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sunshine windows

  • Posts: 2361
Gutter Vacs/what height?
« on: August 14, 2015, 06:51:27 pm »
Been using the new gutter vacs for the last week and am quite impressed by their ability.

Im going to be updating my website to advertise gutter clearing on 3 storey properties and high commercial buildings.

My question is what height would you suggest putting on the website, that we can comfortably reach with the vacuum. Because I bought 2, between us we have a combined pole length of 102ft but theres no way I'd go that high.

Cheers
To climb mount fuji you must first find a path
(Swindon, Wiltshire)

www.sunshinewindowcleaning.co.uk
www.sunshinesoftwashing.co.uk

ants

  • Posts: 337
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2015, 07:23:47 pm »
About 50ft is max i would say,but whatever your comfortable with.
Wind is a big factor.
Also if using carbon poles,put a layer of gaffer tape round the joints to stop them coming apart

sunshine windows

  • Posts: 2361
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2015, 08:51:53 pm »
Cheers Ants!

I  bought one system with 60ft of poles and the other with 42ft of poles, so I'm assuming lots of people are happy to work to 60ft?

Cheers
To climb mount fuji you must first find a path
(Swindon, Wiltshire)

www.sunshinewindowcleaning.co.uk
www.sunshinesoftwashing.co.uk

samson

Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2015, 07:01:36 am »
We say 45 feet, what I have noticed if you are using more than 6 tubes it is donkey work and if it is windy then forget it  ;D

sunshine windows

  • Posts: 2361
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2015, 07:31:51 am »
Thanks for you input guys
To climb mount fuji you must first find a path
(Swindon, Wiltshire)

www.sunshinewindowcleaning.co.uk
www.sunshinesoftwashing.co.uk

sunshine windows

  • Posts: 2361
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2015, 07:32:54 am »
I'm finding it really enjoyable clearing the gutters out now. Albeit a little time consuming, getting the kit ready on smaller jobs.

To climb mount fuji you must first find a path
(Swindon, Wiltshire)

www.sunshinewindowcleaning.co.uk
www.sunshinesoftwashing.co.uk

SeanK

Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2015, 08:07:29 am »
I'm finding it really enjoyable clearing the gutters out now. Albeit a little time consuming, getting the kit ready on smaller jobs.

Totally agree I had a few good profitable years at it, the problem with domestic gutter cleaning is its very open to under cutting
as its a one off job that in most cases only needs done every few years.
I very rarely get a gutter clean now as there are a couple of guys in my area with a ladder and bucket doing it for silly money
they just door knock and 99% of customers let them clean there and then as they are that cheap.

samson

Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2015, 08:09:56 am »
Loving gutter cleaning at the moment, getting 4 x times as many jobs as the drive cleaning wich I prefer, but gutter cleaning is a really untapped market  ;D

sunshine windows

  • Posts: 2361
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2015, 08:55:31 am »
We probably already gain enough guttering jobs each month to keep one person on a nice steady wage, but they're spread out between 4 of us.

I think with a bit of marketing and revamp of the website, I should be able to increase this revenue stream for us quite considerably.

Cheers
To climb mount fuji you must first find a path
(Swindon, Wiltshire)

www.sunshinewindowcleaning.co.uk
www.sunshinesoftwashing.co.uk

Smurf

  • Posts: 8538
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2015, 12:30:54 pm »
Like any new service offered it's just a matter of gaining experience as each job is different. Some can be a doddle to do using a guttervac and others can be a real pain in the arse.

Once you start going over the height that ladders can't reach safely then should something go wrong or you can't do the job properly by guttervac for whatever reason that’s when you can start getting into alot of bother.

I remember one lad on a forum mention on a commercial job getting his nozzle stuck in a downpipe (including his camera on it) 3 storeys up.. Whilst he tried to get it out the top section separated from the rest of the pole. Oops!   ;D

Don't think the firms H&S bod was too impressed as was left sticking out like that for a few days until the chap could get hold of a long enough ladder to retrieve it.

Needless to say he decided to pack it in after that. ::)roll





 

Smurf

  • Posts: 8538
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2015, 12:47:15 pm »
You will also come accross jobs that a guttervac will be usless on  ;D
This one for example is 3 storey height with no access for ladders, scaffolding or a picker.
Needless to say I could not do that gutter run but I still got paid to do the front of the building ;)




Dave Willis

Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2015, 06:39:25 pm »
I packed in the high stuff after realising that if i knocked any guttering off at fifty feet I'd be stuffed. Also latched on to a large lump of mortor at 45' recently and could only get it halfway over the gutter - would have done some damage if I'd got it all the way over. And then ........ there's the S bends that you can't clear.

Smurf

  • Posts: 8538
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2015, 07:14:31 pm »
I packed in the high stuff after realising that if i knocked any guttering off at fifty feet I'd be stuffed. Also latched on to a large lump of mortor at 45' recently and could only get it halfway over the gutter - would have done some damage if I'd got it all the way over. And then ........ there's the S bends that you can't clear.

Nor some corners /roof valley blockages then too boot you don't get paid...
what a bummer as you also are out of pocket now as you've also snapped one or two carbon poles trying  ::)roll

As the saying goes "guttervacs suck" ;D

gavinb

Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2015, 05:52:07 pm »
Gutter vac jobs are coming in thick and fast this year for me !
My phone and emails are going none stop for it .
The past month ive done about 2k of gutter jobs
Ive got 6 to fit in and 5 to price up and 2 more come in today .

Very profitable work if you ask me .

JandS

  • Posts: 4267
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2015, 09:34:43 pm »
I will not go above 3 stories....I have a camera but 90% of the time stick the triple extension up to check them out....I have a 3kw vac but I reckon above around 40 foot  unless it is really loose stuff it would not be powerful enough.
Impossible done straight away, miracles can take a little longer.

samson

Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #15 on: August 16, 2015, 10:51:10 pm »
I will not go above 3 stories....I have a camera but 90% of the time stick the triple extension up to check them out....I have a 3kw vac but I reckon above around 40 foot  unless it is really loose stuff it would not be powerful enough.
Get a decent vac then  ;D

JandS

  • Posts: 4267
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #16 on: August 17, 2015, 09:56:15 am »
3kw is decent.
Impossible done straight away, miracles can take a little longer.

JandS

  • Posts: 4267
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #17 on: August 17, 2015, 10:03:44 am »
The Skyvac is only rated at 2.6kw and sells packages up to 40 foot.
And is a lot dearer than my set up was.
Impossible done straight away, miracles can take a little longer.

CLEANCARE WC

  • Posts: 4454
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #18 on: August 17, 2015, 10:40:56 pm »
Like any new service offered it's just a matter of gaining experience as each job is different. Some can be a doddle to do using a guttervac and others can be a real pain in the arse.

Once you start going over the height that ladders can't reach safely then should something go wrong or you can't do the job properly by guttervac for whatever reason that’s when you can start getting into alot of bother.

I remember one lad on a forum mention on a commercial job getting his nozzle stuck in a downpipe (including his camera on it) 3 storeys up.. Whilst he tried to get it out the top section separated from the rest of the pole. Oops!   ;D

Don't think the firms H&S bod was too impressed as was left sticking out like that for a few days until the chap could get hold of a long enough ladder to retrieve it.

Needless to say he decided to pack it in after that. ::)roll

That was me  :-[  ;D

Not my finest hour! But I did provide amusing pics!
WE CLEAN BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT WITH WATER FED POLE WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT.

Smurf

  • Posts: 8538
Re: Gutter Vacs/what height?
« Reply #19 on: August 17, 2015, 11:06:02 pm »
Like any new service offered it's just a matter of gaining experience as each job is different. Some can be a doddle to do using a guttervac and others can be a real pain in the arse.

Once you start going over the height that ladders can't reach safely then should something go wrong or you can't do the job properly by guttervac for whatever reason that’s when you can start getting into alot of bother.

I remember one lad on a forum mention on a commercial job getting his nozzle stuck in a downpipe (including his camera on it) 3 storeys up.. Whilst he tried to get it out the top section separated from the rest of the pole. Oops!   ;D

Don't think the firms H&S bod was too impressed as was left sticking out like that for a few days until the chap could get hold of a long enough ladder to retrieve it.

Needless to say he decided to pack it in after that. ::)roll

That was me  :-[  ;D

Not my finest hour! But I did provide amusing pics!

Have you still got the pics to post on here?