I use a backpack sometimes and am not into the idea of bringing a bunch of extra water, so I fill it with 4 gallons and then use that until it is exhausted. In order to do this I have to plan ahead by thinking about the things that Bruce talked about and all the while keeping Mark’s mindset that you only have as much as you have and then you are done.
There are jobs that I do regularly where using a backpack is simply the quickest way to go because the windows are not that dirty and I know the set up of the windows like the back of my hand. In those cases there is no connecting hoses or running the hoses around the property or thinking about where I am parking. I just put the pack on and get to work, sometimes finishing the outside of as many as 15 windows in as little as 15 minutes.
Just some food for thought. Glad you started this thread [MENTION=7230]c_wininger[/MENTION] .
Yeah this has turned into a really good thread. Lots of good info, thanks everyone
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It’s Amazing how much you can learn in 22 posts! Thanks for starting this thread Caleb.
For those of you who are using an RO/DI system on site how much time is used for setup and takedown. I’ve found on a resident job it always takes 20 mins to setup and 20 min to take down after. Especially when your RO system requires a back flush for 15 min. That’s what makes me think about making my water at home and carting it on the job. So far, I have always hooked up my system on site with the added setup and takedown/back flush time. Do you guys back flush your RO filters every time?
Dean
Dutchboy Window Cleaning
Kelowna BC
250-868-3722
[QUOTE=Dutchboy;289414]…Do you guys back flush your RO filters every time?
Every time! You do not want to let sediment build up in your RO!
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I spend more time on the UK forums than the US forums and I never here them talk about all the time they are saving because of water flow when they upgrade from a backpack to an on board system.
PS
I do more than 20 second and third story DH windows an hour with my hand pump manual backpack and I’m an old fart taking my sweet time. Is that super slow?
PPS
I usually use about 6 gallons an hour.
You’re correct. In the USA everybody has spigots all over the place. Usually there is one between the driveway and the side or front door. Right there about ten feet from the truck. I did truckmounted carpet cleaning with NO ON BOARD WATER TANK for over five years. Five stops a day … could care less about having a fresh water tank.
I did carpet cleaning also one of the trucks I worked out of didn’t have on board water and I remember only once I hooked up to the persons kitchen sink I think my boss had this ring of attachments for hooking up to the sink . I do remember some times we had to have people turn there water on for us. Then he bought the butler truck which had on board water . For me I don’t need a tank everyone has a spigot an if for some reason its not on it ladder time ya it would suck if it were cut ups. I do very little resi in the winter months an just use ladders if there is no water on .
i don’t have the luxury of doing millions of vinyl double hungs every day. the stuff i do is usually more complicated then that. what about the guy who does lots of hydrophobic commercial glass? or the guy who does tons and tons of french panes. in those situations more volume really does make a huge difference.
and uk the window cleaning business is quite different than here. in the uk its common for people have their windows cleaned every month. here it’s more like twice a year or even just once. so it’s not an apples to apples comparison. when the glass isn’t that dirty, then less volume doesn’t hurt you. but when you are cleaning a year’s worth of crap off a window, the extra volume will definitely speed you up.
[MENTION=7269]Majestic66[/MENTION] when you did carpet cleaning using only the homeowner’s spigot, what did you do when the spigots were turned off for the winter? just let them know when they scheduled that you would need outside water available?
If your old why are you putting that thing on your back why not a small hand truck?
Caleb, from what I remember cause we are talking 22 years ago we would tell them to turn there water on. I remember we also had a ring with attachments on it to hook up to sink if need be also.
[MENTION=7230]c_wininger[/MENTION]
Caleb, from what I remember cause we are talking 22 years ago we would tell them to turn there water on. I remember we also had a ring with attachments on it to hook up to sink if need be also.
I’m not that old I’m just not 25 anymore. Backpack is fine. Weighs 35lbs when it’s full. If I was a girl I’d consider using a hand truck, maybe. 
I guess im a girl 
Screw that man I have my back pack on a small hand truck. As I get older I get smarter I only have one back.
Have you ever thrown out your back man let me tell you its no joke. I was playing stickball an when I took a swing I went down like a ton of bricks an I was young at the time an in shape ill never forget on the floor couldn’t move for 2 days. last spring I was putting mulch in the bed an the last bag got me out for 3 days. Don’t f with your back get a hand truck who cares who calls ya a wuss.
HaHa just messin with ya.
PS
A great set of straps make a huge difference!
Yada Yada Yada
I live and clean windows in Massachusetts and the back pack works great on small jobs. Houses with less than 100 double hung windows.
Fair enough. I’ll think on what you say.
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I yawned last year and had my back spasm. WTH was that??? I was sore for 2 days. Getting old sucks.
had a back spasm early last week from sleeping awkwardly, went out to the job and when ever I had to bend over to dip my mop I would let out a moan thinking that its therapeutic to release that pain out of your body rather then to let it bundle up inside of you. sure enough at one corner of the house I let out a moan and proceeded to walk around the corner and the homeowner was sitting outside with their cat. It was almost as embarasing as letting out a fart.
back to topic…
I dont own a system so I use the shurflo backpack. its awesome, I dont do big commercial jobs so dont need a system, most residential i do the 4gallon will last enough to do the second story, all first levels i do by hand. some second story has screens and I have to ladder up there to remove it so i just end up doing it traditional.
even with a mobile backpack and the short lengths of hose, I get annoyed of the hose always getting in the way or snagging on some object. one lesson i learned is to be careful not to get the backpack wet because the battery charger outlet is sitting low to the ground and even though it has a cover it can get wet and shortcircuit, cost me about $40 to get a new battery.
I buy my water from the grocery store at .50 cents a gallon, recently the tds on those stations been 09 and at that level I have been noticing spots. I think I might get a pure water system from homedepot so I can create my own 00 tds. I only use wfp maybe 5 gallons a week so usage is low.
