Disinfectant Services

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Top Franchise 2017

Disinfectant Services

The world certainly changed a lot this year and with the introduction of social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing and sanitizing to protect us from COVID-19 came into our day to day life.

Early in the story of COVID-19 this year, we were getting requests from some of our commercial clients on if we could help them out and provide disinfectant services to their properties, so we started the process of introducing this as a service to Gutter-Vac for, in particular, our commercial customers.

This wasn’t a fast process and we wanted to do it right.  It is simply not a matter of going out to a property and splashing about a lot of chemicals and in fact, if someone says they can do this, then stop and run away as this is an extremely dangerous practice if not done correctly.

The first thing we had to find was a chemical that was effective (and to date, no chemical can be said to prevent COVID-19.

We use a chemical called BactaExTM that will kill 99.99% of viruses and bacteria (the highest rating you can get), but at the same time it is a food grade chemical.  That is, it is safe to use in food preparation areas, which also means it is safe to pets and children.  We didn’t want to use a chemical that would be harmful, expect to kill off a virus of course!

When doing a disinfectant service we must use all the protective personal equipment (PPE) such as a suit, gloves, mask – not because of the chemical we use, but to protect us in case the virus is present in the premises we are about to disinfect.  So many people get concerned when they see us ‘suit up’, worried that the chemical will be harmful to them, but it is not to protect us from the chemical, but to protect us from a possible virus infection present.

So once we found the right disinfectant to use, we set about having the right equipment and the correct training for our franchisees.  This is why we say you need to be wary of people offering to do disinfectant services that are not from reputable companies.  Did you know that there is even a government introduced code of conduct for disinfectant services?  If the company you are about to use doesn’t know that there is a code of conduct, then likely they are not doing the service correctly.

The final piece of the puzzle was to have all the correct documentation for us and for you.  This included the correct legal documents and waivers to provide this service PLUS the correct insurances.  To get insurance on providing such a service is no small task and if a company doesn’t offer insurance, then this is another point to ring an alarm bell because after going through the process to be able to get insurance, you certainly have to have EVERYTHING done correctly so it is a good quick question to know if a company is providing the service correctly and legitimately. 

So after a lot of work in a short amount of time, Gutter-Vac can now provide a disinfectant service for your premises.  This service is obviously not provided by all of our franchisees at this stage as they have not yet all gone through the training, but they are working together with neighbouring franchisees that are trained to provide the service so can pass you to the closest franchisee who can help you with your disinfectant services.

If you are requiring a service, then please fill in our request a quote form and we can get the closest trained franchisee to contact you in regards to your disinfectant service required. 

Spring Clean Your Solar Panels

Ah you have to love a good spring clean.

We all know a bit of spring-cleaning is good for the soul. And it is also good for your Solar!  

Spring time brings about the excitement of a fresh start, and welcomes the opportunity to carry out your home maintenance tasks so your home is all set for outdoor entertaining.

It is no secret that dirt and dust-buildup can reduce the efficiency of your solar panels. Dirty panels reflect light away, which is the opposite of what is ideal!

Okay, but what about the rain giving them a good dusting/washing off you may ask?

Well if we are lucky enough to get some decent rain in Queensland, unfortunately it isn’t really a sufficient cleaner.

Some people say the rain does a good enough job, but this is not the case. It’s like washing a car. The rain can wash off some excess dust to a certain extent, but doesn’t do a great job at the end of the day.

This is especially the case if you have birdlife depositing droppings that are hard to remove. Or if you live in an area in Brisbane prone to heavy dust such as near the airport or somewhere that gets a sea breeze.

While it is blissful to enjoy a good sea breeze, sea salt residue can have an impact on your solar panel’s performance. Pollen and debris buildup can also have a detrimental effect.

It can be difficult to see this from the ground so it is best to get a heights safety professional to have a look and perform a thorough clean.

Also if the panels lie flat on the roof, excess rainwater can pool on top of them. When the water evaporates there is usually a layer of dirt and grime left behind. This can reduce the amount of sunlight being absorbed by the panel.

If you can see your solar panels from ground level, you may be able to see if they need a clean. Another way to check is by monitoring your inverter. You may see a decrease in energy output if your panels need a clean.

If it suits your circumstances and roof design, it is possible to clean your panels from the ground. You will need a suitable hose nozzle, and an extendable soft brush and squeegee is good to use. Sometimes harder to remove matter such as bird droppings proves to be quite a mission to DIY from the ground however. 

It is important to remember that extreme care should be taken if surfaces are slippery or wet working at a height. Do not attempt to clean them from a height yourself! It is not worth the risk and is definitely a job for the professionals.

So how does Gutter-Vac clean your solar panels?

We avoid using harsh chemicals on your panels as this can be very damaging. Even pure soap may leave a film behind, disrupting the solar panels’ level of efficiency.

Using anything too abrasive brush wise can scratch the solar panels which can cast shadows, and you won’t get the most out of your system.

Hard water can leave mineral deposits behind. Using distilled or demineralised water will prevent streaking and get the job done to the best standard. Gutter-Vac uses a soft vacuum brush and demineralised water.

Generally speaking, it is a good idea to have your solar panels cleaned every 6 months for optimised efficiency. This can depend on a number of factors such as where you live, and the angle of your solar panels. Feel free to give us a call if your have any further questions regarding this.