The reason why a trigger on the pole will in my opinion always be better then the autobrush is that you have complete control over the water flow within a fraction of a second, switching panes very quickly without losing a drop of water. If you are doing bigger panes, going to the outer wall to tap it off is cumbersome and takes more time, especially on high level cleans. If you are skilled with a trigger you can even regulate the flow for whichever purpose you would need to do so. Also, if you have tricky cleans where you need absolute control over where the water goes, you don't want to mess about with knocking it against the wall and water going up against the framework. You want instant control over the water.
This is especially true of the up/down version. Going up to the top of the frame and then soaking the frame is a no go unless you don't mind doing the whole frame on every clean, which will in turn take a lot longer then regular maintenance cleans where you don't need to focus on the top frame unless they are visually dirty enough to warrant a clean. Also, if you have just cleaned the entire frame and glass you don't want to go back up the frame again to shut off the flow of water, splashing water against the top frame again.
I have found no benefit whatsoever of an autobrush over a trigger setup plus it makes the brush heavier, and downgrades the precision of the water fed pole due to the afore mentioned problems.
This is just my opinion Peter, but since you asked a member what their opinions are about it, and if it can be improved, I didn't think you would mind me chipping in with my opinion.
No Tim I don't mind you chipping in at all, I appreciate it. Although you have never used the new up and down style, I see you have used the old style. I will address each of the issues you have brought up.
The reason why a trigger on the pole will in my opinion always be better then the autobrush is that you have complete control over the water flow within a fraction of a second, switching panes very quickly without losing a drop of water. If you are doing bigger panes, going to the outer wall to tap it off is cumbersome and takes more time, especially on high level cleans. If you are skilled with a trigger you can even regulate the flow for whichever purpose you would need to do so. Also, if you have tricky cleans where you need absolute control over where the water goes, you don't want to mess about with knocking it against the wall and water going up against the framework. You want instant control over the water.
It takes the same amount of time to turn the water on and off with an Autobrush as it does with a trigger, With the Autobrush you are turning the water on where you start the window, and turning the water off where you are finishing the window, and once you get into the swing of it a simple change of the pole angle and the water is off.
I personally don't want to regulate the flow of water apart from on or off. I want the water at full flow when it is flowing, I would never want something in between, I can't see any reason for it. And all this without the disadvantages of the trigger which I am sure you will agree there is disadvantages?
This is especially true of the up/down version. Going up to the top of the frame and then soaking the frame is a no go unless you don't mind doing the whole frame on every clean, which will in turn take a lot longer then regular maintenance cleans where you don't need to focus on the top frame unless they are visually dirty enough to warrant a clean. Also, if you have just cleaned the entire frame and glass you don't want to go back up the frame again to shut off the flow of water, splashing water against the top frame again.
As you have never used the newer version I will explain a bit about it. Yes you will be wetting a bit of the frame where you turn the brush on, but only the width of the brush. If you are cleaning the frames then you would run the brush along the top of the frame. If like you said you don't want to clean the frame, then still no problem you instantly go to the top of the glass avoiding the frame. Yes you have wet a brush width of the frame, but you have done that the last time, and the time before that as well, so it is clean, and water running down from there will be clean. You don't go back up the glass to turn the water off, you are turning if off at the bottom, usually the right hand side at the bottom where you are finishing off the window.
I have found no benefit whatsoever of an autobrush over a trigger setup plus it makes the brush heavier, and downgrades the precision of the water fed pole due to the afore mentioned problems.
You have used the old style Autobrush and there is a good chance it would have been with the old 15" brush I used to use. This brush was much heavier than the brush I use now, and even with the attachments needed this is one of the lightest brushes on the market. Very easy to add and take away sections, no weight issues, and no big loop of hose catching on everything.
Peter
