Starting up in a hard water area

[TroyD]

Hi all,

Have just joined so not sure if in the right place. I am hoping to start up over the next few months with wfp and pressure washing. I have experience doing it but have not had experience in a hard water area with a reading of 340ppm. I have seen many different RO systems, would anyone have any recommendation on where to start with it? Should I just jump straight in and buy 1000L tank and RO system, if so which RO system and would this be too big of a jump if I have not got the wfp yet? Just wondering what you all think is the best starting point.

Many thanks,

Troy

 

[AW Services]

Hello Troy

Welcome to the forum
The first steps that I'd recommend is to get yourself a water pressure gauge that can be obtained from Screwfix, Toolstation etc
The are available in two fitting formats hoselock and 3/4 tap fitting.

The main information that goes towards finding the right system for your needs and business size

You've already add that your water is 340ppm which is a great start.

You'll need to know your mains water pressure to determine whether an RO would require an additional booster pump due to low pressure mains water.

There are many other members who know RO's better than myself so I'm sure they'll support your enquiry


Mains water pressure tester

Monument Tools Mains Water Pressure Test Gauge 11bar - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Excellent quality tool for testing mains water pressure. With ¾" BSP thread for fitting to taps. For washing machine taps only. 11bar maximum. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

I'm unsure on what tester you have for TDS but we always recommend that you have a genuine HM Digital tester as they are calibrated and many cheap ebay or amazon testers give extremely unreliable results

HM Digital TDS3 meter with thermometer and case from UK

HM digital TDS meter reading for window cleaning and pure water applications in London and UK

www.cleaningspot.co.uk

Have a look through the water fed pole thread and also use the search facility as you'll most likely find out more information


All the best
Austin

 

[AW Services]

Hello Troy

Welcome to the forum
The first steps that I'd recommend is to get yourself a water pressure gauge that can be obtained from Screwfix, Toolstation etc
The are available in two fitting formats hoselock and 3/4 tap fitting.

The main information that goes towards finding the right system for your needs and business size

You've already add that your water is 340ppm which is a great start.

You'll need to know your mains water pressure to determine whether an RO would require an additional booster pump due to low pressure mains water.

There are many other members who know RO's better than myself so I'm sure they'll support your enquiry


Mains water pressure tester

Monument Tools Mains Water Pressure Test Gauge 11bar - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Excellent quality tool for testing mains water pressure. With ¾" BSP thread for fitting to taps. For washing machine taps only. 11bar maximum. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

I'm unsure on what tester you have for TDS but we always recommend that you have a genuine HM Digital tester as they are calibrated and many cheap ebay or amazon testers give extremely unreliable results

HM Digital TDS3 meter with thermometer and case from UK

HM digital TDS meter reading for window cleaning and pure water applications in London and UK

www.cleaningspot.co.uk

Have a look through the water fed pole thread and also use the search facility as you'll most likely find out more information


All the best
Austin

Also to add: Doug at Daqua is the man for help and also sells all the products you'd need. https://www.daqua.co.uk/roproducts.htm

 

[Part Timer]

A lot of the above also depends on budget and room. If you can afford to get a decent R/O and have the room to store a1000l IBC then that will future proof you for quite some time.

 

[Pjj]

Give Doug at daqua a call he’s very knowledgeable sells quality kit at a reasonable price and won’t try and sell you stuff you don’t need ,his advice is second to none .

 

[spruce]

Hi all,

Have just joined so not sure if in the right place. I am hoping to start up over the next few months with wfp and pressure washing. I have experience doing it but have not had experience in a hard water area with a reading of 340ppm. I have seen many different RO systems, would anyone have any recommendation on where to start with it? Should I just jump straight in and buy 1000L tank and RO system, if so which RO system and would this be too big of a jump if I have not got the wfp yet? Just wondering what you all think is the best starting point.

Many thanks,

Troy

Daqua every time. He is a little more expensive as he sources top quality product, which is what window cleaners need. For example, there are cheaper Chinese manufactured membranes available, but they aren't as efficient. Less efficient membranes mean spending more money on resin to polish the pure off.
Do the suppliers you see cater for the drinks and aquatics industries, for example? The water they use doesn't need to be as pure as possible. They also add another filter to make their purified water taste better. We don't need that.

It will be as the sales saying goes; "the bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the joy of a low price." This is certainly true with regard to window cleaning products in our industry imho.

 

[TroyD]

Many thanks for all your replies.

Main idea will be to get 1000L IBC.

Get RO system from Daqua and see how I get on. Still in early days but I don’t want to jump in buying all the wrong things, will obviously make mistakes but trying to limit them !

Really pleased that you have all taken the time to respond. Many thanks to all.

 

[AW Services]

Many thanks for all your replies.

Main idea will be to get 1000L IBC.

Get RO system from Daqua and see how I get on. Still in early days but I don’t want to jump in buying all the wrong things, will obviously make mistakes but trying to limit them !

Really pleased that you have all taken the time to respond. Many thanks to all.

An IBC would definitely set you up the right way. As for water transfer then you could add an IBC course 1" threaded outlet cap to a transfer pump with ease.

Double check your TDS and water pressure then give daqua a call and tell him what you would like and he'll see you right

One other useful tip: I know we are heading into summer but think about winterproofing & frost protection. Where you will have your system operating plus mains power and water supply along with drainage

 

[Jaygti]

Personally, if I were starting up, I’d just get my water from spotless to start with.

If after a few months you think you can make a go of it, and your starting to build a customer base, then I’d start thinking about producing it yourself
Then your not wasting money.

 

[spruce]

On the subject of Spotless Water, I see that they are still advertising a pickup point at the old Teesside Window Cleaners site in Middlesbrough. That can't be right, surely.

 

[Part Timer]

On the subject of Spotless Water, I see that they are still advertising a pickup point at the old Teesside Window Cleaners site in Middlesbrough. That can't be right, surely.

I was down there 3 months ago and it was working. Shop was all locked up and a for sale or for let sign up.

 

[spruce]

I was down there 3 months ago and it was working. Shop was all locked up and a for sale or for let sign up.

OK, but there was a 'threatening' post from Harun after that for an unpaid water bill. I just wondered.

 

[Part Timer]

OK, but there was a 'threatening' post from Harun after that for an unpaid water bill. I just wondered.

Don't really think he's in a position to threaten anyone. Spotless have sites countrywide and I'm fairly sure they'll keep to the terms of the agreed contract.

 

[TroyD]

Personally, if I were starting up, I’d just get my water from spotless to start with.

If after a few months you think you can make a go of it, and your starting to build a customer base, then I’d start thinking about producing it yourself
Then your not wasting money.

Thought about this but it isn’t sustainable in the long run as the nearest spotless is about 30 mins away. But I think first few trips I will do that

 

[Scrubsy]

I was down there 3 months ago and it was working. Shop was all locked up and a for sale or for let sign up.

@Part Timer Do you know what ever happened with this? I've seen that Harun fella on a Facebook group putting up a video of filming window cleaners in a shopping centre in Pakistan. I wondered if he'd done a disappearing act and not come back.

 

[Part Timer]

@Part Timer Do you know what ever happened with this? I've seen that Harun fella on a Facebook group putting up a video of filming window cleaners in a shopping centre in Pakistan. I wondered if he'd done a disappearing act and not come back.

I haven't been down since December but he was on here the other day. Now if that was in the UK or Pakistan I don't know.
If he was posting about things going on in Pakistan then he has probably gone over there.

 

[Scrubsy]

I haven't been down since December but he was on here the other day. Now if that was in the UK or Pakistan I don't know.
If he was posting about things going on in Pakistan then he has probably gone over there.

@Part Timer I'm not local to him but I remember seeing the story of what happened to the window cleaner and then the business suddenly closing etc. Very sad state of affairs.

 

[spruce]

I haven't been down since December but he was on here the other day. Now if that was in the UK or Pakistan I don't know.
If he was posting about things going on in Pakistan then he has probably gone over there.

He gave a like to one of my recent posts, but as you say, he could be anywhere in the world.

 

[spruce]

@Part Timer I'm not local to him but I remember seeing the story of what happened to the window cleaner and then the business suddenly closing etc. Very sad state of affairs.

The corporate wheels of justice turn very slowly.

Corporate Manslaughter - A Guide for Businesses and Individuals

Corporate Manslaughter in the UK - A must-read guide for every responsible business leader! By Stuart Miller's defence lawyers.

www.stuartmillersolicitors.co.uk

These cases can take several years to come to court, as there is usually a lot of investigation into the accident and the culture of the company with regard to following Health and Safety procedures.

There was a case in Northallerton (not far from us) where a young roofer fell from a flat roof and died. He wasn't wearing a safety harness or any other safety protection. It took 2 years for the case to come to court. The owner of the company pleaded guilty. The owner was fined £160,000 for failing to adhere to health and safety. I don't know if that fine was paid or not. Harun may feel that as a limited company, there is no money left in the business to pay a fine, so he isn't financially affected. However, if found guilty, he faces a jail sentence.

So I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't in the country now. All his assets have been disposed of. I seem to remember that the house he lived in, in Eston, belonged to his father.

In one of his posts, he said he was going to go into IT. IT in India usually involves scams, so my mind is working overtime, especially as he has been done for scamming people using Ebay in his younger days.

IT student from Middlesbrough admits to eBay fraud

A student has admitted being part of an internet scam targeting Teesside people selling goods on eBay

www.gazettelive.co.uk

 

[Clean Pro]

Hi all,

Have just joined so not sure if in the right place. I am hoping to start up over the next few months with wfp and pressure washing. I have experience doing it but have not had experience in a hard water area with a reading of 340ppm. I have seen many different RO systems, would anyone have any recommendation on where to start with it? Should I just jump straight in and buy 1000L tank and RO system, if so which RO system and would this be too big of a jump if I have not got the wfp yet? Just wondering what you all think is the best starting point.

Many thanks,

Troy

In Canada, I also barter with local water stores, cleaning for equivalent RO water into my 250L tank. Have 3 stores, rarely use my RO cart

 

[Scrubsy]

I know if that fine was paid or not. Harun may feel that as a limited company, there is no money left in the business to pay a fine, so he isn't financially affected. However, if found guilty, he faces a jail sentence.

So I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't in the country now. All his assets have been disposed of. I seem to remember that the house he lived in, in Eston, belonged to his father.

In one of his posts, he said he was going to go into IT. IT in India usually involves scams, so my mind is working overtime, especially as he has been done for scamming people using Ebay in his younger days.

IT student from Middlesbrough admits to eBay fraud

A student has admitted being part of an internet scam targeting Teesside people selling goods on eBay

www.gazettelive.co.uk

@spruce Good grief. I can't believe the lengths some people will go to for money, and then far worse that somebody has died because of their company's neglect. Some people have absolutely no shame whatsoever. I think you are right he's disappeared out of the country and my guess would be he'll never come back.