For the experts out there at what temperature do you typically stop using you pole? I have asked this before and got mixed answers. I would like to use it year round, but I am concerned about damage to the machine as well as icing up the siding as well as sidewalks.
Thanks
Chris,
In the past I have stopped because the hoses have frozen solid and its not possible.
This year I am putting a heater in the van that will keep things thawed. Also instead of using a DI tank or RO system in the vehicle, I am converting to a static system.
I am also going with hot water. The holding tank in the van will be filled with hot water in the morning and I’m planning on going out and working with that.
I’ll be happy to let you know how things work out.
I would imagine that even tho the water is hot while being fed through the pole and on the glass it could still cause some problems. You would still have ice on the side of buildings and on sidewalks. I’d love to use it year round but I would think its too much of a liability. Whats to stop someone from wandering around my work site after I’ve left, slipping on some ice I created and breaking their neck? Just seems too risky. Also, knowing my luck, this person slipping and falling could very well be me. :o
When the bristles on the brushes start to ice up its time to go home.
Where possible plan your days,clean the upper floors late afternoon the night before while its slightly warmer then return next morning to trad blade the ground floors with antifreeze in the bucket.
Try turning the flow rates down to minimize water on the pavements, its an aquired art. You can get by on less than you think.
Maybe sprinkle road salt/grit on the wet areas, we usually carry a container in the van. It kills flower beds and grass 
I’ve done a job using just a DI tank here in Iowa as late as the 2nd week of December. I wouldn’t want to try it any later than that w/out a setup like Shawn is talking about. I would also bring some ice melt for sidewalks just in case.
Water freezing on the siding is not an issue. As stated ice melt will take care of the side walks.
Last year in Nashville we cleaned windows with hot water at 22 degrees. There was ice on the building…
If you can keep uour unit and hose from freezing you can work.
In Germany they go to 14 degrees.
One thing to be careful about is cracking windows. You can’t do a building without the heat on. There needs to be a heat transference.
Worked yesterday with a morning temp of 7 and an afternoon high of 38.
My hot water system performed beautifully.
Without it I would have not made a dime.
This was a commercial gig and the water actually was evaporating before it could freeze to the brick below.
My biggest concern is the system and hoses being frozen in the morning. Also there is a heat loss from the hot water source to the pole so it has to be quite hot to begin with.
I found that using a 100ft 1/4"ID hose temp drop was from 95 degrees F to 77 deg F / 35 deg C to 25 deg C with an air temp of 5 deg C 40 deg F
If you use a larger bore hose then the temp loss will be less.
Hope this helps.
Jeff Brimble RUTHIN UK
do not let your DI freeze, it will crack the beads inside the tank and won’t be able to regenerate. As far as hot water goes, there is hot water mixbed(DI) you can use The normal mixbed can not take water that is too hot.
