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THE CONTRACTOR’S #1 SOURCE FOR COMMERCIAL PRESSURE WASHERS, PRESSURE WASHER SUPPLIES & TRAINING!

TM 1.800.433.2113

X-Jet M5 Variable Spray Pattern High Pressure Chemical Injector

Attach to the end of your wand to apply chemicals at high pressure without going through your pump. The adjustable nozzle can project chemicals up to a vertical height of 40 feet at the zero setting or an 8 foot fan pattern at 60 degrees by simply turning the adjustable nozzle

M5DS Long Range Downstream NozzleApply detergent up to a 3rd story when used in conjunction with your favorite downstream chemical injector. It fits most pressure washer lance’s with a 1/4” quick connect outlet. It easily changes from a 0 degree stream to a wide 60 degree fan pattern and everything in between with just a twist of the nozzle. The nozzle is not an exact size, but it is close to a #60 orifice.

Gutter Cleaner WandAttach this handy hook to the end of your wand and reach up into gutters and blast away dirt.

3,000 PSI, 8 GPM

Flex WandBend it, twist it, or turn it and it still holds its shape even at full pressure! It comes with a 1/4 inch female quick coupler tip for quick attachment to your gun or wand.

13’ LongInlet: 1/4” MPT Outlet: 1/4” FPT Max. Temp: 190° F

MarXoff Gutter Cleaning ApplicatorThis tool makes gutter cleaning a quick addon service. Quickly clean stained gutters whilestanding safely on the ground. Simply attacha MarXoff Gutter Cleaning Applicator to atelescoping brush handle, dip it into abucket of Gutter Zap, apply andrinse. That’s it! You’re done! Thecleaning pad is made of soft,synthetic lambs wool and is safeto the gutter finish.

10” BI-Level BrushThe unique angled design of this soft-bristle non-marking wash brush maximizes contact with the surface to extend your reach. Cleanmore area in less time from the safety of the ground.

Get a Free 10 in. Bi-Level Brush

when you Buy 2 Fifty Pound Boxes of Pink Thunder Concentrated Truck Wash Powder

Get a Free M5DS Nozzle

when you Buy 2 Five Gallon Pails of Fresh Wash Floral Scent

Offer Expires 6/30/2015Enter Code: “Brush” at checkout

Offer Expires 6/30/2015Enter Code: “M5DS” at checkout

Super Concentrated Gutter ZapZap those gutters clean with Super Concentrate Gutter Zap. It cleans black streaks off gutters caused by electrostatic bonding. Simply wet down the gutter, spray on Gutter Zap, and rinse off with garden hose pressure. It’s that easy! Light brushing is required on heavily soiled areas.

One quart makes 1 gallon of concentrate which yields 3-5 gallons of ready-to-use-mix.

Portable Dam System with HandlesFill it with water to form a stable dam that will channel water to a portable vacuum system.

Portable Sand Dam-6’x6”Use it to form a tight seal around drains and channel you run-off water to a vacuum recovery system.

Wash Pit Sump PumpAn extremely cost effective method for collecting your wash water before it enters the waters of the state.

7” diameter115 volt8’ cordGarden hose discharge on top

Oil Absorbing FiltersUse with water dams to absorb hydrocarbons in run off water. Made with a double skin so it won’t tear or shed its filler.

FreshWashSodium Hypochlorite Enhancer

5 Is Pure Water Window Cleaning for Me? A Pressure Washer’s Dilemma, by Matt Adwell, Adwell Services

12 The Drought: How It’s Impacting California Contractors

20 Benefits of Pressure Washing Construction Sites, by Paul Horsley, PWNA Board

18 PWNA Announces 2015 National Convention & Regional Certification Classes

28 How to STOP Being a Slave to Your Business: Keynote Speaker Howard Partridge, 2015 Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning Seminar

25 Amazon’s New Home Services “Opportunity” – Is It Right for You?

30 Spring Showers of Savings Bring More Business, by Rick Meehan, Marko Janitorial

In This Issue:www.eCleanMag.com Issue 33

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Cover Photo courtesy of Michael Goeller, Brightview Cleaning, www.BrightviewCleaning.com

eClean Magazine is published monthlyPublisher/Editor: Allison Hester, allison@ecleanmag.com eClean Magazine 12300 Nebraska Ave. N Little Rock, AR 72118 (501) 251-6054

16 Do You REALLY Want to Start Your Own Business?, by Tom Grandy, Grandy & Associates

Shop By Category | Shop By Brand | Shop By Industry | Shop By Department | Sales & Clearance | Training

THE CONTRACTOR’S #1 SOURCE FOR COMMERCIAL PRESSURE WASHERS, PRESSURE WASHER SUPPLIES & TRAINING!

TM 1.800.433.2113

Hose Reel SwivelThis high pressure swivel features stainless steel plumbing with nickle plating to deliver the reliable performance needed for the industrial pressure washer industry. Its ball-bearing inter-nal components promise durability that will last.

1/2” FPT Inlet 1/2” FTP Outlet 5000 PSI 250º F 12 GPM

Hose Reel SwivelThis is an extreme-duty high pressure swivel features an exclusive dual-seal design and rated at 5000 PSI and 325°F, this swivel’s stain-less steel rotor and solid brass housing offer industry-leading chemical resistance.

1/2”inlet 3/8”discharge

Hose Reel SocketQuickly change hoses or connect a downstream injector between your hose reel and hose with this special 3/8” quick connect socket.

Space Saving Hose Reel FrameSave space by stacking two hose reels on top of each other. Carry twice as much hose in the same foot print and use the extra space on your trailer to store chemicals, tools, or equipment. Perfect for machines with two guns or operators that want to stack the supply hose on top of the pressure hose. The hose reels and hoses are sold separately.

HoseTract Hose ReelThis durable reel features a flow through shaft for universal installation and a fully adjustable nylon brake to adjust tension.

Cap: 250’ of 3/8” hoseMax PSI: 4,000Max. Temp: 200º FInlet: 1/2” FPT25”L X 17”W X 18”H35 lbs.

Legacy Hose ReelThis heavy gauge steel, powder coated reel is raised to create clearance space, thus reducing the difficulty of reeling a hose. It also features an extended swivel to prevent bends and stress on the hose where it attaches to the reel. It can be mounted to any horizontal or vertical surface. The break mechanism reduces unwinding backlash and the oversized locking mechanism prevents slippage. The “Flip-Over” hose guide allows ease of use from either side.

Capacity: 100’ + of 3/8” pressure hoseMax. PSI: 5,000Max. Temp: 325°Inlet: 1/2” FPT / Outlet: 1/2” FPT Weight 21 lbs.

Hannay Hose Reel This heavy gauge steel hose reel can hold up to 275 feet of 3/8” high pressure hose. It will stand up to pressures up to 5000 PSI and tempera-tures from 20º F - 400º F. The direct crank rewind is permanently attached so you never have to worry about it coming loose. Comes with a cam-lock drag brake to put tension on your hose and a spring actuated pin lock to keep it in place when it’s not in use.

Capacity: 275’ of 3/8” pres-sure washer hoseMax PSI: 5,000Max Temp: 400º FInlet 90° swivel 1/2” FNPT / Outlet 1/2” FNPT25”L X 17”W X 18”HWeight: 50 lbs.

Get 50 Feet of Hose for Just $69.99

22 Best Practices & Tips for Avoiding Financial Disasters, by Darla Renk, Joseph D. Walters Insurance

By Matt Adwell, Adwell Services

“Pure Water Window Cleaning” 5

Anyone who owns a pressure washing business is faced with the ever-present temptation to offer additional services. Why not leverage an existing client base with more offerings since the cost of customer acquisition is negligible? This is especially true with external window cleaning because of the growing popularity of pure water window cleaning.

Many pressure washers who have declined to offer window cleaning in the past are now reconsidering because of water fed poles, attracted by the prospect of keeping their feet on the ground rather than climbing ladders to reach windows. Of course, since this needs to be a good business decision, there are a few things that should be considered:

• What are the strategic advantages of offering window cleaning?

Is Pure Water Window Cleaning for Me?

• What equipment will I need, and how much will it cost?

• How will I train myself or my employees in pure water window cleaning?

• How can I make window cleaning a profitable part of my business?

Strategic AdvantagesThe obvious advantage of adding window

cleaning is that your existing customer base can be leveraged to purchase additional services from you. However, there are other advantages.

For example, offering window cleaning can protect your existing client base. Many residential and commercial property owners prefer to deal with one company when given the choice. Therefore, if you offer pressure washing but not window cleaning, there is always the possibility that the window cleaner

A Pressure Washer’s DilemmaPhoto courtesy of Justin Graves, J. Graves Exterior Cleaning, www.jgravesexteriorcleaning.com

that they hire will offer your clients pressure washing, and they could decide to consolidate and use one contractor for both services, leaving your company out. Offering window cleaning protects your interests.

Providing window cleaning can also open doors to pressure washing. When a potential customer calls about window cleaning, you now have the opportunity to provide prices for pressure washing as well. Relatively small jobs frequently transform into larger, more lucrative projects, with the side benefit of less time being spent in travel and more time spent in productivity. Additionally, since window cleaning is generally scheduled on a more regular basis than pressure washing, the company tends to stay in closer contact with its clients, affording additional sales opportunities.

Tools & EquipmentWindow cleaners and pressure washers seem

to have two very different mindsets. Window cleaners often start a business with very little investment, since it only takes a few hand tools to get started cleaning windows. As a result, window cleaners tend to take a minimalist approach to investing in tools and equipment.

Not so for pressure washers. Bigger is better! More gallons per minute! More power! (Cue Tim “The Toolman” Taylor.) In pressure washing, the amount of money invested in equipment often directly correlates to the amount of work that can be done per hour. So, when a pressure washer considers purchasing pure water equipment, the mentality is often that “bigger is better,” that more expensive equipment will permit them to accomplish work more profitably. However, while this is true of pressure washing, it is not necessarily true with window cleaning.

When selecting pure water equipment, there are two main questions to consider: How will I produce pure water and what type of pole should I buy?

How will I produce pure water? There are many options, and these can range in price from a simple deionization (DI) tank that costs under $200 to a multistage RODI unit with gas powered pumps that could cost several thousand dollars. While it’s easy to think that the more expensive unit would naturally be more profitable, that is not necessarily the case.

Photo courtesy of Matt Adwell, Adwell Services, www.AdwellServices.com

First, pure water is, well, pure. It does not get any purer than…pure. Therefore, there is no inherent advantage to cleaning with water that has been purified by a more expensive system. In fact, when space is a consideration (which is often the case in a vehicle full of pressure washing equipment), producing pure water with a small DI tank can preserve space and eliminate the need to have a vehicle dedicated to window cleaning. With so many choices, how will you know which one is right for you?

When choosing which purification system is best for you, the first thing you need to know is your local Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) reading. You can buy a TDS meter, which will give you a quick reading, or you can visit www.mylocaltds.com, enter your ZIP code (and/or a few neighboring ZIP codes), and see whether there is information about your locality. If so, you can click through to get very good information and advice on which purification

Photo courtesy of Nick Hopkins, Excess Cleaning – Exterior Cleaning Services, Gold Coast, Queensland, www.ExcessCleaning.com.au

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solution is best for you and what to expect in operating costs. Either way, once you know your local TDS reading, you will be able to choose the most efficient way to produce pure water.

If, for example, your TDS reading is under 150, you may consider a simple DI tank to produce pure water, since the resin will produce pure water for quite some time before it expires and must be replaced, especially if you are only using it occasionally. On the other hand, if you have a TDS reading of 400, that same resin in a DI tank would be expended quickly, and a multistage unit that includes RO might be a better option. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. For example, Perry Tait of Reach-iT (perry@futureofcleaning.com) and John Lee of Window Cleaning Resource (john@windowcleaningresource.com) are always happy to help business owners make educated decisions, as are many others within our industry.

What type of pole should I buy? There are

many options here as well. Lengths range from under 20’ to over 65’. In addition, materials vary, from inexpensive options like aluminum or fiberglass to pricier materials like 100 percent carbon fiber, high modulus carbon fiber, and even ultra-high modulus carbon fiber, and as a result prices range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Therefore, it is good to seek guidance to navigate the wide variety of choices.

The main factors to consider are: • What type of windows will I be cleaning? • How many stories do I need to access? • How often will I be using this pole?

Let’s address length first. While it may be tempting to buy a pole that can scrub the underside of the moon, if your clientele is mostly residential, this would likely be heavier than necessary, cumbersome to use, and take up more space than needed. Typically, 25 to 35 feet is sufficient for most residential window cleaning, and choosing a pole with a shorter

Photo courtesy of Len and Tina Sutton, Sea to Summit Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning, Inc., www.SeatoSummitPressureWashing.com

collapsed length will make it easier to use in cleaning houses. If, on the other hand, you will be cleaning commercial windows, you might consider a longer pole or one that allows you to buy additional sections if needed.

Next, you will want to choose a material and price range. Less expensive materials are heavier, less rigid, and require much more effort to use. While these might be an option for someone who only plans on cleaning windows occasionally, if you will be using your pure water pole regularly, a hybrid or 100-percent carbon fiber pole will be well worth the investment. Remember that these poles are useful for more than window cleaning. They can be used for pressure washing tasks as well, such as scrubbing gutters, and the more rigid and light the pole is, the easier it is to operate.

For guidance in making a good decision, www.waterfedwindowcleaning.com is an interactive website with a step-by-step questionnaire designed to help you decide what type of pole would best fit your needs.

Will I need traditional tools? While pure water window cleaning is all the rage, it does not replace traditional window cleaning. Occasionally you will find window styles that are not conducive to pure water window cleaning. In addition, pure water window cleaning is for exterior windows. If you plan on offering interior window cleaning, you will want at least some basic traditional window cleaning tools, such as squeegees, T-bars and covers, a bucket, soap, and some towels. While these tools may stay on the truck much of the time if you are only cleaning the exterior of modern windows, they are a necessity to own.

The Learning CurvePure water window cleaning is easier to

master and teach than traditional window cleaning. However, that does not mean that a pure water pole is some sort of “magic wand” and that windows will miraculously be clean simply by touching them. There is a learning curve, and this has led some to quickly give up, concluding that pure water window cleaning doesn’t work. That is simply not true. Remember, this is a tool, and as with most tools it takes some training and practice to get

Photo courtesy of Josh Sharp, iClean Window Cleaning Services, Marple, Stockport, U.K., https://www.facebook.com/icleanpropertymaintenance?fref=ts

“Pure Water Window Cleaning” 9

10 eClean Magazine

the desired results. Professional window cleaners around the world use pure water window cleaning to provide a high quality product every day, so it is simply a matter of taking the time to get it right.

Most people are able to learn the basics in anywhere from a couple of hours to a week. Once the skill is mastered, it is relatively easy to teach to employees. In addition, there is a free training program at www.waterfedpoletraining.com, where in a short time a person can learn why pure water window cleaning works, how to use and care for the tools, techniques that work, and how to operate a water fed pole safely.

Now, About the Money…Generally speaking, pressure washing

bills higher per hour than window cleaning. That said, the costs associated with window cleaning are substantially lower. Pricing varies around the country, but it is not unusual to bill $100 to $150 per hour or higher using pure water to clean exterior windows. Not too bad for a relatively small investment with a reasonable learning curve that can easily be taught to an employee.

Deciding whether or not to offer pure water window cleaning is a pressure washer’s dilemma that deserves to be weighed carefully. Individual markets vary, and operating costs differ from city to city. That said, it is not a dilemma that you need to face alone. Resources are readily available to assist you, both online and from knowledgeable individuals, and with a little research you can make a sound business decision about whether your business will offer pure water window cleaning.

Matt Adwell is the president of Adwell Services, a residential & commercial maintenance company based in Annapolis, MD, and has been cleaning windows professionally for the last 23 years.

(Top) Photo courtesy of Indira Brown, Empire Window Cleaning, www.EmpireKC.com(Bottom) Photo courtesy of Diego Garcia, Green Window Cleaning Services, Ltd., www.GreenWindowCleaning.net

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