Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: anderclean on September 24, 2011, 08:40:02 am

Title: Hot wash horror
Post by: anderclean on September 24, 2011, 08:40:02 am
So this guy over my way says he runs a van with a diesel type hot water system set up.
Reckons it cost about £10. Per day in diesel and the battery has to be charged every night, the split charge relay can not keep up with the demand.

Has any one else had the same experience, or otherwise,

Looking at buying this hot system but a lot of money so finding out what I can first.

Like the gas alternative but does not seem suitable for a 2 man set up van.

Any advice appreciated
Thanks
Rob
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: concept on September 24, 2011, 09:04:54 am
SteveCM on here has a Purefreedom hot set up, noticed the diesel cost rising I believe, but to what extent I don't know. He might be along soon to answer the question for you.

For me, if it cost me £10 to get a days work done in the cold, and not fall behind, and be able to pay my bills at the end of the month, then, it's a no brainer.
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: the bfg on September 24, 2011, 09:39:55 am
Hi Rob.

I have a hot wash system built into the van and yes its true you do have to put it on trickle charge every night but its defo worth it.        I have used £10 a day in running costs though  more nearer £1.50 per day.

a little advice if your thinking of fitting a gas one,   I would talk to your insurence company before you go down that road as you may find they wont insure you.

insurence companies will wiggle out of any claim if they can and if it went wrong then they will try to play the neglect card.

my mates brother has worked for A-PLAN for the last 8 years and says they turn down numerous claims on modification defaults,   Ionly found this out because I was chatting to him a couple of months ago and mentioned to him about how I felt my system was overpriced,   he asked me what company I purchassed it from and he checked out their website and pointed out to me that although I may think it an expensive purchase it fully comforms to insurence company requirements even though my policy wasn't with A-PLAN.


he then asked me this question
do you put signs out while working in public places ?
I said of course I do
he asked my why ?
I said so the public are aware of me working and to take care as the area I working in may be slippery

he then pointed out that if a modification to a van or car in a public place and had an accident resulting in a fire or explosion not only would the insurence company not pay but you would be prosicuted and if a member of the public was hurt you would be sued to the hilt.

I sort of smirked and said what are the chances of that ever happening thinking he was trying to blind me with science.

his reply   what car and van engines dont overheat causing fires ?  and with gas bottle on board ?      what other careless drivers dont ever lose control and crash into parked vehicles causing fires ?

he said you may think your system is over priced Steve but youve paid for piece of mind.



we then got on to the question of unsecure water tanks in vans,   he just shook his head and said even if they lived through the accident they wouldn't be paid out.

he did go on about it in great length but it would take me hours to type what he had to say.
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: anderclean on September 24, 2011, 09:52:57 am
thanks very much for your input concept and bfg...
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: anderclean on September 24, 2011, 10:47:10 am
BFG
Could you e mail me your contact details please
rob-Anderson@blueyonder.co.uk

Thanks
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: AuRavelling79 on September 24, 2011, 12:19:48 pm
Anyone remember the guy from Frome who had a hot system called "the kettle" which he towed in a trailer behind a quadbike?

Fantastic - I'm off to search "kettle" now.
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: A@R WINDOWCLEANING on September 24, 2011, 09:16:53 pm
something is seriously wrong if you are paying £10 a day ,more like £10 a week ,i have 2x110amp lesiure batteries with a split charger  i charge my batteries up about once every 2 months
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: Pope vader on September 24, 2011, 09:19:22 pm
when weather gets really cold i fill up with hot pure water and it lasts all day
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: Frankybadboy on September 24, 2011, 09:21:12 pm
Anyone remember the guy from Frome who had a hot system called "the kettle" which he towed in a trailer behind a quadbike?

Fantastic - I'm off to search "kettle" now.
that be kev hes on matt forum
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: anderclean on September 24, 2011, 10:39:35 pm
thanks a@r

Are you running a 2 man system?
what hot system have you got?

Thanks for your input...
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: geoffreyspecht on September 25, 2011, 01:03:50 am
fill your tank with hot water
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: KS Cleaning on September 25, 2011, 01:24:21 am
fill your tank with hot water
And watch your energy bills go through the roof.
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: Lee GLS on September 25, 2011, 07:17:30 am
Anyone remember the guy from Frome who had a hot system called "the kettle" which he towed in a trailer behind a quadbike?

Fantastic - I'm off to search "kettle" now.

Whasnt it called the Hottie?
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: thermoclean on September 25, 2011, 12:33:08 pm
There is a lot of comparing goes on here but the cost is going to depend
On how much work you do in a "day" no use saying a use £10 quid a week in diesel
And someone else saying I use £10 a day they are not doing the same amount of houses each day for there to be such a difference in running cost. As guide a webasto st90 which is used in the two man systems will use 0.91 litres of diesel an hour if running all the time. I'm currently looking at using an Andrews fasflo LPG heater on my new van as I'm not sure how reliable the Chinese LPG heater are and the diesel heaters can become expensive to run if there are constantly working all day. 
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: RichardBardsley on September 25, 2011, 12:47:38 pm
looks like thermoclean has not read the whole thread here. LPG is high risk and will cost you dearly on insurance if you own up that you use LPG. LPG is cheaper but more unreliable than diesel.
I calculated the cost of producing hot water to be £0.02 per litre, cold is half that cost. What is the problem?
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: anderclean on September 25, 2011, 02:51:24 pm
agree with thermo that it's all relevant to how much work you're doing as to costs off running diesel hot water system.
if i'm doing £350.+ a day (2 man system) and it costs £10. a day diesel then i'm happy.
coming home and putting the battery on charge every nite and disconnecting every morning, sounds a drag - but i could live with it.
but you'd think paying £3,000+ you could get a better deal than that...

gass is a non-starter for me, at least until it's all regulated, legal and above board.
not saying it's not those things - i just feel very wary of it - and we have employees...

thanks to all who have participated in this thread.

i have not really heard of any one going "hot" and regretting it.

a simple question then is;
what diesel fueled hot water system can you recommend for a 2 man system ?
and are there any to avoid...

thanks


Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: dd on September 25, 2011, 05:29:14 pm
Pure Freedom seem the cheapest, still 3k or more for a 2 man system, and have a good reputation.
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on September 25, 2011, 05:43:02 pm
try an aquarium heater should keep it warm at least. run it from a battery
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: thermoclean on September 25, 2011, 09:42:02 pm
LPG is safe if done properly like concept 2o. We probably all stand at a snack van at
Some point and everything in them is on LPG  it just getting it done by a professional.
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: anderclean on September 25, 2011, 10:19:51 pm
now that's really interesting thermo,
just been looking at their site and they are indeed using lpg hot water systems,

any one on here using that system ?

thanks...
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: advanced on September 26, 2011, 02:17:30 pm
Go for the new procare system runs off lpg much cheaper to run.
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: H2GoKent on September 26, 2011, 04:14:48 pm
try an aquarium heater should keep it warm at least. run it from a battery
I don't think that a battery would have enough power to run an aquarium heater.
They are usually 240v. I have a 300 watt one which when left on all night in cold conditions just stops the water from freezing
Title: Re: Hot wash horror
Post by: dd on September 26, 2011, 07:01:32 pm
Go for the new procare system runs off lpg much cheaper to run.
Sounds interesting but is not on their website. The webasto diesel heaters are though.