Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: andy east sussex on September 08, 2013, 06:52:41 pm

Title: with winter around the corner
Post by: andy east sussex on September 08, 2013, 06:52:41 pm
what do you guys use in your vans to stop everything freezing up ?
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: richard jagger on September 08, 2013, 07:12:50 pm
Hang a  1000 watt fish pond/tank heater into your tank and this will keep water from freezing and keep the van worm. I have drilled a small hole in to accommodate the wire and sealed it with a glue called Serius Glue its a silver tube. ( very good glue for water) I have added a second screw cap to refill tank using a 25 lit bottles section and used this glue to stick in to the tank.
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: colin purewater on September 08, 2013, 07:16:26 pm
Last year I let it all freeze every night

Then in the morning put a fan heater in the van
For 15 mins before I went out and all sorted

Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: paul ette on September 08, 2013, 07:39:33 pm
That's what I did, didn't fancy leaving a heater on, seemed a fire hazard, so got up a little earlier and put a fan heater in the morning, 30 min , job done
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: ben M on September 08, 2013, 07:43:10 pm
which fan heater have you got?
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: paul ette on September 08, 2013, 08:45:33 pm
just some cheap thing from argos, does the job, have to make sure you put it close to pipes, sometimes had to chuck some hot water on the pump to get it going
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: colin purewater on September 08, 2013, 09:06:09 pm
Yep £20 jobby from argos

But I wouldn't risk pouring kettle hot water over a
Frozen pump, I think that's pushing your luck
A bit to much !
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: dave0123 on September 08, 2013, 09:11:36 pm
i use this fan heater very good for defrosting the di bottle at times  ;D  it was 14.00 when i bought it only ten now... if it falls over it stops blowing hot air so its quite safe.. just used to put it on 30 mins before going out

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4152174.htm


Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: paul ette on September 08, 2013, 09:18:51 pm
That's the exact one I got lol
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: PAUL JAMES on September 08, 2013, 09:23:08 pm
This might sound a bit mad but worked a treat for me last winter.
Silver foil around the pump covered with a towel and no frozen pump whatsoever. Wrap the pump up when finished for the day.
Cheap timer for an heater in the van to come on a couple of times through the night-ten minutes at a time.
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: LBWCS on September 08, 2013, 09:24:22 pm
Last year I let it all freeze every night

Then in the morning put a fan heater in the van
For 15 mins before I went out and all sorted


Iv tried doing this but have found the defrost takes a lot longer than 30 mins. Also there's a risk of equipment freezing so deep it slits the plastic on filters etc. it happened to me a few years ago. Fan heater on frost stat and everything is fine
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: PoleKing on September 08, 2013, 10:31:07 pm
Does anyone else struggle with the cab windows steaming up overnight with the heater on?
Since I can't put my van in the garage at this house in using a greenhouse heater over night.
I'm paranoid about it freezing so I think I'm having it too hot.
That Argos heater-does it keep everything defrosted but without condensation on the glass?
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: R.C Property on September 09, 2013, 12:15:56 am
here is a video of what I use in my van!

http://youtu.be/kSR530IyLak

also I set one of these up at the bottom of the windscreen and that kept all condensation off the screen and stopped it freezing up on the outside.  didn't have to defrost or scrap my van windscreen last winter
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: bobplum on September 09, 2013, 07:11:08 am
Does anyone else struggle with the cab windows steaming up overnight with the heater on?
Since I can't put my van in the garage at this house in using a greenhouse heater over night.
I'm paranoid about it freezing so I think I'm having it too hot.
That Argos heater-does it keep everything defrosted but without condensation on the glass?

bulkhead ;)
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: dazmond on September 09, 2013, 08:14:49 am
oil filled radiator left on overnight

grit/salt and a sweeping brush in van


flask of hot water for thawing out brush jets if they freeze during the day.

this is all i do in the very cold winter months to keep me working.
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: Ian101 on September 09, 2013, 08:18:50 am
oil filled rad in van overnight set on a low to med setting then for about an hour before I go out turn it up to max to get van toasty however since i swapped transit to a combo it fits in garage so no more freezing issues for me  :D
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: Ian101 on September 09, 2013, 08:20:13 am
tried a greenhouse heater once but thought of litre of parrifin and naked flame in back of van gave me a sleepless night - however had anything happened the insurance claim would have been interesting  :o
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: Clever Forum Name on September 09, 2013, 08:23:21 am
Oil fired rad over night on frost setting. and Isopropyl alcohol for water when its -4 - -6 After about -6 its home time!!!!!
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: H20cleaning on September 09, 2013, 11:52:02 am
I have improved every year since i started.
I have a nissan primastar (so the bulkead helps abit)
I seperate the middle of the van with a thick quilt (so the hoses etc defrost quicker)
As soon as i get in from work i fill my 400L tank up then get 2 pond heaters in, and by morning the waters warm.
I have a heater on a timer for 5.30am so by the time i gey up at 8.00am everything is fine:)
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: richard jagger on September 09, 2013, 06:28:28 pm
This the fish heater I have used for 2 years running.IT FLOATS ON THE TOP OF THE WATER.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sharper-Edge-Electrical-Pond-Heater-For-Koi-Fish-Fish-Ponds-/250986405159?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PondsWaterFeatures_UK&hash=item3a6ff49d27

Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: dave0123 on September 09, 2013, 06:37:24 pm
how long does it take to warm the water up smithie
Title: Re: with winter around the corner
Post by: Steve foster on September 09, 2013, 10:28:36 pm
Aquarium heaters in the tank + kingspan around the tank + duvet covers + oil heater + fingers crossed ;D