[mark f]

so Matt after a years use what do you think and did you lose any at all? Im still in two minds. Im fast with a ladder and if it wasnt for the regs i wouldnt risk big cash for the chance of losing loadsa customers Doesnt make sense. I think if wfp was guarenteed to do a good job on all windows i would have coughed up with out a thought.

  Then some would say we dont have a choice cos of the regs then others would say "ladders arent banned if wfp doesnt please the customers then it isnt a reasonable alternative" Man im confused!!

[matt]

so Matt after a years use what do you think and did you lose any at all? Im still in two minds. Im fast with a ladder and if it wasnt for the regs i wouldnt risk big cash for the chance of losing loadsa customers Doesnt make sense. I think if wfp was guarenteed to do a good job on all windows i would have coughed up with out a thought.

  Then some would say we dont have a choice cos of the regs then others would say "ladders arent banned if wfp doesnt please the customers then it isnt a reasonable alternative" Man im confused!!

what do i think ?? ??

i think its the best work tool EVER, it means Im stood on the ground all day long, it means i leave the house and i know i will be returning at Tea time
It does a good enough job, ive done mine on the odd occassion and YES i still get the odd run or water and they dry with a few white spots in that run, its not a big deal

Have i lost customers, i do near 400 properties, Ive not lost a single account, NOT ONE

Have i picked any up because of it, YES a fair few who liked the idea of the frames being cleaned (i dont clean the frames BUT i explain the spray from the water will clean them in time )

i would have never have paid the money some of the "system makers" are charging, i have a young family and couldnt justify it, thus built my own

i only do upstairs with WFP as i feel the customer will still see you taking a certain time to clean a house BUT i have speeded up a fair bit,

would i recommend the WFP system to others, YES its bleeding great

[H h20]

I totally agree with Matt,and theres no risk or danger either,iv`e been window cleaning for nearly 17 years and im 36 with a young family,iv`e seen lots of near accidents and a few slight accidents and known a few window cleaners having accidents that have ended there days,so wfp for me all the way,Gaz.

[DASERVICES]

  Mind me asking you guys but you seem to have small vans and are using WFP.
  I was under the impression that you needed a SWB Transit for WFP to carry
  a 650 l tank which should last a day.

  What size tanks can you fit in your vans and how long does it last. I am looking
  only to do tops as a start off using WFP and average 10 houses a day using
  traditional method.

  So am I aiming to high and should go for a smaller van and smaller tank.

  Any advise please.

  Cheers

[callum macleod]

hi i have an escort 75 and carry 400ltr water tank always lasts all day most of the time i have some left.

[H h20]

iv`e got a citreon berlingo and i use a 60litre tank that i can leave in the van or it can be mounted on my trolley and i can fit about 10 25litre containers in aswell,i do this because a local fellow window cleaner who has been using wfp alot longer than me says it is alot safer to carry your water in smaller containers,some may disagree especially if doing large commercial work but horses for courses,it works for me,cheers,Gaz

[matt]

  Mind me asking you guys but you seem to have small vans and are using WFP.
  I was under the impression that you needed a SWB Transit for WFP to carry
  a 650 l tank which should last a day.

  What size tanks can you fit in your vans and how long does it last. I am looking
  only to do tops as a start off using WFP and average 10 houses a day using
  traditional method.

  So am I aiming to high and should go for a smaller van and smaller tank.

  Any advise please.

  Cheers

i use a VW passat estate CAR, i carry 6 of 25 L barrels and it last me all day, normally only use 4 of the barrels (thus 100 L of water)

i get about 3 - 4 houses out of 1 barrel (DOING TOPS ONLY) so that'll give you a rough idea

[P @ F]

STEVE JAMEISON , Knowing what i know now Dave from St Ives is right , if you do buy the parts separateley you can make more savings than ever , i was under the impression that there was a hell of a lot to it , but the system is so basic once you have looked at it , its untrue .
If you have the time and patients to wait for the parts then go that way , if your like me and just want to get on with it spend a bit more , its your choice at the end of the day , all i can say is i dont regret going the expensive way for a single moment , it will pay for itself in no time at all .

 cheers Rich P @ F   

[P @ F]

GIFTED K , Listen mate , just get out there and stick it to em , its the way we will all go in the end so the sooner people get used to it the better !
If you get on well with your people , explain about the HSE regs and tell them it really isnt worth your while to get caught with your pants down !
Dont know how easy it is for you to find new custom but it is out there for the taking , obviously , if your system isnt performing right then keep easing it in a bit at a time till your there , i jumped in and am doing all of them top and bottem to see what happens , if they complain im gonna know aint i !
I started the bussiness a year ago with no customers , and just a B&Q ladder on top of my car , i now have 4 ladders YIPPEE ! , a wfp system , a van !

What im sayin is , if it all goes T**S up , ill just do it again !

 All the best mate   Rich   P @ F   

[Moderator David@stives]

p&f       what i way to go mate i paid £3500 for my round 6 years ago.i have improved it by compacting it up more and more and inching up the prices by about 20% a year so far not lost any customers by it. i think the way to go for me is not neccesseraly up with wfp . i have twice as many bungalows as when i first started .and i have dropped the highest 10-20 jobs every year so i do nothing over pretty low 2 storey .so in the end i will just be going out with my 6` a frame . and leaving the high stuff and spots to you guys.

i know what you mean about wanting to just buy your system and get on with it ,i was just a bit more patient.

have you got a full work load yet ?

[Moderator David@stives]

just one thing i noticed about you system i think you have got a manual on/off switch on your pump i think you would be better with a pump controller .

dave

[P @ F]

David  , have you got a crystal ball down there in Cornwall ?
I was just sayin to the missus today , im gonna need more customers soon if all goes well with wfp , im about half full , in respect of what im now doing per day.

Im not a greedy man , i just want a good life , i was a greedy man before w/c,  two jobs to keep the wife happy , but it wasnt enough for her , she did one with a Plymouth Argyle player !  BOO HOO !
Thats why i chose this new life , my new partner helped out in the early days , got me the much wanted points and signwriting and had faith in me to do it , we now have a little girl and all is going according to plan , listen to me , ill be writting Mills and Boon novels in a minute ! !

Sounds like you got your round sorted anyway , but as you have the wfp now you will always have the option to do bigger stuff if you need to , who knows , your missus may get a bit fruity one night , and that big old stork may come callin  !    

  Rich   P @ F  

[P @ F]

David , what do you mean about the pump controller ?

     Rich   P @ F

[Moderator David@stives]

  i have already got 3 kids eldest now 9 so do not want to go back there .i know a guy who is selling a small round in chasewater dont think he wants much for it .i think that may be a little way out for you .if i hear of any thing plymouth way i will let you know.

[P @ F]

Yeh , thats a bit far for me , i will go if they pay £30 a house !

  Rich P @ F   

[Moderator David@stives]

is your pump permanantly wired  to a manual on/off switch ?
if so you could change that for the pump to come on and off automatically as it is supposed to do and the pump controller allows you to alter the flow rate of the pump so you dont waste to much water and stops the pump cycling ie on/off every two seconds .i think your system was sold that way with a switch to keep it cheap as i went to bodmin /wintecs and saw the system and this was one thing i noticed about that system

[thewindowcleaner1]

is your pump permanantly wired  to a manual on/off switch ?
if so you could change that for the pump to come on and off automatically as it is supposed to do and the pump controller allows you to alter the flow rate of the pump so you dont waste to much water and stops the pump cycling ie on/off every two seconds .i think your system was sold that way with a switch to keep it cheap as i went to bodmin /wintecs and saw the system and this was one thing i noticed about that system

Check out williamson pumps aint got the link (too many wee ones seeing double)

Alan

[Moderator David@stives]

http://www.williamsonpumps.co.uk/NEWHOMEPAGE1.html
how s that for service

[P @ F]

That was somthin i talked to the salesman at length about , the outcome was that Flojet pumps would no longer warrant the micro switch inside the pump , due to the earlier model burning out due to constant switching on and off .
The best way to combat this , the man said was to fit the flow back valve in line so that the pump could run constantly , i have a stop valve on the end of the hose , when this is closed the water just flows back to tank .
Im not sure if this is the case with other systems as i have never seen anybody elses system !

 Tell me more oh wise one !    Rich  P @ F

[Moderator David@stives]

salesman talk
that is what the pumps are designed for .and the pump controller helps save the life of the pump .they dont guarantee constant cycling and they reccommend the controllers .i got the same speel from wintecs .just phone the manufacturer.after all they are designed for wfp at least mine is