Water Fed Pole – Buying Guide for Window Cleaners

How to choose the right water fed pole for you?

What length of water fed pole will I need?

We recommend an 18-25ft water fed pole for use while cleaning the majority of residential properties. This would cover all ground and 1st floor windows.

For 2nd floor windows or to reach velux windows we would suggest looking at a 30ft-35ft pole.

Another factor to consider when selecting a new water fed pole is the collapsed length of the pole. You will need to make sure the pole will fit into your vehicle during transport, you should also consider the length of the collapsed pole when it comes to cleaning in restricted areas, such as an alleyway.

We offer 4ft & 8ft mini poles that are ideal in tighter areas or for ground floor cleaning. Our HEX range of poles come with a slightly reduced collapsed length compared to most other poles on the market.

What type of pole material is right for me?

It’s important to consider what material the water fed pole is manufactured from, as this could make a huge difference to the overall performance of the pole, or the cleaning experience.

Our Fibre Glass poles are only usable for short periods of time, as they are the heaviest and most flexible across the entire pole range. For someone looking to be a professional window cleaner we suggest the minimum pole material you should consider would be a hybrid (mixture of fibre glass & carbon fibre). If you can afford a full carbon fibre pole you would not regret paying the difference in price, you will appreciate the added rigidity and lower weights full carbon poles offer while the pole is in your hands on a daily basis.

It’s worth noting that there are different grades of carbon fibre poles available, poles with a high modulus rating will be stiffer, lighter compared to standard 100% carbon poles.

You may want to consider the durability of the pole when making your decision. In general our mid range Hybrid & Carbon poles have increased durability compared to our high end Carbon Nano poles. So a Hybrid pole maybe the better choice for a heavy handed new employee, whereas a Carbon Nano pole would be more advisable if the user looked after their equipment and was willing to maintain, or clean the pole to reduce the overall wear over time.

What is the cost of a water fed pole?

Our water fed poles range in price depending on the size and material it’s constructed from.

Our 18ft Hybrid water fed poles start off in price from £130+vat, whereas our 72ft Carbon Nano pole retails at £2,250+vat.

Most professional window cleaners spend on average between £300 & £500 on their day to day pole. A commercial window cleaner may have to invest more in a selection of poles that work at different heights compared to a cleaner who only offers residential cleaning.

What sort of maintenance will I need to do on the pole?

Water fed poles do wear over time, this is mainly caused by dirt and grit getting dragged up the internal hose pipe and sticking to the inside of the pole section. The action of extending and retracting the pole over many months will start to cause wear on the sections and clamps. Our clamps offer the ability to be tightened as and when required, or they can easily be replaced to help extend the life of the pole.

The best way to maintain and extend the life of the pole is to regularily clean or flush any dirt from inside the sections. Also extending the pole and wiping each section with a microfibre cloth on a weekly basis will help. Another option is to spray PTFE spray onto the sections every now and again, this helps to lubricate the sections and remove any build up of dust or dirt.

How long should a water fed pole last?

Our customers see an average lifespan of between 3-5 years from their water fed poles. The lifespan of the pole will be influenced by the way it is maintained, or looked after.

A water fed pole will have a longer lifespan if it is cleaned from debris/dirt on a regular basis.

Damage to water fed poles is mainly incurred by the pole sections getting knocked or impacted while in use, this is the other main factor that could reduce the poles lifespan, or require replacement sections to be purchased.

“If you look after your pole it will look after you!”

What type of pole hose should I get?

We offer 2 types of pole hose, both are designed to be fed and used internally within our poles. You can run the hose externally to the pole if you prefer.

Our pole hose has an internal diameter of 5mm and can be cut to any desired length. As standard you would find 1-2 meters of exposed hose once you have the water fed pole fully extended.

Microflex Pole Hose – This is a dual layered braided orange hose, it’s a soft hose that is easy to manage, but does stretch slightly, so not the best choice if you want to use a Univalve.

X-Tube Pole Hose – This is a single layered PU hose with a smooth outer core. The hose is very durable and will not stretch, so best to be used in conjunction with a Univalve.