[Splash & dash]

I turn the tap off when I don't need it. Often between windows, certainly anytime more than a few seconds. The electricity stays switched on at all times from starting the first job to completing the last.

If I need to lower the flow (leaky windows, real georgian, leaded lights, sliding sash etc.) - I turn the tap down a bit.

Doing this will put constant pressure on the pressure switch causing premature failure but if you have done that for years then guess just carry on 😂😂

I have. One pump gets 80% of the use but it's flow and operation is no worse than the the second pump when that gets used.

They are badged Gardiner pumps and they stopped selling them years ago.

If they have Gardiner’s on them they are aquatec pumps I use them they are the best pumps I have ever had I tend to change them every 6-7 years and they are running 8 hours a day 5 days a week pumping hot water never had one stop working  just flow rate drops a bit and they  make a bit of noise

[CleanClear]

Tap off.

Thats some faff, a tap ? Most of us use univalves now i suspect ?

Can you use a univalve to adjust the flow? Does it work well with a swivel head?

I use controller for flow. I've no issues using my univalve with my gardiner swivel attachment.

[AuRavelling79]

A flow controller makes so much sense for so many reasons. The spring V16's are fantastic controllers and at around £100 really are a no brainer. Many negatives to not having one and many positives to having one. Not even worth arguing about!😎👌

Educate me why I would be better off with one.

Hopefully you've now been educated!

Top man Ian.

Not really. I see no practical benefit for me. In the last 6 years have never had a pump fail and have never had a low battery issue. I use about 400 litres of water on a 6 hour day on domestic. I really don't get the issue.

Many times I hear of people on here bewailing their flow controllers playing up.

I really would change if there was a practical benefit to me so here's a question. How often do you vary the flow on your controller to suit the conditions of the job you are doing? Do you turn off your water when you move between groups of windows?

Talk me through - say - a domestic job that you do; let's say a pair of average semis from one van stop. Here's what I do.

Pull up reel out hose, clip in tap, position brush to first top window. Turn on tap to desired flow (usually full) - if the next window is with a couple of seconds don't turn off. If it is more than 5 seconds or so away, flick the tap off and back on when I get the brush in position. Carry on until the job is done. Tap off. Reel in, unclip tap and wrap it round the reel.

Now let's say a farmhouse with some real sliding sash Georgian windows. Now I adjust the tap down - especially when doing the lower leaf and not wanting to spray water and bring dust, grit, muck down from the gap. But when I want to do do the UPVC/metal patio doors or extension or rooflights I want full power so turn the power up. How would you do this?

Well you can lead a horse to water but...

Are you old, stubborn & stuck in your ways by any chance?

Not really. All I have been told is that it will strain the pump pressure switch and use up my battery too quickly. Neither of which have happened to me. In return I get complete flow control.

[Simon Trapani]

Each to their own lol.

[AuRavelling79]

Tap off.

Thats some faff, a tap ? Most of us use univalves now i suspect ?

Can you use a univalve to adjust the flow? Does it work well with a swivel head?

I use controller for flow. I've no issues using my univalve with my gardiner swivel attachment.

Can you adjust the flow when you are away from the van and if so by how much?

[AuRavelling79]

Each to their own lol.

So no answer other than LOL because my pumps and battery should have failed? And yet they don't.  Must be irritating to some  that some people get through more flow controllers than I get through pumps.

[AuRavelling79]

I turn the tap off when I don't need it. Often between windows, certainly anytime more than a few seconds. The electricity stays switched on at all times from starting the first job to completing the last.

If I need to lower the flow (leaky windows, real georgian, leaded lights, sliding sash etc.) - I turn the tap down a bit.

Doing this will put constant pressure on the pressure switch causing premature failure but if you have done that for years then guess just carry on 😂😂

I have. One pump gets 80% of the use but it's flow and operation is no worse than the the second pump when that gets used.

They are badged Gardiner pumps and they stopped selling them years ago.

If they have Gardiner’s on them they are aquatec pumps I use them they are the best pumps I have ever had I tend to change them every 6-7 years and they are running 8 hours a day 5 days a week pumping hot water never had one stop working  just flow rate drops a bit and they  make a bit of noise

Yes that's the ones - Aquatec. You can get them badged from Grippatank too. Or just get Aquatec.

[Simon Trapani]

Tap off.

Thats some faff, a tap ? Most of us use univalves now i suspect ?

Can you use a univalve to adjust the flow? Does it work well with a swivel head?

I use controller for flow. I've no issues using my univalve with my gardiner swivel attachment.

Can you adjust the flow when you are away from the van and if so by how much?

I know you didn't ask me but you could if you had the remote one with fob or app. I just have the standard v11's.

Personally I never really need to adjust the flow. Maybe for a first clean or to wash the van I'd turn it up.

[Simon Trapani]

Each to their own lol.

So no answer other than LOL because my pumps and battery should have failed? And yet they don't.  Must be irritating to some  that some people get through more flow controllers than I get through pumps.

Mate you crack on if you're happy. I think I have more info about pumps & batterys etc but we'll just agree to disagree. My pumps & batterys will last longer with a controller & a good charge routine.

[CleanClear]

Tap off.

Thats some faff, a tap ? Most of us use univalves now i suspect ?

Can you use a univalve to adjust the flow? Does it work well with a swivel head?

I use controller for flow. I've no issues using my univalve with my gardiner swivel attachment.

Can you adjust the flow when you are away from the van and if so by how much?

I've never had a need too. If i did need to i could fold the pole hose i suppose, harder or looser. But you have highlighted something else...... you use Aquattec pumps. I'll stick my neck out and say if you do that set up with a Surflow pump you'll be lucky to get 12 months out of a pressure switch. I change enough of them regularly to know that is my experience with them. I've never had my hands on an Aquatec pump to know anything about them.

[AuRavelling79]

Each to their own lol.

So no answer other than LOL because my pumps and battery should have failed? And yet they don't.  Must be irritating to some  that some people get through more flow controllers than I get through pumps.

Mate you crack on if you're happy. I think I have more info about pumps & batterys etc but we'll just agree to disagree. My pumps & batterys will last longer with a controller & a good charge routine.

Well tell me about them. If it works then explain.

How long have your pumps and batteries lasted?

[CleanClear]

Each to their own lol.

So no answer other than LOL because my pumps and battery should have failed? And yet they don't.  Must be irritating to some  that some people get through more flow controllers than I get through pumps.

My Sureflow is 13 years old. 

[AuRavelling79]

Tap off.

Thats some faff, a tap ? Most of us use univalves now i suspect ?

Can you use a univalve to adjust the flow? Does it work well with a swivel head?

I use controller for flow. I've no issues using my univalve with my gardiner swivel attachment.

Can you adjust the flow when you are away from the van and if so by how much?

I've never had a need too. If i did need to i could fold the pole hose i suppose, harder or looser. But you have highlighted something else...... you use Aquattec pumps. I'll stick my neck out and say if you do that set up with a Surflow pump you'll be lucky to get 12 months out of a pressure switch. I change enough of them regularly to know that is my experience with them. I've never had my hands on an Aquatec pump to know anything about them.

There you go. I have used Shurflo - with a flow controller because the pressure switch WILL fail if you don't. (cheap as it is) However when I changed the Shurflos I asked Alex why his pumps were better and he said the pump was far more robust and the pressure switch less prone to failure.

Maybe people are harking back to  using Shurflos with flow controllers when they could just change to Aquatec?

Remember when a certain manufacturer banged on about zero parts per billion and others said they never went above zero parts per milliion? And yet some of us realise that as long as you are in zero, zero single figures you will be fine?

[Simon Trapani]

And you'd have to be very unlucky for a Spring controller to go faulty. Almost always bad connections, battery or user error of some sort.

I've been wfp for 13 years now & have had four v7's (two in each two man van) which I sold on ebay to upgrade to four V11's. I may eventually upgrade to v16's. I think the Spring controllers are great personally & make total sense.

I've aquatec pumps also. I chose them at the time because they had JG fittings built in & only drew 7amps flat out compared to others drawing slightly more i think.

[Simon Trapani]

Last time I spoke to Alex Gardiner he never used a controller. That was a few years back mind.

[AuRavelling79]

Last time I spoke to Alex Gardiner he never used a controller. That was a few years back mind.

Well did he say why?

[AuRavelling79]

SO so far ...

My pumps are going strong. My battery doesn't fail. And Alex Gardiner reportedly doesn't use a flow controller. I don't have a flow controller to go wrong. I use no more water than others.

I have infinite flow control at any given moment.

Tell me again why I am wrong to NOT use a flow controller.

[CleanClear]

Tap off.

Thats some faff, a tap ? Most of us use univalves now i suspect ?

Can you use a univalve to adjust the flow? Does it work well with a swivel head?

I use controller for flow. I've no issues using my univalve with my gardiner swivel attachment.

Can you adjust the flow when you are away from the van and if so by how much?

I've never had a need too. If i did need to i could fold the pole hose i suppose, harder or looser. But you have highlighted something else...... you use Aquattec pumps. I'll stick my neck out and say if you do that set up with a Surflow pump you'll be lucky to get 12 months out of a pressure switch. I change enough of them regularly to know that is my experience with them. I've never had my hands on an Aquatec pump to know anything about them.

There you go. I have used Shurflo - with a flow controller because the pressure switch WILL fail if you don't. (cheap as it is) However when I changed the Shurflos I asked Alex why his pumps were better and he said the pump was far more robust and the pressure switch less prone to failure.

Maybe people are harking back to  using Shurflos with flow controllers when they could just change to Aquatec?

Remember when a certain manufacturer banged on about zero parts per billion and others said they never went above zero parts per milliion? And yet some of us realise that as long as you are in zero, zero single figures you will be fine?

You sat on that info, had to be dragged out of ya. Nice.

[CleanClear]

SO so far ...

My pumps are going strong. My battery doesn't fail. And Alex Gardiner reportedly doesn't use a flow controller. I don't have a flow controller to go wrong. I use no more water than others.

I have infinite flow control at any given moment.

Tell me again why I am wrong to NOT use a flow controller.

You said it yourself, and you've gone all around the world to say it............... You use an Aquatec pump.

There you go. I have used Shurflo - with a flow controller because the pressure switch WILL fail if you don't.

Are you smiling still ?

[Simon Trapani]

Each to their own lol.

So no answer other than LOL because my pumps and battery should have failed? And yet they don't.  Must be irritating to some  that some people get through more flow controllers than I get through pumps.

Mate you crack on if you're happy. I think I have more info about pumps & batterys etc but we'll just agree to disagree. My pumps & batterys will last longer with a controller & a good charge routine.

Well tell me about them. If it works then explain.

How long have your pumps and batteries lasted?

Mate i don't know exactly how long. Years in both vans. I don't want to get into all this. I can't type that quick & it's frustrating.
But if a controller allows your pump to only be working at say half power it will last twice as long in theory. It will also use only draw half the power thus draining the battery less. With a decent leisure battery & charge routine (split & bench combined) you'll then be taking less deep cycles out of your battery. Read up about battery cycles & not draining them below a certain percentage on the net if you're not convinced. It makes for the most efficient system.

Plenty will get by with their scrap yard starter battery or connect to vehicle battery & say they never have a problem I know but it's just not the way to go.

I can't type any more. My fingers ache.