will do! thanks. I’ll let you know how it goes
So we bought two of these keys (they only ones they had available) one 3/4" and 1" … seems like both were too small…
I told the guy that we at least needed to talk with the property manager to know the correct size before buying another key… we’ll see what happens. It is a fairly small job and at this point I’m going to lose money on it no matter what…
I mean my guys took it to the irrigation store and showed them the pic of the tap - they knew exactly what it was and said that was the key. And to me it looks just like the one you guys recommended
I agree with you, you were sold the wrong size. Can you return it? Those tabs are supposed to lock in. How far away is the nearest hose bib?
It is usually 1/2" key that you need.
I don’t think there’s a normal hose bib on the property at all. Yeah the guys are going to go return it today.
well at this point I’m just going to wait for confirmation from property manager or just walk away… I’m in the red on the job as is so truth be told I’d rather just take the loss and not have to worry about it.
Not good for business reputation… It is a 1/2" key you can get at any landscape supply. Get the key, finish the job and deliver the results you committed to. We all have jobs that we lost money on, but completing the job is more important long-term than losing a few dollars today. It is both your business reputation, your relationship with this client and most importantly, your personal integrity to overcome challenges and exceed.
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I didn’t commit to anything. I made it very clear we needed a working water source on site on a written estimate. When he told me about the tap I told him we needed to make sure we could get it open first before being able to do the job - again via written communication. My guys on site are saying the key is too small when they tried a 3/4" and 1" yet you’re telling me that the correct size is a 1/2". They sell bigger keys and smaller keys, and those two were the only ones in stock.
Once we know 100% which key it is I’ll be happy to buy and go finish the job. But I can’t and won’t order every key available to get this one job done. It doesn’t make any sense to do that, when I can call the company that installed the tap and they can tell me exactly which one I need. But in order for me to do that, I need to get their contact information which he has not sent me.
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I would expect the property manager to supply that sort of thing. It’s not a standard outlet most people are equipped to handle.
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But it is something you should be equipped to handle if you’re advertising commercial services. You have no idea what kind of water access you might have at some properties.
Erh, agree to disagree. If you’re specializing in commercial services, I can see how it might make sense to have a toolbox full of every adapter under the sun, for the simple purpose of expediting these issues.
But for a general purpose power washing company that offers a variety of services, I don’t think most property managers would expect you to be able to hook up to every obscure connection under the sun. It really should be up to the property owner/manager to ensure that there is outdoor water access, in a form factor common to the region.
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Rereading how that came out,you are absolutely correct,I disagree with myself. A couple of years ago when I started washing I fell into the trap that a lot of new guys probably do and bought every adapter,key,wrench etc. that I could find. 95% of that stuff is laying unused on a shelf in the barn because it took up so much room in my toolbox. So,point taken,that came off a little arrogant from someone that has did 3 commercial jobs in 2 years of washing…
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Major lesson for everyone on this thread is check your water supply when you go look at site, surprises are not your friend. Especially when you have to show up at midnight or 4am to get the job done.
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Turns out there was a regular spigot out back behind a locked door 
The guy got the key and we’re going to go do the job tomorrow…
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I guess I fall into the group of have a variety of adapters, keys, etc. I feel it makes you look more prepared, knowledgeable and capable when you go to a property and faced with a non-simple hose spigot. I have a small box with 3 irrigation keys, 1 standard 4-way commercial spigot key, a larger Zurn commercial spigot key, 3-4 spigot knobs (some places take the handle off to prevent homeless or others from running the water). Keep it in my toolbox. Hell, I even have 1 inch cam-lock connectors with hose so I could connect to a stadiums water supply to clean the stadium (cam lock hose is only 10 ft with a standard hose connector on the other end. Stadium only has 2 standard hose spigots but 1 inch cam connections all over the place). Having to run 200, 300, 500 ft of hose and/or move around to be able to reach spigots for me is not worth the $10 to get the cam hose.
Point is, when or if you get into serious commercial washing, you will find more and more buildings that do not have a simple spigot on the side of the building just waiting for you to hook up. What a residential guy might call unusual is fairly common in commercial or at least in my area.
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I agree, and once I do get into more commercial I’ll probably start doing the same. In the past 3ish years I think this was the first time running into a spigot key issue and I made sure to write down on estimate prior to accepting the job. I know that is better to be prepared for anything and always have more than you need; I’ve been building up my arsenal slowly and im sure one day those keys will be part of it.
We have a potential big apartment complex job coming up; I’ll probably end up adding a few for that one.
