure.

Replacement filters are about £18 (for all 3) (Reverse Osmosis 3 Stage Filters - Vyair (UK) Ltd)

Replacement RO membranes are £31.74 currently (Amfor TW30-2012-100 Ultra Low Pressure Membrane - Vyair (UK) Ltd).

Of course all filters and membranes come with it when you first buy.

here is the DI Vessel I got. (11.7 Litre Resin Vessel - Vyair (UK) Ltd).

hope that helps

Cheers for that. I'm probably asking a daft question here but what would happen if I bought an RO system without a built in pump?

 

[Dave B]

You can do it without a pump

The pump just increases the amount per hour

 

[Adams0211]

You can do it without a pumpThe pump just increases the amount per hour

Cheers mate. I thought it might have been that but wasn't sure.

 

[Dave B]

This is the one I'm going for as it is good enough for someone i know who has an 850l tank locally and has no issues

450gpd REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM POLE WINDOW CLEANING / AQUARIUM DISCUS MARINE RO

 

[kahoona]

Cheers for that. I'm probably asking a daft question here but what would happen if I bought an RO system without a built in pump?

If you good water pressure from you mains, you should be okay to run system without a pump. However just be aware that RO membranes loose their efficiency if the water pressure falls below a certain level. You should check with the RO suppliers for more detail on that before making an order, otherwise you could end up with a lost of waste water.

 

[Dave B]

You can get a seperate booster pump for around 60 quid

I would get a decent size ro rather than a couple hundred gpd

 

[Adams0211]

Something like this?

The Collins Water Products

 

[Dave B]

The figure it gives you for gpd is an optimal figure

You will never get it to produce as much as it says

Water pressure

Water temperature and several other factors will effect it

Sometimes quite drastically so i wouldn't go for 1 so low in gpd

 

[Adams0211]

Cool. I'll add that one to the list.

Now I need to find a di vessel.

Next daft question. What's the difference between all the sizes?

 

[Cghwindowcleaning]

Hi guys. I'm after some advice. I'll try and keep it as short and sweet as possible.
A bit of background for those that don't know. I've been window cleaning since late 2014. I switched to wfp a couple of months back and love it. I'm currently using a Gardiner backpack on a trolley with an SLX pole. I drive a 13 year old Vauxhall combo which has been reliable but is really starting to show its age. I've got a small tank in the van along with half a dozen 25l drum. I purchase my water from a unit a couple of miles from my house.

As mentioned above, I currently buy my water. It's pretty convenient as its so close to home but I'm totally reliant on the place being open. I'd be in the **** if he decided to shut up shop tomorrow. There's been a couple of occasions recently where he's closed up at short notice. The place is also closed for two hours over lunch which can be a pain. In short, I'm 100% reliant on someone else for my water and I want to do something about that. Please can you advise me on what's best to buy. I don't need to be producing thousands of litres a day or anything like that. Something that produces around 300 litres a day would be perfect.

Secondly, I've been thinking a bit more about the future recently. I've really gotten the wfp bug and I know that this will be what I'll do long term now. My van isn't going to last forever and I can't spend the next X amount of years filling my backpack and lugging that around with me. I also think that my backpack will eventually start holding me back (there's no way I could do commercial work) and the 13 year old (non sign written) van isn't helping either.

I'm not going to have a massive budget but I've been looking online at small vans around the £4000 mark and there seems to be plenty of decent ones out there. I've also been looking at the facelift compact van mounted systems (with a power reel) and they seem like a good option. I guess what I'm asking is what you would do if you were in my position? I'm still new to the game but I already feel like there's things I can do to increase my earnings and smarten up my image. I know a lot of you guys like your DIY systems but I don't mind spending a bit more on something that is going to do the job well and last me for a while.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I'm from the same town as you .Stevenage has a very high tds you will need a full ro and a good one.

I had a long chat yesterday with Courtney(who supplies the water)and he isn't going any were soon he may have been a little unreliable for some but this can always be resolved with a bit of pre planning.

He is looking into an automated self service where you let your self in and help yourself.

New vans are good and investing in your self and business is a good thing but new vans don't bring in new work.

While there is plenty of work here are area is saturated with window cleaners I am already shocked at the price some are working for every one is competing for the same work and some are going really low just to get it so thing long term before committing to any financial repayments.

 

[Adams0211]

I'm from the same town as you .Stevenage has a very high tds you will need a full ro and a good one.I had a long chat yesterday with Courtney(who supplies the water)and he isn't going any were soon he may have been a little unreliable for some but this can always be resolved with a bit of pre planning.

He is looking into an automated self service where you let your self in and help yourself.

New vans are good and investing in your self and business is a good thing but new vans don't bring in new work.

While there is plenty of work here are area is saturated with window cleaners I am already shocked at the price some are working for every one is competing for the same work and some are going really low just to get it so thing long term before committing to any financial repayments.

Cheers for the input :thumbsup:

It's good to hear that Courtney has plans. I don't expect him to disappear but I don't like the fact that I'm totally reliant on someone else.

It's interesting to hear from other local window cleaners. I know there's a fair few of us in the town but it's always seemed to me that there is enough work for everyone. I can literally go for days without seeing another window cleaner. I've come up against the 'beer money' prices quite regularly but have found that the vast majority of customers are happy to pay a higher price for a better job.

Earlier today I quoted a house in the old town. I was working at the house next door and the woman asked me for a price because her old window cleaner had retired. I asked how much she was paying him. Five quid. Five quid for a large three bed semi I told her that my price was £15 and she said she was happy with that and commented on how good next doors windows always looked.

 

[Dave B]

I see a lot of windies about round here too Neil and Craig

I know a lot of them from the gcs (gjan) days of subbing off him

Still doesn't stop me getting the prices i want round here and like Neil i get a lot of my work from recommendations

Yes sometimes it seems hard to get new work but on the flip side I've just had a 2 week spell of constant new work and all priced well as i don't do it for peanuts