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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Klean07 on September 08, 2010, 07:19:50 am

Title: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Klean07 on September 08, 2010, 07:19:50 am
With winter fast approaching just wondered what everyone uses in their van to stop pipes and tank freezing up. Last winter was a nightmare.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cz2104-all-metal-heater
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: DaveG on September 08, 2010, 03:57:40 pm
I used one of these last year on minimum setting, worked fine and the van was nice and toastie in the morning ( and defrosted!)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1000-2000W-PORTABLE-SILENT-ELECTRIC-FAN-HEATER-HOT-COOL-/260599664147?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item3cacf34e13
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Dave Willis on September 08, 2010, 04:04:16 pm
I normally use a tube heater but it failed miserably last winter. I might get one of these tomorrow.

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_15518.htm
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: sgibsoncleaning on September 08, 2010, 04:20:43 pm
lets hope this year is not as bad, but i am prepared i tried a tube heater but it didnt work, the better results came from a fan heater so it circulates warm air. remeber gas and parafin heater produce water so it will make your van damp get a greenhouse heater with a frost setting
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: awcs on September 08, 2010, 10:38:25 pm
green house heater from focus 20 quid. sorted
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: jsm on September 08, 2010, 10:38:57 pm
propex van heater all the way for me - van was toasty warm at night last year
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Paul Coleman on September 09, 2010, 05:32:24 am
I don't use a heater.
I just switch the pump on with the feed pipe removed from the tank.  Then I loop the pipe that normally supplies the hose reel back around into the tank.  This drains the pipework of water.  There may be a little left by the pump but not enough to crack it if the water expands into ice - though it may stop the pump working temporarily.
Another idea that I've read on here though never tried is to put the tank feed pipe into a large container of isopropanol then switch on the pump.  This leaves isopropanol in the pipes (and the reel too if desired) which may be pumped back into the container the next day.  Probably better to run water through for a few minutes before starting work if using this method.
When I park my van, I have no access to mains electricity.  If I had such access then I would do things differently.
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: boldy1304 on September 09, 2010, 06:17:56 am
the guy i was doing some subby work for at the time ran anti freeze through his pumps and hose reels and flushed really well the next morn but this didnt stop the main tank and outlet freezing and as it was so cold last winter it also froze in the pipe when you ran it along the customers garden so unless you have a hot system you could do what ever you like to stop it freezing over night but wont stop it freezing in the pipe before you start i did hear of guys with hot systems cracking glass though as hot water on very cold glass dont really mix i dont know how true that is though 
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: richard jagger on September 09, 2010, 06:18:05 am
Dont worry about a little Iso in the system it will mix with water and will clean glass better.
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Londoner on September 09, 2010, 06:55:33 am
I bought a 500W heater on ebay last winter and it worked really well. Just set the frost stat and left it in overnight.
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Klean07 on September 09, 2010, 07:17:06 am
I bought a 500W heater on ebay last winter and it worked really well. Just set the frost stat and left it in overnight.
Did you plug it into your house power supply or have you got an external source.
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on September 09, 2010, 09:11:23 pm
sound like he has a inverter in the car and runs from battery or external battery am i right mate or barking up wrong tree again
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Londoner on September 10, 2010, 07:40:24 am
I bought a 500W heater on ebay last winter and it worked really well. Just set the frost stat and left it in overnight.
Did you plug it into your house power supply or have you got an external source.
I run a lead from the garage. You can't use an inverter to produce heat. No van battery is capable of producing that much heat over about a twelve hour period without going flat. And on a frosty morning you need your battery to be tip top.
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: easycleaner on September 10, 2010, 09:00:41 pm
230v greenhouse heater. 10p per day to run just the job
Mart
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Richard Neal on September 10, 2010, 09:19:57 pm
Remember if your running a heater off of an extension lead that you un wind all the cable if not it can over heat and melt
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on September 11, 2010, 01:22:34 am
this thread is getting boring vw bluebird heater
4 ton (GASPS COSTLY) van toasty warm
u able to work easy decision really
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: jsm on September 11, 2010, 02:06:05 am
yes they gone up £100 this year -
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on September 11, 2010, 02:17:04 am
john they 5 ton now
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: jsm on September 11, 2010, 02:17:38 am
yes they gone up £100 this year -
Title: Re: What kind of heater is best in winter?
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on September 11, 2010, 02:24:33 am
il give you 250 cash for yrs m8