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Steven White

  • Posts: 71
Confused trying to convert to WFP
« on: April 15, 2012, 12:34:31 am »
I’m a traditional window cleaner who has about £2500 to invest in converting over to WFP cleaning. So far I snapped up two 1000L IBC tanks at £20 each, I couldn’t resist such a bargain as they were so cheap, even though I hadn’t planned what system or set up I was going to use at the time. I have a long wheel base high top ford transit van which is used for window cleaning, tools and garden equipment and painting and decorating equipment (basically property maintenance as well as window cleaning). I’m a one man band and I clean windows on my own and I’ve got about 150 customers mostly in villages with some apartment blocks which take a couple of months to get round. I do have quite a few problems due to my unusual situation. My home address is quite a way from the villages I stay at and clean. I come home mid week and weekends so really I need a tank big enough to hold two days supply of water for cleaning in the van. I am thinking I will need a static system at home and then pump it to the van, because the other bugbear is I can’t park overnight near my house, only for a short time can I pull up, pump the water in and drive off. So my first question is what size tank will I need for two days supply in the van? I tested the water with a TDS meter and the reading is 480 parts a million, so does that mean I will need a RO system with water softner and ioniser on my static mounted IBC tank? Come to that will I need a water heater as well in winter? And what about pumps, how are they powered? And do you need a ball valve to stop your tank overflowing like one in the loft? So many questions and no clear picture and no place I can find to explain it all. All this is quite confusing and scientific to me and I’m a bit frustrated because I just want to get started and I’m not at all sure what I will need or won’t. One thing I have decided is I will have to have the option of cleaning from the van as well as using a trolley system for the village side streets I just can’t access in the van. So if I mount the tank in the van maybe I could fill the water containers for the trolley from the tap at the bottom of the tank? I’ve been trying to talk my customers round, a lot of whom are old fashioned villagers and making a big deal of the ladder fall I recently had, like who would clean your windows if I was deaded or in a wheelchair. Also I’ve temporarily suspended the three story cleaning until I can convert over. If I’m being honest I’ve thought about wfp for a while but the fall really got me going to do something about it. Also the thought I can have some 4-5 story apartment blocks in town is another incentive. I am planning on printing a leaflet to give to my customers explaining how it all works and why it is as good if not better than trad cleaning. I’ve been watching all the Youtube videos and learning as much as I can, but they show you a lot about how to clean but not a lot on the different type systems and how to construct one DIY style. Another question I’ve been wondering is can you get some petrol cap flap affair to plug your hose in as a conversion to the van if you are cleaning from the van for security? As I keep expensive tools in the van. Also on these you tube videos they are all cleaning easy pleasey windows. So how do I know these are going to clean my windows. I recon it’ll do the 15th century leaded lights if I don’t put a lot of pressure on them and just rinse them but what really bothers me are two aspects. I do a lot of house backing onto the river that get badly fly blown and how can I see from the ground I’ve got it all off (I’m blind in one eye also)? But the what really worries me is I’ve got a lot of deep framed Georgians and the brushes look to wide to make contact with the pane of glass. Can you get smaller brushes?
Steve White (SWS Window Cleaning)

Andy Leett

  • Posts: 132
Re: Confused trying to convert to WFP
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2012, 06:34:59 am »
I would go to 'Pure Freedom' or someone similar and they will sort you out.
Yes you will need an RO system with that water reading, get a van mount and produce water over night. Don't worry about a heater at the moment, it can be added later if needed. You will need a leisure battery to power the pump, set it up with a split relay from the van battery so it will keep charged. Yes you can get an external van port for security. A 500ltr tank would be plenty with that many customers.

Re: Confused trying to convert to WFP
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2012, 07:27:50 am »
if i were you i would stay trad. that way tou could keep your posts nice and short .with questions like , which soap , what time do the pubs open , and baseball cap on backwards or sideways

Jackal

  • Posts: 1088
Re: Confused trying to convert to WFP
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2012, 08:39:28 am »
if i were you i would stay trad. that way tou could keep your posts nice and short .with questions like , which soap , what time do the pubs open , and baseball cap on backwards or sideways

 ;D ;D ;D

have to be honest mate that post has drained me now took 15- 20 mins get through it, time for a kip now  ;D

Smudger

  • Posts: 13433
Re: Confused trying to convert to WFP
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2012, 09:01:07 am »
if i were you i would stay trad. that way tou could keep your posts nice and short .with questions like , which soap , what time do the pubs open , and baseball cap on backwards or sideways

classic !


 OP - wow what a post - i don't mean to me rude, but it appears you have not researched a single thing and you basically do everything from windows through to demolition of properties.

for 150 customers just keep it simple - buy a small ro unit - fill up 1 IBC in your shed/garden - get a backpack and some 25ltr containers to store water on van + 1 pole (clx 27)

an IBC will last you over a fortnight.  anything more than above is a waste of your cash unless your really going into window cleaning big time and canning all the other services

Darran
Never argue with an idiot, they will only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience