What would you do

[Bryce C]

if you had a truckmount in New England but no garage to store it in over the winter? I am considering renting a climate controlled storage unit for December through March and just shutting it down and reverting to my portable and trailer setup those months. Then using a small heater and wireless temp monitor in November and April but still using the truckmount those months since the ground isn't frozen and I can still dump recovery water.

I could run some windshield washer fluid through the system and keep it in my driveway covered with a small space heater inside and a Marcell wireless temp monitor to prevent any issues if the heater fails from November through March. From what I understand even winterizing it with windshield washer fluid shouldn't be considered good enough, there is still water in between fitting threads and other places that should still avoid freezing temps if possible. If it is in my driveway I could uncover it and run it occassionally to stretch her legs and keep things moving on warm days...

Running it on jobs mid-winter seems out of the question even if I get climate controlled storage close by because I have no where to dump when the ground is frozen. I need a heated garage with a drain built into it to do that I think. Unless I find a car wash close to the climate controlled storage... And I'm at least a year or two away from buying a home and setting that up. What do you guys think? What would you do?

 

[Mikey P]

I would look for a nearby opportunity to store it in a garage or warehouse, giving up much needed revenue for 4 months is delaying your growth at best, and making your irritable and feeling horrible for hacking away with a Porty now that you know better.

 

[BIG WOOD]

I rarely have a problem with using my tm all year, but I'm down here in Georgia, so I'm not a reliable source of advice on this topic.

I hope some of the northerners give some good info on running your tm all year. It can be done. I think Saiger has a YouTube video on the process for working in super cold climates. Can someone attach that video on this thread?

 

[Bryce C]

I rarely have a problem with using my tm all year, but I'm down here in Georgia, so I'm not a reliable source of advice on this topic.

I hope some of the northerners give some good info on running your tm all year. It can be done. I think Saiger has a YouTube video on the process for working in super cold climates. Can someone attach that video on this thread?

I think I can handle running it on jobs, aside from dumping. Pop a male quick connect in the solution line and crack the ball valve in a bathtub or something to keep hot water running through the lines. Have everything sprayed and move quickly when we begin extraction. I may need to get my APO running and pump waste water into their toilet imagine. Unless I plan stops at car washes I have relationships with on my routes. But I need to address the most important things first. Right now I am concerned about storing it somewhere that I can work on it, and even small things like rinsing out my screen filter in my recovery tank. Seems like having climate controlled storage with a drain in the floor and water connections will be important. Something I doubt Saiger addresses is my specific problem of not having climate controlled storage with running water and a drain in the floor because he has a climate controlled shop with all the above...

 

[Bryce C]

I would look for a nearby opportunity to store it in a garage or warehouse, giving up much needed revenue for 4 months is delaying your growth at best, and making your irritable and feeling horrible for hacking away with a Porty know that you know better.

Good call about possibly using a warehouse too. I need to get in touch with local folks asap. Maybe I can post in FB community groups, although I am hesitant to air out my business insufficiencies in local community groups. I suppose I can be fairly vague and just see if folks have space with the appropriate utilities available, then personally disclose more in my private conversations with them...

 

[they live]

I ran a heater in my van parked in my driveway a couple years.
During heavy snowfall it would melt the snow on top and freeze the whole thing solid.
A carport helped that.
Definitely try to find heated storage.
Dumping isn't an issue though. The ground will thaw as your dumping. Don't dump in a car wash unless you have permission.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

I ran a heater in my van parked in my driveway a couple years.
During heavy snowfall it would melt the snow on top and freeze the whole thing solid.
A carport helped that.
Definitely try to find heated storage.
Dumping isn't an issue though. The ground will thaw as your dumping. Don't dump in a car wash unless you have permission.

Good advice from Steve

We have a local car wash that this sign posted in it:

"Attention carpet cleaners! You are on camera, and if I see any of you dumping your stinking waste water here, I am going to call the police on you!"

 

[Dwain Ray]

if you had a truckmount in New England but no garage to store it in over the winter? I am considering renting a climate controlled storage unit for December through March and just shutting it down and reverting to my portable and trailer setup those months. Then using a small heater and wireless temp monitor in November and April but still using the truckmount those months since the ground isn't frozen and I can still dump recovery water.

I could run some windshield washer fluid through the system and keep it in my driveway covered with a small space heater inside and a Marcell wireless temp monitor to prevent any issues if the heater fails from November through March. From what I understand even winterizing it with windshield washer fluid shouldn't be considered good enough, there is still water in between fitting threads and other places that should still avoid freezing temps if possible. If it is in my driveway I could uncover it and run it occassionally to stretch her legs and keep things moving on warm days...

Running it on jobs mid-winter seems out of the question even if I get climate controlled storage close by because I have no where to dump when the ground is frozen. I need a heated garage with a drain built into it to do that I think. Unless I find a car wash close to the climate controlled storage... And I'm at least a year or two away from buying a home and setting that up. What do you guys think? What would you do?

There's alot of good advice i have that i can share with you, however for this subject i have none. I live in California and my shop is within sight of the ocean which keeps temperatures mild all year long. It'll be in the high 90's 40 minutes inland but a comfortable 63 here today and it seldom drops below the low 40@ winter nights. Last month started my 48th year in business of that ive been in my shop for 39 of those years. When i first got my shop it was out of necessity. I was told by a landlord eighter my vehicles or i had to go. It was scary at first, i didn't think i could afford another set of bills rent,water,power,insurance etc.etc.but as it turns out was one of the best things to happen. Suddenly i had a place outa the weather to work on and maintain equipment vans are stored inside and stay cleaner and last alot longer. Just think,If you had a shop when you just painted your van there would have been fewer things for your wife to pick outa the paint.and you wouldn't have been so rushed to get it done before it got dark.In short i love having a shop. And i can't imagine being without it. If i were to do it over i would get a space with a higher ceiling and taller doors and with that ida had a lift installed!

 

[Dwain Ray]

Good call about possibly using a warehouse too. I need to get in touch with local folks asap. Maybe I can post in FB community groups, although I am hesitant to air out my business insufficiencies in local community groups. I suppose I can be fairly vague and just see if folks have space with the appropriate utilities available, then personally disclose more in my private conversations with them...

I read this somewhere "ask and you shall receive " wish i could remember where that was??

 

[they live]

You should know your local dump laws. While dumping at customers homes may seem inappropriate it may be the law. Dumping everything at home can create a ground water issue.
You can contact your local waste treatment plant about dumping waste water too. They probably have a place set up for RVs to dump that you could probably use as long as you filter the water while you dump.

 

[Bryce C]

Good advice from Steve

We have a local car wash that this sign posted in it:

"Attention carpet cleaners! You are on camera, and if I see any of you dumping your stinking waste water here, I am going to call the police on you!"

That is good advice. I'd always ask them first regardless. If I see a sign like that I'll kindly introduce myself and let the manager know that we don't have waste water but rather recovery water, and see if they would be interested in a crispy ten dollar bill each time we need to use their hole in the ground for our carpet nectar

 

[Bryce C]

Hey Matt, thanks for the advice about recovery water. Sorry for being an idiot

 

[Jim Pemberton]

That is good advice. I'd always ask them first regardless. If I see a sign like that I'll kindly introduce myself and let the manager know that we don't have waste water but rather recovery water, and see if they would be interested in a crispy ten dollar bill each time we need to use their hole in the ground for our carpet nectar

What some cleaners who I know do is this:

1. They find out if the car wash is locally owned, and get the contact number.

2. They pay a personal visit, armed with SDS sheet for their primary prespray and rinse, and discuss the amount of dilute product actually present. Make SURE they know you aren't disposing of oil, solvents, anything highly toxic, corrossive, or caustic.

3. They ask the owner what he thinks would be fair. (It doesn't matter what you or anyone else thinks is fair....if he doesn't think it is fair, it is a non-starter). Once you establish that, tell them you will also pay for the amount of a wash as well, and you can wash your truck or just let it run. On top of that, carpet at their home gets done once a year.

4. Result? The extreme generosity on your part makes a business friend for life, and usually gets more business from everyone they know for the incredible honesty you show.

 

[Bryce C]

What some cleaners who I know do is this:

1. They find out if the car wash is locally owned, and get the contact number.

2. They pay a personal visit, armed with SDS sheet for their primary prespray and rinse, and discuss the amount of dilute product actually present. Make SURE they know you aren't disposing of oil, solvents, anything highly toxic, corrossive, or caustic.

3. They ask the owner what he thinks would be fair. (It doesn't matter what you or anyone else thinks is fair....if he doesn't think it is fair, it is a non-starter). Once you establish that, tell them you will also pay for the amount of a wash as well, and you can wash your truck or just let it run. On top of that, carpet at their home gets done once a year.

4. Result? The extreme generosity on your part makes a business friend for life, and usually gets more business from everyone they know for the incredible honesty you show.

That is sage advice Jim. I'll map out car washes with my Ideal Customer Portfolio in each zone of my service area and get on it asap. Thanks bud!

 

[Bryce C]

There's alot of good advice i have that i can share with you, however for this subject i have none. I live in California and my shop is within sight of the ocean which keeps temperatures mild all year long. It'll be in the high 90's 40 minutes inland but a comfortable 63 here today and it seldom drops below the low 40@ winter nights. Last month started my 48th year in business of that ive been in my shop for 39 of those years. When i first got my shop it was out of necessity. I was told by a landlord eighter my vehicles or i had to go. It was scary at first, i didn't think i could afford another set of bills rent,water,power,insurance etc.etc.but as it turns out was one of the best things to happen. Suddenly i had a place outa the weather to work on and maintain equipment vans are stored inside and stay cleaner and last alot longer. Just think,If you had a shop when you just painted your van there would have been fewer things for your wife to pick outa the paint.and you wouldn't have been so rushed to get it done before it got dark.In short i love having a shop. And i can't imagine being without it. If i were to do it over i would get a space with a higher ceiling and taller doors and with that ida had a lift installed!

View attachment 132021

Dang that's some nice temperate weather you have there Dwain. And a sweet shop. I suppose I have been holding out for a dream of buying a home and building a sweet shop on my own property. If you could do it all over again would you still rent a space like what you have or maybe build it on your own property? Of course with the higher ceiling and taller doors included...

I read this somewhere "ask and you shall receive " wish i could remember where that was??

The good Lord said something just like it! If only we'd ask for good things, like he'd want...

 

[Bryce C]

You should know your local dump laws. While dumping at customers homes may seem inappropriate it may be the law. Dumping everything at home can create a ground water issue.
You can contact your local waste treatment plant about dumping waste water too. They probably have a place set up for RVs to dump that you could probably use as long as you filter the water while you dump.

Good call I'll do that. Thanks!

 

[they live]

I had a deal with one car wash owner to come clean the floor drains a couple times a year. He hated doing it and that was his concern of me dumping there.

 

[Bryce C]

I had a deal with one car wash owner to come clean the floor drains a couple times a year. He hated doing it and that was his concern of me dumping there.

I'm spread out over such a large rural area I'll have to strike deals like this with several car washes. May end up being a lot of work for not so much dumping on my end. How often do you dump at the car wash? Is it just when customers ask you not to do it at their home?

 

[Bryce C]

Last month started my 48th year in business of that ive been in my shop for 39 of those years.

Epic, congratulations man. That's some real time in the biz. Especially being crafty and handy all that time..

 

[they live]

I'm spread out over such a large rural area I'll have to strike deals like this with several car washes. May end up being a lot of work for not so much dumping on my end. How often do you dump at the car wash? Is it just when customers ask you not to do it at their home?

It was my first couple years and it was close to home. I was still working a full time job.
I had a code enforcement officer stop while I was dumping at home and he went off on me so I was looking for a solution.
It was after cleaning the drains I started filtering my dump water and started dumping at the treatment plant.
It was out of the way but solved my problem.
I had a clean out installed at my house close to my driveway that I dump in now. I use those blue plastic filters as I dump. It solved the issue again.
I have floor drains in my shop that I had built a few years ago but haven't hooked them up to anything yet.

 

[Bryce C]

It was my first couple years and it was close to home. I was still working a full time job.
I had a code enforcement officer stop while I was dumping at home and he went off on me so I was looking for a solution.
It was after cleaning the drains I started filtering my dump water and started dumping at the treatment plant.
It was out of the way but solved my problem.
I had a clean out installed at my house close to my driveway that I dump in now. I use those blue plastic filters as I dump. It solved the issue again.
I have floor drains in my shop that I had built a few years ago but haven't hooked them up to anything yet.

I don't know what the blue plastic filters are. All my recovery water passes through this screen. Are you filtering it through something finer than this?

 

[they live]

Probably similar. But not as clean.
Ive noticed the lift station doesn't stink much anymore though. Maybe they fixed something but I've wondered if me dumping hundreds of gallons a week keeps it cleaner.
I have neighbors that I dont get along with who are illegally tapped into my drain by the road. They can't figure out why they have plumbing issues since I had my line installed. I think my water is pushing into their drain when I dump. Its kind of funny to me. I see plumbers over there a lot. They have gotten angry about it and yelled at me for it.

 

[scotty747]

I dump mine on the side of my driveway everyday, add odorcide or something to keep it from stinking in the sun. Washington wants it dumped on the ground or sanitary sewer. It finally filled up the other day and shut off, freaked me out. I just threw a hose on ran it under the van and dumped then went back to work. Check your local and state laws. I was also at an empty school with no one around.

 

[they live]

I don't know what the blue plastic filters are. All my recovery water passes through this screen. Are you filtering it through something finer than this?

View attachment 132031

I only use it for dumping.

 

[KevinD]

I'm spread out over such a large rural area I'll have to strike deals like this with several car washes. May end up being a lot of work for not so much dumping on my end. How often do you dump at the car wash? Is it just when customers ask you not to do it at their home?

If you are in a rural area you won't need to strike a deal with anyone lol.

 

[Bryce C]

If you are in a rural area you won't need to strike a deal with anyone lol.

Good call. It's not all rural though, just mostly. There are a few slightly populated areas scattered that we wander into. I'll just establish relationships in those areas for the few situations where we'd need them.