Most routes bleed time and money during filter season, not because the work is hard, but because the system behind it is fuzzy. We break down a simple framework that keeps your margins healthy, your schedule predictable, and your clients happy: when to clean, how to price, what to replace, and which tools shave minutes off every stop. We start with the big decision: include filter cleaning in your monthly price or bill it separately. For regions running full-size cartridge and DE filters, se...

Show Notes

Most routes bleed time and money during filter season, not because the work is hard, but because the system behind it is fuzzy. We break down a simple framework that keeps your margins healthy, your schedule predictable, and your clients happy: when to clean, how to price, what to replace, and which tools shave minutes off every stop.

We start with the big decision: include filter cleaning in your monthly price or bill it separately. For regions running full-size cartridge and DE filters, separating the charge boosts accountability and keeps your bids competitive. From there, we compare four-month and six-month schedules.

Next, we go tactical. Learn how batching by filter type reduces on-truck inventory and speeds decisions, what spare parts to carry for common DE and cartridge models, and how a three-year replacement cycle for grids and quad cartridges prevents messy mid-summer failures. We talk through efficient upsells, when a full grid assembly swap pays off, and why pairing salt cell cleaning with filter service saves steps. Maintenance timing matters too: rebuild backwash valves during shoulder seasons to prevent leaks and headaches in July. For pure speed, we share the small tools that make a big difference, from multi-torque socket sets for clamps to the Orbit Sunmate 58361N nozzle and low-dust DE that keeps lungs and trucks cleaner.

• charging separately for filter cleaning to increase accountability and margin
• regional differences between single-cartridge systems and quad or DE filters
• four-month versus six-month cycles and why seasonal timing wins
• pairing salt cell cleaning with filter service and choosing whether to bill
• pricing strategy to keep monthly rates competitive while itemizing cleanings
• batching routes by filter type and stocking only needed parts
• three-year replacement cycle for cartridges and DE grids, longer for select systems
• adding backwash valve maintenance during off-season windows
• time-saving tools including multi-torque sockets and high-pressure nozzles
• choosing l

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