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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: LWC on January 17, 2012, 05:15:46 pm

Title: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: LWC on January 17, 2012, 05:15:46 pm
Yesterday morning i stupidly didnt do anything and had frozen pump, reels and pipes, spent a good hour or so thawing it out.

I put the immersion on this morning for about 3-4 hours on timer, water was about 45 degrees, ill admit it isnt hot at pole, its warm less shock to the hands but it kept the van frost free, all pipes reels and pump were fine and i was out on first house at 9 this morning...not 10.30 like yesterday!

Well recommended
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: gto on January 17, 2012, 05:47:52 pm
what heater have you got, do you have a link.
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 17, 2012, 06:06:19 pm
Yep, had mine on last two nights, luuuuurrrvley & toasty each morning! ;)
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: geefree on January 17, 2012, 09:30:10 pm
Had mine all last winter , warm water , pole  reel,  van....... all day  ;)
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on January 17, 2012, 10:39:35 pm
Just fitted one in my new tank tonight but its tripping the electric as i have the dryer on
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 17, 2012, 10:43:17 pm
Just fitted one in my new tank tonight but its tripping the electric as i have the dryer on

Don't run anything else from the same socket Froggy, 3kw is enough! Even a socket in the same or opposite room could be on the same or line.
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on January 17, 2012, 11:24:38 pm
Running the immersion from the shed but its connected up to another room where the dryer is ... dryer has gone off now and the immersion is working a treat :)
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 17, 2012, 11:28:42 pm
Running the immersion from the shed but its connected up to another room where the dryer is ... dryer has gone off now and the immersion is working a treat :)

Dryer will consume some juice too!!
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: Window Washers on January 18, 2012, 09:13:58 am
do you have a link to buy one of these ?
also is this keeping your hose reels in the van from freezing also ?
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: Sean Dyer on January 18, 2012, 01:27:35 pm
I really want to do this but i am useless with DIY

Anyone nearby wanna give me a hand :) Ill treat you to a few pints :)

Or could someone do an idiot proof step by step guide?

I get the idea im just not sure i trust myself to cut holes in my tank and not destroy it

Would aquarium heaters not be exactly the same ???
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: Cliff perkins on January 18, 2012, 07:05:24 pm
Id be more concerned on what it cost to heat the water every night,cant be cheap and also how much does the heater cost.
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: LWC on January 18, 2012, 07:53:21 pm
Id be more concerned on what it cost to heat the water every night,cant be cheap and also how much does the heater cost.

Immersion about £20 - £30, cost about £2 a night to run for a few hours at a guess...£2 as apposed to a full days pay...work it out
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: idealrob on January 18, 2012, 07:56:38 pm
Yes £1.50 to £2 a night is about right,

idealrob
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: LWC on January 18, 2012, 08:07:41 pm
Yes £1.50 to £2 a night is about right,

idealrob

Nothing is it compared to what we can earn with it, how many hours ish is that for rob do you think? Id like to leave it on for longer, think most is 5-6 hours on a timer to come on in the morning gets to about 40-45 degrees, i was wondering whether to put it on at night and set it to temp on the thermostat and once it gets to temp itl stay there wont it?
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: dave.e on January 18, 2012, 08:11:42 pm
Id be more concerned on what it cost to heat the water every night,cant be cheap and also how much does the heater cost.

Immersion about £20 - £30, cost about £2 a night to run for a few hours at a guess...£2 as apposed to a full days pay...work it out


hi matt good to know it's coming in useful
dave
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 18, 2012, 08:13:19 pm
Yes £1.50 to £2 a night is about right,

idealrob

Nothing is it compared to what we can earn with it, how many hours ish is that for rob do you think? Id like to leave it on for longer, think most is 5-6 hours on a timer to come on in the morning gets to about 40-45 degrees, i was wondering whether to put it on at night and set it to temp on the thermostat and once it gets to temp itl stay there wont it?

No matt, it'll just trip until you manually reset it (AKA resettable thermostat)
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: LWC on January 18, 2012, 08:24:23 pm
Yes dave, only just recently fitted it! And managed to have my seats up aswel, works really well thank you again!

Oh i see about trip, i thought that would just keep it at temp, how long would you leave it?
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: Deangsi on January 18, 2012, 10:57:14 pm
Iv bin taking my pipes and reel in the house overnite and draining my tank. So far worked every day it froze:-) i have a heater but dont want to put a hole in the side of my flat tank so gunna get an uprite 350 next week. Dean
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: LWC on January 19, 2012, 07:16:46 am
Same tank as me Dean, i think theres a 27" element in there, goes almost to the bottom from the top. Works well.
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: Sean Dyer on January 19, 2012, 04:52:44 pm
Same tank as me Dean, i think theres a 27" element in there, goes almost to the bottom from the top. Works well.
I have a 500 litre upright what would you use for that ? 27" as well?
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: LWC on January 19, 2012, 07:01:40 pm
Yeh think 27 is the biggest, dont quote me! Wont be far off the bottom from the top i imagine.
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 19, 2012, 07:57:30 pm
Same tank as me Dean, i think theres a 27" element in there, goes almost to the bottom from the top. Works well.

Where is your element fittad Matt? I don't understand what you mean with "from bottom to top"?
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: Sean Dyer on January 19, 2012, 11:05:31 pm
i think he means if you install at top it wont be far off the bottom?

However i thought you installed these so they were fully submerged

ie at the bottom pointing in
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on January 19, 2012, 11:36:39 pm
i think he means if you install at top it wont be far off the bottom?

However i thought you installed these so they were fully submerged

ie at the bottom pointing in

You do & it must be submerged. You fit them through the side of the tank but near to the bottom.
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: LWC on January 20, 2012, 12:07:21 am
Mines fitted in top yes. Can only have it on if tank is full.
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: Sean Dyer on January 20, 2012, 09:38:10 am
how can you put a 27" sideways in a baffled tank  , surely it will be to close to the bottom, or not fit because of the baffle
Title: Re: Beat the frost with immersion heaters
Post by: spongebob on January 20, 2012, 09:57:44 am
Yes £1.50 to £2 a night is about right,

idealrob

Nothing is it compared to what we can earn with it, how many hours ish is that for rob do you think? Id like to leave it on for longer, think most is 5-6 hours on a timer to come on in the morning gets to about 40-45 degrees, i was wondering whether to put it on at night and set it to temp on the thermostat and once it gets to temp itl stay there wont it?

You are correct Matt.
The stat setting under the black cap will maintain the water at that temperature. It has been mentioned that the heater will trip out at this temp but not correct. There are resettable immersions available though. The heater will simply cut in and out when satisfied(temp setting reached).
The immersion is designed to be completely submerged.
I doubt if one single heater would maintain 4 to 500 litres of water uninsulated left outside at much more than 45 degrees but if you set the stat at 60 it will try its best. Most tds meters have a thermometer on them so test it in the morning.
As mentioned before the current involved here is large and you need to use the most least overloaded socket in the house with an extension lead fully unwound that is man enough to avoid meltdown. Preferably get a sparky to fit a dedicated fuse on the board with rcd protection and advise on the wiring for the tank.
Stay warm
Andy