[jimlaffo]

Hi. I'm biting the bullet and investing in a WFP system.
I will still carry on doing some work trad but for my businesses and high work I would use pole. Therefore would be looking to use WFP for approx 5-10 hours a week (for now).
I've done some research and the water in my area is relatively soft so I think a DI system would be ok, although I believe an RO system is a better piece of kit. Is that right?
The advice I'm after is basically what system should I go for?
I am looking for a system that is static in my van which doesn't require purifying water at home. I would prefer a system that I can fill with a hose and let the system do the work (purifying the water) for me.
I hope this makes sense.
I have a limit of approx £1000, is this enough to get be what I need?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks for reading.

[ben M]

 relatively soft? what is your tds?

[jimlaffo]

Not 100% sure...

[Don Kee]

Get a tds metre and check your water tds mate.
Anything under say 80 use d.i only, the amount you state you'll use it that'll be fine.
Anything over, you're better off fitting a 4040 r.o, especially if you just want to attach hose and produce straight into your tank.
As regards to system, personally mate, i'd fit a DIY system together yourself (see if a local guy will help you or show you theres.)
Its alot easier than you may think, and you'll know your system in and out.

[jimlaffo]

Cheers. Are there DI systems that fit a 40/40 RO also?

[Spruce]

Cheers. Are there DI systems that fit a 40/40 RO also?

TDS meter first.

When it comes, take a tds reading of your tap water and then resurrect this thread and let the forum make their suggestions. Tell us why you want to process directly into your van, what van you have, are you on a water meter? etc.

5 to 10 hours of water use per week isn't much, probably around 400 - 500 litres.

Unfortunately with wfp you have to commit to it. The outlay is expensive and you really want to use it full time. (A 4040 will cost you around £500.00 minimum which is already half your budget gone.)

[Spruce]

There are 2 ways of purifying water.

The first is DI only and the second is through an r/o. (An r/o usually needs to have a DI vessel after the r/o housing as that will polish of the last remaining impurities that the r/o misses.)

Our tap water fluctuates between 90 and 120 ppm. I use a 4040 as we need to process water quickly as there are 3 of us.  I'm not on a meter, so our monthly water bill is uneffected by waste water going down the drain. For many years we ran a 450 GPD r/o when there was just the 2 of us. But we processed water into a 1000l ibc tank so the r/o could work when we were out working. A 450GPD r/o is much cheaper than a 4040 r/o. Both of these r/o reduced the tds to 2ppm, which is good enough for cleaning without polishing it off. But we run the water through a di to make sure its 000 ppm.

A fellow window cleaner is on a water meter and he has choosen to purify his water through the DI only route. Its horses for courses. Depending on your tds this maybe the best way for you to go now due to a lower initial cost outlay. But you need the balance the cost of resin (DI only will cost you) as opposed to water costs and the r/o cost outlay.

If speed of filling is important, then its probably best to fill your tank with tap water quickly and purify the water as you pump it to the brush through your DI vessel. There are so many different ways of doing this.

But what you don't want to be doing is buying now and then having to upgrade in a few months because you have outgrown it. That's wasting money - which we have all done.

[jimlaffo]

Thanks for the replies.
Getting a tds reading tomorrow, will post more info soon.

[jimlaffo]

Tds reading is around 44/45.
Will a DI system do the job?
I'm after a van fitted system as I don't have a garage/ storage area to purify water at home.
I will be looking to order a Gardiner slx25.
Could anyone tell me a good kit I could go for to fit the van and all the bits I would need?

Thanks

[Spruce]

Tds reading is around 44/45.
Will a DI system do the job?
I'm after a van fitted system as I don't have a garage/ storage area to purify water at home.
I will be looking to order a Gardiner slx25.
Could anyone tell me a good kit I could go for to fit the van and all the bits I would need?

Thanks

Excellent.

You would be best to start with a DI only system for the amount of water you will start off with.

I suggest you go for the biggest tank you can. Most vans with a payload of 600kgs (Berlingo's etc) will manage a 350 to 400 litre tank. You don't want to buy a smaller tank now and then have to replace it next year as its too small. You maybe able to negotiate a deal with some customers who aren't on a meter to allow you to top your tank up if it gets low.

Email Doug - he has a di system at the moment that will get you going. Ask him to upgrade the pole to what you want.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350L-DI-WATER-FED-POLE-SYSTEM-DIY-FOR-SOFT-WATER-AREAS-DI-ONLY-/321133489683?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&var=510120340366&hash=item4ac50c2e13#ht_1331wt_1161

I would like to see this secured with a proper steel frame which isn't part of this offer.

Doug is great and very helpful. www.daqua.co.uk

I would be filling your tank quickly with ordinary tap water and then putting the water through your di vessel as you are cleaning windows. To get the most out of your resin, you need the water being processed to go through it slowly.

[Mike #1]

One thing to do is check with your current insurer that they will insure your van with a tank which ever way you go as some insurers will only insure Professional fitted systems .

Get a 11ltr Di filled with resin from www.daqua.co.uk  should last a good while if you place it after pump . Mike

[Spruce]

One thing to do is check with your current insurer that they will insure your van with a tank which ever way you go as some insurers will only insure Professional fitted systems .

Get a 11ltr Di filled with resin from www.daqua.co.uk  should last a good while if you place it after pump . Mike

+1

Insurers seem to get less excited to insure the van when you have a fitted tank of over 500 litres.

[Spruce]

sorry,

forgot about a link for a frame.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350l-upright-Tank-Retaining-Frame-window-cleaning-/181035895782?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item2a26948be6#ht_2475wt_1161

You will have to either fit it yourself or get someone to do it for you. If you do it youself, watch out for your diesel tank.

[jimlaffo]

Spruce thanks very much for your help. The set up seems great, like the fact a Gardiner pole is part of the package also. Is the CLX-22 a good pole? Would that reach 2nd floor, maybe 3rd floor windows or would the CLX-27 be better?
With the cage included that set up would cost no more than 1k which is ideal.
Thanks again.

[Spruce]

Spruce thanks very much for your help. The set up seems great, like the fact a Gardiner pole is part of the package also. Is the CLX-22 a good pole? Would that reach 2nd floor, maybe 3rd floor windows or would the CLX-27 be better?
With the cage included that set up would cost no more than 1k which is ideal.
Thanks again.

I have the CLX22 and the SLX22. The CLX is less rigid. I would go with the SLX25 tbh. You are looking for 1 pole to do everything. The SLX25 isn't much heavier than the SLX22.

The SLX25 will get to most third story windows on new houses, but you may battle with 3rd story windows on Victorian houses. But you wouldn't have done them off ladders so don't get carried away trying/offering your customers you will/can do them now.

If you can reach them now, then add a little to the price of the clean to accomodate it.

[Spruce]

With the kit Doug is offering, he advises you that you must supply a leisure battery. I would recommend an 85 amph with a decent battery charger.

However, as you will have a limited water requirement to start off with, I would probably try to use your van battery to begin with and see how you go.

If you are going to use your pump all day and everyday, we found that the van battery would go flat as we don't do the mileage to replenish the charge in the battery.

I have the greatest respect for the Varistream controller as we have always used them.

However, the controller does consume battery current even when switched off. You need to buy a cheaper isolator switch so you can switch the current off when you are finished to stop this.
Connect it between the postive wire from the battery to your controller.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-1-gang-10a-switch-ip55-240v/47152

You just need to wire it up correctly so it switches the supply on and off.

[jimlaffo]

Thanks again mate.
I will probably go for the SLX-25, sounds like the best pole for my needs. Hopefully Doug can add that into the deal instead of the CLX-22.
I've had a quick look and a leisure battery would cost approx £60.
Also, I noticed the cage you suggested was about £165, is there a cheaper way to secure your tank or is this the only option?

[Mike #1]

£165 is a good price if you happen to know a decent welding fabricator local to you ask them for a price it might be cheaper . And they might fit it for you will give you peace of mind that it aint going to move

A flat tank has a lower centre of gravity and is less likely to move in an accident so i would measure up your van and see which is best for you .

Also your tds reading of 45 ppm will at times almost double to 60 ppm mine does from time to time i live in County Durham . Mike

[jimlaffo]

Thanks Mike.
I'm ok with paying the £165 just wondered if there was a cheaper way of securing it.
Is it easier to secure a flat tank or do you still require a frame etc?