Water-Fed Pole Window Cleaning

A water-fed pole is a long, light pole with a soft brush and water jets at the head, fed by purified water from a system on the truck. The brush agitates the glass and frame, the purified water rinses it, and the glass is left to dry without being wiped.

Where it works well

• Elevated exterior glass on second and third floors, reached from ground level where the ground below is clear and stable
• Long runs of similar windows — office elevations, ribbon glass, apartment buildings
• Buildings where reducing ladder setups over landscaping, walkways or parking is worthwhile
• Frames and mullions, which get rinsed along with the glass
• Properties where speed matters and a large elevation has to be finished in one visit

Where we use something else instead

Pole work is not a universal answer. Deeply recessed windows, glass under wide overhangs, heavy construction residue, interior glass and detail work at entrances are usually better handled traditionally with a squeegee. Uneven ground, obstructions and overhead utilities can also rule out pole access on a given elevation. We assess before we commit to a method, and most commercial buildings end up cleaned with a mix.

Safety, stated honestly

Working from the ground removes some of the ladder setups a job would otherwise require, which is a real benefit on busy commercial sites. It does not eliminate every risk — poles are long, sites are active, and crews still work around traffic, utilities and pedestrians. Our crews plan access for each elevation rather than defaulting to one tool.