How Does Water-Fed Pole Window Cleaning Work?

When we first heard about water-fed pole window cleaning, we thought it was too good to be true. The idea that windows can be left spotless and streak-free—without the use of any cleaners or chemicals, and from the safety of the ground—seemed ridiculous. But when we investigated it, we quickly invested in this new state-of-the-art window cleaning method. Like any new service we offer, I wanted to try it first. I took the 3-stage window cleaning unit to my own home and washed every exterior window. I couldn’t believe the results: the exterior windows were spotless and the amount of effort and danger was a fraction of the traditional method. As someone who has climbed ladders on thousands of homes, this is a game-changer!

This post is all about how 3-stage water-fed pole window cleaning works and why it’s so effective.

Step 1: Carbon Filtration

To purify the source water from your home, it first runs through a carbon filter treatment system, which uses activated carbon to remove the largest impurities and contaminants from the water. When water passes through the filter, the activated carbon absorbs certain contaminants. The carbon has a large surface area with many tiny pores which trap impurities such as chlorine, sediment, and organic matter. As a result, the water comes out cleaner and purer, reducing the risk of streaking or spotting on the windows. A carbon filter will not remove smaller impurities, especially if the water has high levels of minerals or other contaminants. That’s what the next two steps are for.

Step 2: Reverse Osmosis

Next, the water is passed through reverse osmosis (RO) filters, which remove smaller particles and contaminants. The process works by using high pressure to force the water through a semipermeable membrane. This allows water molecules to pass through, while blocking impurities such as minerals, bacteria, and viruses. The RO process does the bulk of the work in delivering perfectly pure water.

Step 3: Deionization

The final step in the water treatment process is deionization. This removes minerals, ions, and other charged particles from the water. These particles are the smallest and cannot be removed by carbon or reverse osmosis filtration. With deionization, water is passed through two ion exchange resin tanks. The first tank contains a cation resin that exchanges positively charged ions—such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium—for hydrogen ions. The second tank contains an anion resin that exchanges negatively charged ions—such as chloride, sulfate, and nitrate—for hydroxide ions. As the water flows through the ion exchange resins, mineral ions are removed and replaced with hydrogen and hydroxide ions, which combine to form pure water.

Using these three steps—carbon filtration, reverse osmosis, and deionization—helps ensure the water used to clean windows is as pure as possible. Some companies try to get by using only one of these filtration methods, but it takes all three to guarantee the water is free of impurities and minerals that cause streaks and spots on windows. Our 3-stage units could be called 5-stage because they also include a sediment and a chloramine filter.

So, while other companies are washing exterior windows the old-school way with ladders, squeegees, and chemicals, our crews are washing exterior windows the new-school way from the safety of the ground, with a water-fed pole and zero chemicals or cleaners. At The Gutter Boys Company, we will not use a product or offer a service unless we are 100 percent believers. This is not hype. It is truly a better way to clean windows and that’s why we’re so excited about it.

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