Start Up System & R/O or Di

[Cable30]

Hi im looking to start up a window cleaning business and was looking into the pure water and was thinking of buying it pre done as i dont have the space to make my own. If i do buy the pure water would i need to get a di vessel or an ro?

Your Real Name: thomas cable

The Location You're In: ipswich

How Long You Have Been Cleaning: 0 years

Brief intro about yourself: im looking to start a window cleaning business as im currently working on a building site and cleaning windows the traditional way.

 

[harunh]

Hi Cable30,

First you need to buy a TDS meter and measure your water, depending on your water reading in your area you will then find out if you need an RO or DI

I find that if your water is below 150PPM then you can use a DOUBLE DI, anything above 150PPM you would be better off using an RO

 

 

[Part Timer]

If you're buying it in then test it, if it's not pure then don't pay for it. So the answer to your question is no. 

 

[Cable30]

Fantastic thankyou

 

[spruce]

I believe Ipswich is a hard water area.

But your first tool is a genuine tds meter. Don't get sucked into buying one cheap from Ebay as there are fakes/copies which aren't always good value for little money.

Gardiners, Daqua, etc will have genuine HM Digital tds meters. Expect to pay about £15 for one.

Example

https://gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/all-products/pure-water-systems/water-treatment/tds-meters/tds-ez-water-quality-test-meter-by-hm-digital.html

 

[Cable30]

Thankyou for your responses. From what ive read if i buy the water test it first and if its pure then i dont  need a di vessel or RO.

 

[harunh]

Thankyou for your responses. From what ive read if i buy the water test it first and if its pure then i dont  need a di vessel or RO.

Your hoping your tap water is pure?? ? no chance mate... lmaoo even if your water is 20ppm u will still need a single DI 

Sorry but u actually will need an RO or DI 

 

[spruce]

Your hoping your tap water is pure?? ? no chance mate... lmaoo even if your water is 20ppm u will still need a single DI 

Sorry but u actually will need an RO or DI 

He was hoping to buy it from another supplier. If that water is pure (0ppm) then he can use that without an r/o or di. But he needs to test the water he is buying to ensure the seller is filtering it properly. Hence the reason for a tds meter.

 

[harunh]

He was hoping to buy it from another supplier. If that water is pure (0ppm) then he can use that without an r/o or di. But he needs to test the water he is buying to ensure the seller is filtering it properly. Hence the reason for a tds meter.

Would be a lot cheaper making your own water with a double DI i guess

 

[spruce]

Would be a lot cheaper making your own water with a double DI i guess

Again it depends on his initial usage. I'm sure Ipswich is a moderate to hard water area so double di is going to cost big time on resin once he gets going.

 

[Iron Giant]

In a soft water area like mine of a max of 078ppm if you are processing into a storage tank then IMHO longterm a di would work out a lot more expensive. 

County Durham Lad
 

 

[Cable30]

Yes ipswich is a hard water area. In the start of my business im looking to buy the water as have nowhere to make the water.

All the replies have been a massive help thankyou.

 

[Cable30]

Hi im looking at a couple of different systems and either used or new. I have 3 examples of different systems and would like you to share some of your wisdom and reason for your choice.

The 3 examples i have found.

https://www.cleaningspot.co.uk/acatalog/ECO-DI-system-complete-ECODI.html#SID=258

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/400GPD-WATERFED-POLE-250L-WINDOW-CLEANING-SYSTEM-18ft-Pole/351931911445?hash=item51f0c6cd15:g:EA0AAOxy7q1RYo6Q

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Window-cleaning-van-cleaning-business-Vauxhall-combo-van-1-3-cdti/302843223320?hash=item4682dcdd18:g:kkAAAOSw039bcuFQ

Your Real Name: thomas cable

The Location You're In: ipswich

How Long You Have Been Cleaning: 0 years.

 

[kevinc250]

absolutely none of those above, if I was honest and had any of those i'd have packed it all in by the end of the week-sorry to say that mate.(well to be fair Monday dinnertime)

I take it you are new to this and maybe thinking about starting out,if so do a search on here for new set ups etc i'm sure theres a wealth of information just on here on that topic,

this window cleaning thing sounds so easy to get into and the companies capitalise on that and sell overpriced bolt in units that in truth if you are succsessfull you'll outgrow these within a year.

 

[spruce]

I total understand why Kevin has replied the way he has. Most of us started with equipment that worked to begin with but which we very quickly outgrew. The trouble is you have so much invested in the equipment you have outgrown that you keep trying to find cheap upgades to help you.

I also fell into this trap. I had a Suzuki van already and I tried to fit a system around the van I had. I got a trailer system which I outgrew within 6 months but I battled on because I had so much invested in it. The r/o was also too small - I processed water overnight directly into the trailer's tanks, so when I had finished that water in the early afternoon, that was the end of the day.

I was fit and healthy then so having a short day was the pits. Today I have a van with lots of water but haven't the energy or the health to take advantage of it.

When the lads were working out of their own vans they used around 500 liters a day. They had (son still has) a 500 liter tank fitted in their vans as single operators. They used that amount even with a flow controller and in those days Aquadaptors.

The van looks reasonable and is probably OK for a startup but you still haven't sorted how you will process your water. The van is 11 years old. If you buy water then you can't always guarantee it will be available when you want it. The price of the van is probably high because he is including the 'cleaning business' so if you don't take that then there is room for negotiation. 

There is no pole with the van so there's another £300 for an SLX25. I have no idea what he shows as a pole in the one photo.

The trouble is as Kevin says, a second hand fitted system isn't worth much, but it seems window cleaners are prepared to pay more than its worth because they don't understand its actual value.

So I believe you have to find or sort out a source of water before you start looking at systems. You also need to consider not only what you want in the next 6 months, but in the next 5 to 10 years and make purchasing decisions on that basis.

 

[spruce]

Here's an example of a Combo van the same age. It has higher mileage than the one you listed and is much more tatty. Its well overpriced at £1300. I would say its probably worth around £450 at the most. A dealer would trade it in as scrap value.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Combo-Van-2007-1-3cdti/142904451300?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D53675%26meid%3D951935e9f10b4b4aada5e9bc4cbf8d5c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D302843223320%26itm%3D142904451300&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

The van you have highlighted is probably worth £1000 to £1100 privately on its own. But its only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. The wfp system is probably worth £350 as it is already fitted in the van.

 

[Cable30]

Thanks for the reply guys. After reading what you have said i have decided to buy a van and then a new diy system.

 

[kevinc250]

top tip code 30,you are just starting to run a business,forget the van and stystem and work on a sound business plan, do your research and then buy the van that will keep you going  forward for years and the stystem to suit.so so many are quick to grab something that works but doesn't as spruce has said above,

we sound harsh and I don't think its meant that way,think of it more on the basis that we've wasted all that money and time many years ago and wouldn't want anyone to repeat that same process as we did

 

[Cable30]

Oh i know where you all are coming from and i do honestly appreciate the help. Im just unsure of the route i wanna take as the missus is also a bit apprehensive as she doesnt want to waste the money too.

 

[Iron Giant]

In case anyone gets confused I have merged both posts otherwise the  2 topics will be covered across 2 posts.

To the matter at hand as for producing water if you have nowhere to produce pure water into a storage tank, but want and will no doubt need to produce your own water in the future living in a hard water area as you do you will need a R/O and a Di and just to produce and fill a 350ltr tank with pure water will take over 8 hours in the summer months so an onboard system will require you to run a hose out to your van as well as having the waste water go down a drain and we are a talking 100's of litre's each time. 

As for buying a van and van mount system, It would be best to buy a decent van separately, Then possibly buy a diy system and have it fitted with a frame at a local garage there are various options as to what to buy from different suppliers but you will need a 350ltr tank as a single operator this will be an ideal size and will easily do a full days window cleaning. 

 

[Sbr1t]

Sorry to hijack you post but quick question
My yap water reads 35-36 on the TDS
Am I over doing it as I have my ro in the garage into a 1000liter tank
Then transfer into my van witch goes throw my di after the pump

Am I doing to much


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