Cleaning windows on skyscrapers is no easy job. It’s dangerous, time-consuming, and often depends on weather conditions. But over the past few years, something interesting has taken off literally. Drones.
Drone window cleaning is currently a trend in cities like New York, which are replete with tall buildings, where safety is always a top priority. These companies, along with Altitude Wash, have become the change agents in cleaning buildings faster, safer, and with less interference through the application of intelligent technology.
Why Are Conventional Window Washings Dangerous?
Typically, conventional window washing for skyscrapers involves washing by way of scaffolding, rope access, or the use of a boom lift. What these methods pose as cons:
- Risk to workers: A few window cleaners are at risk of life-threatening injuries while hanging on poles made of metal or by ropes.
- Weather cancellations: It could rain, there could be strong winds, or there could be extreme temperatures, all of which would serve to cancel or delay a job.
- Expensive insurance: And with that much of a risk involved, the companies end up paying more for the insurance, and, in some cases, so do the customers.
- Labor and time-consuming: It can take days or weeks to clean each panel on a big building.
There is no question that window cleaners are talented specialists. However, when technology can minimize risk, it’s worth considering.
The Emergence of Drone Window Cleaning
Drone window cleaning is just what it sounds like, flying robots that clean windows. But it’s not as futuristic as it appears. These drones are created with:
- High-pressure sprayers
- Integrated brushes or spinning cleaning heads
- Highly precise flight control
- Live video monitoring
Some also have AI to chart the building’s interior and take a pre-programmed path. Others use remote pilots who are trained to navigate sharp corners and heights.
Advantages of Using Drones for Window Cleaning
For urban areas like NYC, in which time, space, and safety are all under stress, drones offer several obvious benefits.
- Safer for Workers
No more hanging precariously off skyscrapers. Ground-based operators maneuver drones safely away from the edge.
- Quicker Cleaning
Drones fly over big areas in a hurry. With minimal setup needs (no scaffolding, no rope system), work begins and ends sooner.
- Less Interruption
No sidewalk-blocking, pesky scaffold construction that impedes foot traffic. Drone window cleaning is cleaner, and it also keeps the sidewalk clean.
- More Reliable Results
Drones follow specific routes and can repeat the same path multiple times, resulting in fewer missed areas and improved quality control.
- More Cost-Effective in the Long Run
Fewer machines, reduced insurance premiums, and quicker projects? That’s a big plus. Although drone services may be new, they often offer lower long-term costs than traditional methods.
How It Works
At Altitude Wash, NYC drone window cleaning is performed with utmost care and precision. Here’s a general outline of what occurs:
Site Inspection
Each building is unique. Before launching anything, the staff inspects the structure, local ordinances, and weather conditions to ensure compliance.
Flight Planning
With software, the flight plan is plotted to ensure each surface is cleaned with maximum efficiency.
Cleaning Process
The drone sprays, scrubs, and rinses every window as a trained technician closely observes and makes adjustments.
Review and Touch-ups
Once the drone completes the job, a quick walk-through verifies all looks well. If necessary, some manual touch-ups are performed on the ground.
Buildings Best Suited for Drone Cleaning
Although drones are not yet equipped to clean every building (particularly those with narrow ledges or overhangs), they are well suited for:
- Glass towers with flat tops
- Office buildings
- Residential skyscrapers and hotels
- Health clinics and schools with extensive window walls
These are general grounds for asking for drone service.
Legal and Safety Considerations
Flying drones in New York City requires strict adherence to FAA regulations. Thus, the operators of Altitude Wash are licensed and insured, equipped with the best equipment to ensure compliance with all regulations. Each flight must comply with:
- FAA regulations concerning commercial operations of unmanned aircraft
- Local zoning and airspace restrictions
- Safety regulations for public spaces under
By hiring the pros, preventing dirty windows is the least of your worries: you’re also ensuring all window-washing is done legally and ethically.
Why NYC Is Leading the Way
Drone window cleaning in NYC is growing rapidly. With numerous high-rise buildings and a growing push for smart city solutions, it’s a natural fit.
Altitude Wash, located right here in the city, has been a pioneer in embracing this technology. They’ve collaborated with property management companies, facility staff, and building owners who are fed up with long, hazardous jobs and are looking for a safer alternative.
When streets are packed and time is of the essence, drones simply make more sense.
What to Expect from a Drone Window Cleaning Service
If you’re considering drone cleaning, here’s what you can expect from a typical service:
- A complete walkthrough and consultation
- Size and access-based timeline and quote
- Insurance coverage and safety compliance
- Zero scaffolding or obstruction on the ground
- Minimal noise or public disturbance
- Results delivered faster than most traditional methods
And because it’s all documented with video, clients can even obtain footage to present to building stakeholders or boards.
Final Thoughts
Drone window cleaning is revolutionizing the servicing of high-rise buildings. And it is not just about high technology; it is about being smart, safe, and efficient.
For NYC building owners, there’s a better way worth exploring. Altitude Wash is at the forefront of this movement, with equipment designed for new buildings and staff trained to perform the job properly.
Next time you look up at a shining tower and wonder how those windows stay so clean, there’s a good chance a drone had something to do with it.
