[Craig 72]

Hi folks.Apologies if this has been asked a million times,as I'm sure it has.Strangely I couldn't find what I was looking for by searching.I am looking to find out more about a basic entry level WFP system and would appreciate anybody who could give me a link or some advice.I know absolutely zero about them and am trying to find out what kit I would need and how much roughly it would cost.I understand there is a backpack which can be used which I would be interested in.I've been cleaning with traditional methods for a few months but am finding increasingly there are many houses with windows that ladders struggle to reach.Regards.

[andyatkinson]

where u from?is it soft/hard water area?

[Craig 72]

South-east London/North West Kent area.

[SonOfFormby]

Hi folks.Apologies if this has been asked a million times,as I'm sure it has.Strangely I couldn't find what I was looking for by searching.I am looking to find out more about a basic entry level WFP system and would appreciate anybody who could give me a link or some advice.I know absolutely zero about them and am trying to find out what kit I would need and how much roughly it would cost.I understand there is a backpack which can be used which I would be interested in.I've been cleaning with traditional methods for a few months but am finding increasingly there are many houses with windows that ladders struggle to reach.Regards.

Hi Craig, I've got a small van mount system on the for sale section, if you've got a vehicle to put it in, basically all you need to get going immediately


Lee

[Tosh]

I like the backpack; I'd suggest you get a shurflo one; and I've read here that Shurflo sell them fairly cheaply.

Google for Shurflo to find their website (they sell pumps).

You'll need the following:

A pole  (do a google search for Emporium; they seem reasonably priced there)

Pole hose (about 15 to 20 meters)

Brush (get a Bently superlight; though you may get one with the pole)

A gooseneck (to attach the brush to the gooseneck; though you may get one with the pole)

At least 5 x 25 litre containers.

An RO/DI unit to purify your water; I'd suggest a 300 gal per day.  Have a search for RO Man; they sell them.

2 x 210 litre water butts and a connecter to join them together.

I think that's a basic kit list for a WFP backpack system.

[matt]

pop over to the DIY forum / site

a basic guide to building your own

e.mail for a link

diywfplink@yahoo.co.uk

[Craig 72]

I think it's Craig Mawlam in disguise! 

I can assure you it's not!Thanks for your replies guys.The backpack does appeal to me as it happens,I'll check it out.

[clunk1977]

hi mate i started out last year and got a trolley from Purefreedom at grimsby. The guys there very helpful too and can advise and sell you anything more you need. My whole system was about £750 and the trolley folds down to put in the car and looks proffesional too.

hope this helps and good luck mate

Clunk

[Tosh]

I've been cleaning with traditional methods for a few months but am finding increasingly there are many houses with windows that ladders struggle to reach.Regards.

Craig be careful with some awkward access windows.  Sometimes there's a knack to using your ladder safely to get access to them.  I remember when I first started scratching my genitals, working out how to reach the top half of tall sash windows.

The Rojak ladder stopper and ladder mats are both good bits of trad safety kit too; do a search on this site for them.

And sometimes, if you get a 'dangerous window'; just tell the customer you can't do it until you get your WFP sorted out; reduce the price slightly.

 

[Craig 72]

Tosh,I've bought myself the rojak stopper for my ladder but the windows that seem to be knackering me are the ones that are set above a porch for example which means I don't have the angle for the ladder to be used.The only way I can see to do them is a step ladder to get up to a certain height and then extension poles.I'm sure I'll get better with poles but they just don't seem to do as good a job.Frankly I'd sooner not canvass or leaflet a house with this problem rather than do it and not be confident I can do a good job.This means I'm missing out on maybe up to 30-40% of houses I'm targeting.If I was working big towns I would just miss them out but I'm working small villages at the mo and can't afford to lose that big a percentage of houses before i even start.This is what made me think about the wfp system.I was planning on working traditional for a year or two before going over to wfp but I'm rapidly changing my mind.

[D B Services]

Hi Craig.

Do youself a big favour and get a basic WFP set up as soon as you can. I bet a pound to a penny that you are already taking risks.

I haven't got time or neither can I do any DIY set ups because I employ but if I were in your shoes I would get a backpack set up.

I am pretty sure you could get a decent set of kit for under £500. Window Cleaning Warehouse do a backpack for around £80.00. I have one on each van to use when the lads can't get the hose to the windows. They swear by them and often use them for speed when doing a small residential place.

Where are you in the country? If you can let us know we can advise you on whether you need an RO set up or a DI only one.

Dan

[Craig 72]

I'm on the Kent/London border.£500 for a basic system would suit me down to the ground.My customer base is still relatively small so it sounds ideal.I was expecting thousands of pounds to be honest,so pleasantly surprised.Thanks for your advice.

[D B Services]

I'm on the Kent/London border.£500 for a basic system would suit me down to the ground.My customer base is still relatively small so it sounds ideal.I was expecting thousands of pounds to be honest,so pleasantly surprised.Thanks for your advice.

Ok Craig.

I have just had a quick look on the net to price up a decent system for you based around the WCW backpack.

Here it is:

Backpack £100.50 + VAT   (They have gone up because of the weak pound/dollar exchange rate I think)

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/Backpacks/Test/Detailed-product-flyer.html


Pole.  17 ft (Will reach about 20 ft)  79 + VAT

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/Unger-Hi-Flo-Advance-Glass-20ft/Detailed-product-flyer.html

200 GPD RO  £195 + VAT

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/RO-MAN-RO-Unit-200GPD/Detailed-product-flyer.html

DI Unit  £25 + VAT

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/RO-Systems/DI-POLISHING-UNIT-700ML/Detailed-product-flyer.html

TDS meter £19.50 + VAT

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/RO-Systems/TDS-Meter/Detailed-product-flyer.html

Total so far inc VAT  £487.60

You will also need a garden water butt or a 2nd hand IBC container to make your pure water into and a few 25 ltr containers to fill from the butt and take out with you for your day's work so not quite under the £500 in total but still not too bad at all to let you get to all the windows you can't do at the moment and the dangerous ones you already do.

I have only visited the window cleaning warehouse site because I think they are the only ones who do the backpack at this low price. You may be able to knock a quid ot two off some of the items shopping around but don't forget the extra delivery charges you will have to pay so it will probably end up at about the same if not more.

PS if you were to ask for a 10% discount it comes out at less than £450.00 

You won't go wrong with starting out with a backpack. Even if you were to go to a van mount they are always invaluable. The rest would apply for any static home based system for a 1 man band.

I hope this helps to get you on your way and keep you out of danger.

Dan

[matt]

I'm on the Kent/London border.£500 for a basic system would suit me down to the ground.My customer base is still relatively small so it sounds ideal.I was expecting thousands of pounds to be honest,so pleasantly surprised.Thanks for your advice.

Ok Craig.

I have just had a quick look on the net to price up a decent system for you based around the WCW backpack.

Here it is:

Backpack £100.50 + VAT   (They have gone up because of the weak pound/dollar exchange rate I think)

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/Backpacks/Test/Detailed-product-flyer.html

good call

Pole.  17 ft (Will reach about 20 ft)  79 + VAT

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/Unger-Hi-Flo-Advance-Glass-20ft/Detailed-product-flyer.html

save yourself the money and go with a lighter modular pole, 20 odd quid, its so light, you will need a brush, thats a personal choice, i love the Vikan

http://diywfpole.webs.com

200 GPD RO  £195 + VAT

i would go with a 100 GPD from RO MAN , just over 100 quid, if you find in time its not producing enough water ( i doubt it with a backpack ) you can add another 100 GPD membrane, Oh it also comes with a small DI resin cylinder

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/RO-MAN-RO-Unit-200GPD/Detailed-product-flyer.html

DI Unit  £25 + VAT

not needed with the above option, its small and will need refilling more often, but hey its only 5 mins to refill

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/RO-Systems/DI-POLISHING-UNIT-700ML/Detailed-product-flyer.html

TDS meter £19.50 + VAT

cheaper on ebay, 15 quid delivered

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/RO-Systems/TDS-Meter/Detailed-product-flyer.html

Total so far inc VAT  £487.60

You will also need a garden water butt or a 2nd hand IBC container to make your pure water into and a few 25 ltr containers to fill from the butt and take out with you for your day's work so not quite under the £500 in total but still not too bad at all to let you get to all the windows you can't do at the moment and the dangerous ones you already do.

I have only visited the window cleaning warehouse site because I think they are the only ones who do the backpack at this low price. You may be able to knock a quid ot two off some of the items shopping around but don't forget the extra delivery charges you will have to pay so it will probably end up at about the same if not more.


You won't go wrong with starting out with a backpack. Even if you were to go to a van mount they are always invaluable. The rest would apply for any static home based system for a 1 man band.

my replies in red, ive shaved i guess more than 100 quid off the total

[Tosh]

Craig,

Those are both good posts by Dan and Matt; I think you owe them both a beer for taking the time to post links (especially Dan; two beers for him).

But the thing about experience is, when you need it the most; you haven't got it.

I had a ladder slip out from under me during my first six months of window cleaning; I think I was over confident and tired; while cleaning a window above a porch; using the ladders at a slightly steeper angle than I should have.

Luckily enough I was okay apart from some bruises and scratches (I'm a Geordie); the fall would've killed or seriously injured a 'Southerner'.

Personally, I'd still canvass houses with awkward windows, if I were you, just explain there'll be certain windows you can't clean at the moment; till you get a pole system.

[matt]

oh pop down to your local car wash, you will get 25 L barrels for free, they chuck them out, otherwise they are 5 quid a pop from cleantech

i used to use 6 a day, thus 150 L a day

[D B Services]

Three beers now 

Here is a good 300 GPD RO system at a great price

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/300-gall-per-day-REVERSE-OSMOSIS-SYSTEM_W0QQitemZ250383099768QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA?hash=item250383099768&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1686%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

It's about the same as the RO-MAN 100gpd unit but will give you a lot faster production and a lot less waste water. I know a couple of lads who have bought these units abd they rate them and the supplier very highly.

Nice work on the details Matt I take your point but for the price it's a better deal than the RO-MAN 100 unit.  O.K. it still needs a DI but Craig is in a very hard water area so he will be changing the resin far too often.  This one will give him more water than he needs now but also will make sure he has plenty in the future as he expands without having to mess about adding membranes. It saves him about £100 on the RO-MAN 200 GPD unit so brings the total down to about £400 leaving him plenty to get an IBC or water butt.

About the pole. if Craig is a bit handy and doesn't mind a bit of messing about then why not? My only doubt is that he is new to WFP and could easily break a modular and it would probably take a lot more getting used to than a ready made telescopic. That little 17ft is a great pole for every day domestics.  It's Craigs call I suppose.

Also very good advice from Tosh. We still use ladders on occasion and would never use them without the Rojak and a stand off. Don't go using a stepladder with a trad extension pole. That is really dangerous.

Dan

[tacky]

GARDEN WATER BUTTS 210 LTRS .£20 wilkinsons

[Craig 72]

Crikey fellas that's brilliant!Dan,Matt and Tosh especially I really appreciate the time you've taken to help me out.I'll get those things you've suggested ordered a.s.ap and get started next week hopefully.I must say I'm delighted I can get all I need for £500 or so.As I was saying above I was expecting a lot more for some reason.Thanks again for going above and beyond guys,you've saved me a lot of time and hassle.