Drone Window Cleaning: The Benefits of an Innovative Cleaning Options For Your Business
Drone window cleaning takes window care to a whole new level. Ever since windows were invented back in the 13th century, people have been facing the problem of keeping them clean and shiny. In the past couple of decades, commercial window cleaning has changed dramatically. New technologies revolutionized the approach, boosted safety, and simplified the cleaning of windows.
One of the new window-cleaning innovations is drones. They can take care of extremely tall, irregularly-shaped buildings that humans can't access easily. But how practical are these robotic cleaning tools?
Pritchard Industry has been staying up to date with the latest window cleaning technology and implementing them in its commercial cleaning services . Let's take a closer look at the effectiveness of drone window cleaning for your facility.
Drone Window Cleaning Services
A drone window cleaning service is the process of using drones to apply a cleaning solution to the exterior windows and remove it with a squeegee automatically.
While drone cleaning can't achieve the same precision and cleanliness as humans can, they can simplify window cleaners' work and wash windows in hard-to-reach places.
Drones can vary in size and functionality, but their work principle is the same. These machines fly up to the window, spray the window cleaning solution, and wipe it with a squeegee.
Today, two types of window-cleaning drones exist:
- Semi Autonomous drone – this drone has a camera through which the pilot sees where dirty windows are. The human operative guides the drone to the window and pushes buttons to spray the cleaning solution and use the squeegee.
- Autonomous drone – this type of drone is still in the works. Ideally, it should fly from the command center to the designated building, apply the cleaning solution, and use a squeegee without a pilot operating it from the ground.
Complex window-cleaning drones come with LTE and 5G connectivity so it's possible to operate them from any distance.
In the future, the ideal window-washing advanced drones will do all the cleaning work without human involvement. All a window washing specialist would need to do is press a button to send drones to their destination.
While new technologies are changing the future of commercial cleaning , using drones for window washing has its pros and cons.
Robotic window washers are yet to achieve the same level of cleanliness as human window-washing specialists can. That's why some window washers use window-cleaning drones as assistants.
The drone can carry the equipment, spray the window cleaning solution, and do squeegee runs. Next, the human window cleaning expert finishes the job to ensure sparkling glass.
Drone Window Cleaner vs Traditional Methods
The effectiveness of drone window cleaning can be impressive if you consider how it simplifies human work. While current drones may have some precision and cleaning quality issues, the technologies are constantly improving.
The key benefits of using a drone window washer include:
- Ability to reach hard-to-access places – many window cleaning drones can fly up to 350 – 400 feet (that's the height of the Empire State Building). This makes them extremely useful for high-rise window cleaning. They can also clean hard-to-access spaces that scaffolding, ladders, and extension poles can't reach.
- Ability to clean multiple windows at once – a drone can service as many windows in the building as its battery charge allows. Unlike human window washers whose scope is limited by scaffolding or pulleys and baskets, drones fly freely and access all windows in the building.
- High-quality results – while drones can't achieve ideal cleanliness, they can provide high-quality results for tall buildings. They use green cleaning solutions to minimize adverse impacts on the environment.
- Saving time by speeding up the process – a drone can clean one window in just a couple of minutes. It would take a human window cleaning specialist much longer to achieve the same results, especially if you include the time needed to set up the equipment.
- Cost-efficiency – a window cleaning company would only need to invest in the drone and pay the drone pilot's salary. Compared to paying window cleaners' salaries, buying insurance, and purchasing a big variety of equipment, the total costs are much lower.
- Benefits of cameras and sensors – drone cameras and sensors can help identify dirty spots and ensure better cleaning quality.
- No human life is at risk – a window washer is a high-risk profession . Every day window cleaning experts face the risk of sustaining serious injuries and even death. Using a drone eliminates human risk and reduces insurance costs dramatically.
Overall, drones maximize the benefits of commercial cleaning services for businesses by cutting costs, saving time, and ensuring excellent results.
Drone Window Cleaning Service - Financial Benefits
Compared to traditional window cleaning, the costs of implementing drone window washers are usually lower. With a drone, window cleaning companies can save money on:
High-Rise Cleaning Equipment
To ensure OSHA-complaint safety for window cleaners, a company has to invest in all types of equipment and safety gear, including:
- Scaffolding
- Rope descent systems
- Ladders
- Mobile lifts
- Baskets
All of this doesn't just require a sizable initial investment. The equipment needs regular maintenance and upgrading according to the ever-changing regulations .
Salaries, Benefits, and Insurance
One window-cleaning drone can replace a team of around five window cleaners. With the average window cleaner's salary being around $40,000 a year , cleaning companies can save significant amounts.
When you throw benefits and insurance costs into the mix, hiring one human window cleaner can be more expensive than buying a window-washing robot. In addition, the company saves a substantial amount of time on window cleaning so that it can take on multiple projects.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Effectiveness of Drone Window Cleaning
Can drones clean windows efficiently?
While the effect of drone window cleaning is sometimes less thorough, the overall results are more than satisfactory. They can also clean hard-to-reach areas.
Is it quicker than traditional methods?
Yes! Instead of waiting five hours or more for window washers to finish their task, drones cut the time nearly in half because of their moveability.
Will it damage the building and/or windows?
Nope! Licensed operators control the drones and use soft-washing to ensure they won’t leave damage on the building or windows.