How does the weather affect the professionals?

[Torque454]

Since I am starting a new business I would like to know something about how the weather effects us guys that do pressure washing for a living. Right now i have two people wanting a quote but there is no rain-free days as far as the weatherman can see.

Now, I am not afraid to work in the rain, I wont melt, but it wouldnt be my preference. What do you guys do? Put on a rain suit and work anyways? Or tell the customer you cant do it right now due to the weather. I could see working in light rain, but once it really starts pouring, its time to stop. Do you arrive at the site and wait for the rain to let up, or if you are working and get caught in it do you stop and wait for it to let up, or get to a stopping point and pack it up. Obviously if there is a tornado, thunderstorm, blizzard, etc you wont be working. That would sort of be a death wish.

What about cold weather? The threat of cold weather has passed here for 6 months or so but atleast ill know what most guys do when the time comes next year. I would assume that if its below freezing point that you will not work. For safetys sake and the sake of your equipment. If it is constantly below freezing for a while, what do you do in the off-season when you cant wash?

 

[tordell]

I normally try not to work in the rain at all, unless it's just a small shower or something. I try to know the weather in advance, i know i know but i try, and schedule work around when we're supposed to have rain showers here. I don't have the trailer mounted equipment, yet, like alot of the guys on the forum here do, so working in the rain might effect me more so than them. To get jobs done, i have just left my machine in my van, so it's covered, and run just the hoses i needed out and did the job, but it's not fun, but i guess it's better than running around trying to dodge the rain drops. [spin]

Anyway, i don't know if that's helpful to your or not, it's just what I do.

Dave