[ben M]

I have a pro 5 ionic 600 litres, looking to add a hot water system but not at 3k from ionic!
Does someone know where i can find somebody to install for me a cheap DIY system (I live in Devon but willing to travel)
ps: Please don't tell me to do it myself, i have 2 left hands 

Many thanks

Ben

[Spruce]

Ben,

the cheapest way of doing this is a tankless gas heater and a bottle of gas.

Why not ask this company to fit it for you.
http://www.reach2cleanonline.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=122


If you are looking at a diesel heater then they are expensive. The Webasto boiler they use costs around £1300.00 new less a small discount as a trade customer. Start adding all the controls, plate water to water heat exchangers and thermostatic temperature regulator valves, cabinet, battery etc and the costs mount up.

[richard jagger]

How much are you wanting to spend in total.

[PoleKing]

I know you've said not to say DIY Ben but have you seen what you need to connect?
1 hose in on a jubilee, 1 out and the gas regulator which is a bit of hose secured by jubilee clips too.
Hang it in your van, strap a gas bottle in and that's your lot.
Don't shoot me-just thinking that you might be thinking its more complicated tgan it is.
If you can do a gas BBQ you're half way there!

[ben M]

Thanks guys for your help 

Spruce, gas heater would be fine, look nice company,bit far from me but why not

Smithie, max £800 to spend in total

Darren, you are probably right but don't want to make mistakes with gas!
How do you evacuate the gas from the van?

Thanks

[Carl@Cwc]

Thanks guys for your help 

Spruce, gas heater would be fine, look nice company,bit far from me but why not

Smithie, max £800 to spend in total

Darren, you are probably right but don't want to make mistakes with gas!
How do you evacuate the gas from the van?

Thanks

you could do this with lpg for £200

evacuate gas in van = leave the door open same as u do now???

[PoleKing]

You really can't make a mistake.
Doors open-fumes out.
If the joints are all tight, it'll all be fine.
If you really don't want to do it, call a caravan shop and ask their fitter (they will have one) to help you out.
It really is easy though bud

[ben M]

You really can't make a mistake.
Doors open-fumes out.
If the joints are all tight, it'll all be fine.
If you really don't want to do it, call a caravan shop and ask their fitter (they will have one) to help you out.
It really is easy though bud

Thanks Darren but do not forget, i am French not British so not so clever 

[PoleKing]

You really can't make a mistake.
Doors open-fumes out.
If the joints are all tight, it'll all be fine.
If you really don't want to do it, call a caravan shop and ask their fitter (they will have one) to help you out.
It really is easy though bud

Thanks Darren but do not forget, i am French not British so not so clever 

I've already made allowance for that. 

[ben M]

Darren,which system do you recommend then?
Have you got one?
Thanks

[Archer]

Ben,

why don't you lease one with the final payment you make meaning it will be yours, that way you do not have to spend your maximum of £800.00 in one go, which will allow you to keep some back for cash flow and will enable you to buy a very good piece of kit.

I have 3 Hot water systems, and have never had a problem with any of them, which I bought from Brodex.

When I was buying my first I was thinking along the same way that you are thinking, but it is better to get a very good one, fitted correctly, that will do the job how you want it done.

Just my opinion.

[PoleKing]

I have got a Morco D61b.
It's just a caravan water heater.
The only problem with it is when it's hot the thermostat sometimes cuts out.
Needs to be balanced just right.
I'm looking at the one from Corwoods that is advertised at the top of the page.
Change from £200 sounds good.
I'm looking at getting a refillable bottle to fill up at the petrol station rather than swapping calor bottles. Less agro and cheaper...

[ben M]

Ben,

why don't you lease one with the final payment you make meaning it will be yours, that way you do not have to spend your maximum of £800.00 in one go, which will allow you to keep some back for cash flow and will enable you to buy a very good piece of kit.

I have 3 Hot water systems, and have never had a problem with any of them, which I bought from Brodex.

When I was buying my first I was thinking along the same way that you are thinking, but it is better to get a very good one, fitted correctly, that will do the job how you want it done.

Just my opinion.

Archer,

Thanks for your message. I totally agree with you, i need a very good one,fitted correctly and that will do the job how i want it done.
which system do you recommend? brodex are they still in business?

Many thanks

Ben

[PoleKing]

Archer-is the Brodex diesel or gas?
What did it set you back?
You obviously like it but any negatives at all?

Kudos for smoking the pipe of peace too

[Archer]

Ben & Darren,

I will as always give you my honest opinion, which I am sure others will totally disagree with me.

Firstly Ben, yes they are still in business and if you decide to get one from them let me know, and I will tell you who to deal with as like some on here will say all they want is your money then cannot be bothered with after sales if things go wrong, let me know and I will help you.

I looked in to buying one years ago, and I think I bought my first one from Brodex about 3 years ago, and have had no problems with it at all.

When it is turned on full it is seriously boiling which is superb on certain types of work, and then you can lower it for others, and when the weather is cold.

I think it was £3k, but to be honest it is a brilliant piece of kit that we use on a regular basis.

I started with no money at all when I set up my business over 20 years ago, and I am the old fashioned type of window cleaner, but have moved with the times so to speak.

Depending on what you actually want from a hot water system, I cannot speak highly enough of the ones we have, and I welcome you to come and see how it works and our set ups if either of you require.

I am not much good over a computer but am willing to speak on phone or meet in person to help either of you move forward with any advice or help I can.

[ben M]

Thank you for your help and advice Archer, 3k is a bit dear for me to be honest, ionic is 3k too.
what do you think of this system (obviously not so good at yours) :

http://www.reach2cleanonline.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=96&product_id=121

Many thanks

Ben

[PoleKing]

That's really nice if you bud.
And a well thought out post, thank you.

In future it sounds like something I'd go for but in all honesty a bit rich for me ATM.

Thanks for the write up though.

[Archer]

Ben & Darren

I cant comment on that, I would only be guessing.

I can only tell you what I have got and how it performs.

Sometimes you have to think outside the box in business to get where you want to get to.

I could not afford one when I was looking, but I decided to buy the 3k one for example, and pay monthly to buy it freeing up my money to hold on to, or spend in other areas of my business, sometimes cheap is not always the right answer.

All I can say is I would not think twice about buying one because it will pay for itself and looked after it will last you.

Obviously I am not going to write everything on here, because there are certain things relating to business that I hold back which when I meet people in person then that's when I offer more help.

Sure you understand, but I would pick the Brodex over the Ionics system all day long

[ben M]

Archer, you don't like ionic? why?
Thanks

[Archer]

Ben,

I buy almost all my poles from Ionics and I have spent a lot of money with them and continue to do so, so I dont dislike them.

I believe the Brodex system is better, it is more compact for my vehicles, and I believe the temperature of the water goes hotter, but I may be wrong.

Also I used to buy Ionics systems, but when I was requesting a price for a system a number of years backl they couldn't be bothered to provide me a price after me telephoning them from my holidays abroad on at least 10 occasions, which was also the case with a friend of mine who has a shop, and he was a supplier for them, and they couldn't be bothered letting him know.

I decided my money was good anywhere, so I tried Brodex and there systems have been better than I was led to believe.

I have had a number of vans kitted out by Brodex, about 7, so that's the reason I really like their hot water system.

Personally its a no brainer in my opinion that would possibly set you back £100 per month at a guess, but not too sure

[ben M]

fair enough,thank you

[richard jagger]

Many chaps use the same unit sold and fitted by reach to clean. At 400 odd I would go for it.

[Small but perfectley formed]

I would go for gas the web astro type heaters kill batteries unless you have space to connect to 110 ah together.

[robert mitchell]

Most of these diesel heaters work the same way and use the same burner (webasto).

Im not sure about the brodex one but the ionics is set up so that you can heat as you go or heat the tank in one go.

it also has a bypass(pressure relief) that diverts heated water back to the tank when stop water flow at the brush .

This is quite important because diesel heaters do not like running for short periods as it cokes up the burner.

I think thats why people have had problems with the pure freedom version.( although they may have changed it now)

On balance i would still go for a diesel one - less hassle and safer .

Also , although i no longer have an ionics system i have found there customer service to be excellent .

[Spruce]

Ben & Darren,

I will as always give you my honest opinion, which I am sure others will totally disagree with me.

Firstly Ben, yes they are still in business and if you decide to get one from them let me know, and I will tell you who to deal with as like some on here will say all they want is your money then cannot be bothered with after sales if things go wrong, let me know and I will help you.

I looked in to buying one years ago, and I think I bought my first one from Brodex about 3 years ago, and have had no problems with it at all.

When it is turned on full it is seriously boiling which is superb on certain types of work, and then you can lower it for others, and when the weather is cold.

I think it was £3k, but to be honest it is a brilliant piece of kit that we use on a regular basis.

I started with no money at all when I set up my business over 20 years ago, and I am the old fashioned type of window cleaner, but have moved with the times so to speak.

Depending on what you actually want from a hot water system, I cannot speak highly enough of the ones we have, and I welcome you to come and see how it works and our set ups if either of you require.

I am not much good over a computer but am willing to speak on phone or meet in person to help either of you move forward with any advice or help I can.

I'm not sure what units Archer has, but the current systems that Brodex sell are the Hurricane units made in Canada. Omnipole also use these heaters.

http://itrheat.com/products/hurricane-heating-systems/

Hurricane have been around for a few years now so I would imagine that Brodex has been supplying them for sometime. They look a good heater and I haven't found any negative reports of them on the yacht/long boat forums. They do run fine on red diesel which is probably why they are quite popular.

Archer - please may I ask.

How does Brodex incoporate their system into their product? As a cold water system the pump simply draws pure water from the tank, pumps is through a resin di vessel as a final polish and then out to your hose reel via a van port. So I presume that the heater would be fitted between the outlet of the di vessel and the van ports.
 
If so then does the heater have multiple couplings so you can heat water for a second operator and how does the unit deal with the excess heat it produces?
Does the heater switch on and switch off all the time if you stop working for short periods - talking to customers etc?

Also, does the exhaust come out of the top of the unit or do they supply the ones that have the exhaust underneath?

Can you see a model number anywhere on the unit? Brodex will remove the manufacturers name plate and replace it with their own, but should leave a model number somewhere.

[South Window Cleaning Ltd]

Hi

Give me a call on 01929408128,

We have a good system fitted in our vans,
Only in dorset so not to far to travel,

[Archer]

Spruce,

Sorry I am Definatly not technical or clever enough to go in to everything about it although I think it is the hurricane 11.

It can be added to any machine I think and is very compact, runs off diesel, and exhaust goes through the floor.

It only heats one outlet, but you can split your hose connector to run 2 hoses if required.

The exhaust comes from the top and then goes through the floor

[Spruce]

Spruce,

Sorry I am Definatly not technical or clever enough to go in to everything about it although I think it is the hurricane 11.

It can be added to any machine I think and is very compact, runs off diesel, and exhaust goes through the floor.

It only heats one outlet, but you can split your hose connector to run 2 hoses if required.

The exhaust comes from the top and then goes through the floor

Hi Archer.

Thanks for that. They are sourcing the same heaters as the marine industry use then with the top exhaust mounting.

Do you suffer from flat batteries at all. The assembly instruction for these suggest that the unit shouldn't be mounted under a sleeping area in the boat as the unit switching on and off (cycling is the word they use) will disturb the sleep of a light sleeper.

If you work with your heater on a normal domestic round say, does the heater switch on and off constantly through the day as you stop the flow of water to the next house? The reason for asking is that this is the 'killer' of Webasto units.

Also what temperature do you run your units at in the summer and winter? Sorry for all the questions.

[Archer]

Spruce,

I have split chargers with leisure battery's in all my vans to stop battery's going flat, never had a problem with them.

It depends on what work, time of year etc, but on full when doing cladding, and slightly lower on first cleans, most of my work is commercial, but we use it on both

[ben M]

Hi

Give me a call on 01929408128,

We have a good system fitted in our vans,
Only in dorset so not to far to travel,

e-mail sent 

[Spruce]

Spruce,

I have split chargers with leisure battery's in all my vans to stop battery's going flat, never had a problem with them.

It depends on what work, time of year etc, but on full when doing cladding, and slightly lower on first cleans, most of my work is commercial, but we use it on both

Thanks

[ben M]

Ben,

the cheapest way of doing this is a tankless gas heater and a bottle of gas.

Why not ask this company to fit it for you.
http://www.reach2cleanonline.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=122


If you are looking at a diesel heater then they are expensive. The Webasto boiler they use costs around £1300.00 new less a small discount as a trade customer. Start adding all the controls, plate water to water heat exchangers and thermostatic temperature regulator valves, cabinet, battery etc and the costs mount up.

not on reach 2 clean website anymore this product, even the one at £469