The Water Fed Pole
Window cleaning has always been a dangerous and tedious job for many people, professionals now have the option of a water fed pole. Ladder safety is a huge part of the training regiment with employees. For over a hundred years, the ladder has been a integral part of the tools used by cleaning service providers. There seems to be only one solution for a product that provides superior customer satisfaction as well as safety for the window cleaning companies providing the service. Windows can be cleaned spotlessly by using a Water Fed Pole. Hard to reach windows can be cleaned with no problem by safely using this system. Dangerous windows can be cleaned from ground level, keeping employees safer and the company’s insurance rates stable. Portland Window Cleaning opts for the use of a Water Fed Pole for all of these reasons. We utilize the water fed pole system for 99% of our residential and commercial cleaning accounts in the Portland Metropolitan area.
Water fed pole options
Water Fed Pole Options. How to get water to the Water Fed Pole efficiently. One option is to use a backpack system. Deionized water is held usually in a 4 or 5 gallon backpack sprayer which can feed the water fed pole. Portland Window Cleaning occasionally will use this system for windows that are not easily accessible with our water line. Our favorite brand of backpack for storing deionized water is by a company called Hudson which makes the NeverPump. This option is used occasionally by Portland Window Cleaning with homes that have difficult to reach windows; for example over a third story deck. For homes that are close together, or for a few windows on one home that are difficult to reach, using a backpack with a limited water supply is acceptable. However, for commercial window cleaning, or for a home with many windows using a backpack to hold deionized water is not practical. This would require many return trips to your main water supply to refill the backpack.
For a time, Portland Window Cleaning mounted our supplies in a trailer. One just needs to ensure the vehicle towing it has the capability of hauling the weight of the water tanks as well as the hoses and additional window cleaning supplies. Using a water tank to hold your water for use with the Water Fed Pole is a more logical, practical solution, even if companies are doing only residential window cleaning jobs. Of course, this is all dependent on the space inside the company vehicle. We usually carry around 60 gallons; which is enough to clean three moderate sized homes. Portland Window Cleaning can pull up to a job site and begin cleaning in less than a minutes time. Our company can clean the glass, frames and tracks before most companies are half way completed using traditional methods. Customers appreciate that we have invested in quality equipment like a carbon fiber water fed pole, that can give superior results, while being safe on their property.
Water fed pole van mounting option
Water Fed Pole Van Mounted System. Of course, the best choice, would be to mount all of your residential and commercial window cleaning supplies in a van. Not only can a large van such as the popular Sprinter hold your window cleaning supplies, but your water purifying system, poles, pumps, hoses, and any additional supplies. The supplies can all be mounted into the van safely and securely. This option also poses less risk of theft of a expensive item like the water fed pole which can run $2000 or more. We have used a van mounted water fed pole system for over three years and couldn’t imagine cleaning windows any other way. The water fed pole has literally transformed our Portland Window Cleaning company overnight.
Tucker water fed pole
Tucker Water Fed Pole. There have been many advancements over the past decade in water fed pole technology. One of the original pioneers of these systems was Tucker Pole Systems which used a metal pole to feed deionized water to the glass. The water fed pole was telescoping, but needed a special tool to adjust the tension, and allow the water fed pole to be extended. Window Cleaners needed to use both hands while making adjustments to the water fed pole. This system revolutionized the window cleaning industry overnight. It meant window cleaners no longer needed to risk their lives to clean glass. There have been many more advancements in water fed pole technology since then, which are lighter, stiffer and can reach higher, safely. The Tucker pole system is a cheaper alternative to today’s modern materials but remains a viable options for those wanting to try the water fed pole system without breaking the bank.
Water fed pole advancements
Water Fed Pole Advancements. With the invention of the Tucker pole, other manufactures were soon to follow with fiberglass poles which were lighter and offered a telescoping pole that was easy to manipulate. Although a fiberglass water fed pole still had a lot of flex being able to use one hand to operate the levers was very popular among professionals in the industry. With the arrival of carbon fiber water fed poles the industry changed again. Cleaning professional were now able to reach 5 and 6 stories while safely on the ground. Carbon fiber offers a forgiving stiffness and lightweight materials to provide a superior product. Our current everyday use water fed pole is a Gardiner SLX2 which reaches 35′ and only weighs 4lbs. This technology isn’t cheap, but it should be definitely considered if a company plans on making the switch. For my company, Portland Window Cleaning, we enjoy the lighter stiffer feel of carbon fiber.
Thank you to Jeff from the UK WFP Training Academy for some of the ideas for this article.
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