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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Matt - aquatec on November 09, 2013, 10:46:55 am

Title: Heating external van ports and feed?
Post by: Matt - aquatec on November 09, 2013, 10:46:55 am

Hi Guys,

Has anyone got a solution for heating the pipes that pass from the inside to the outside van ports. Heating them inside isn't a problem but when they drop through the floor it is a potential freezing point. When in use my ht system will keep em warm but over night and during travel I have a feeling I could suffer with freezing when it's gets cold or when we get snow on the ground...

Cheers

Matt

Title: Re: Heating external van ports and feed?
Post by: Total shine cleaning services on November 09, 2013, 11:02:23 am

possibly try a bit of pipe lagging from b and q

Graham

Title: Re: Heating external van ports and feed?
Post by: Matt - aquatec on November 09, 2013, 11:09:08 am

Thanks Graham,I did think of that but wondered if anyone has come across any 12v wrap around heating wire or the like???

Matt

Title: Re: Heating external van ports and feed?
Post by: kempy on November 09, 2013, 03:24:14 pm

What I do is get a towel and wrap it around the van external ports and the pipes and this seems to always be ok .

Sometimes then in the morning I put hot water over them from the kettle or from your hot was system ??
The towel will freeze up and be like card board but it seems to do the trick .

And in this game it is A FREE tip

Title: Re: Heating external van ports and feed?
Post by: Matt - aquatec on November 10, 2013, 08:51:01 am

Ta for the towel tip....
 And a freebie...

Title: Re: Heating external van ports and feed?
Post by: sunshine windows on November 10, 2013, 11:12:07 am

Ive got an internal outlet for the hot water (t-piece in the pipe) for when I want to circulate the water in the tank to stop it freezing.

I use this internal port if the outside is completely frozen on the first job and then just spray some hot water on the outlets to defrost it all underneath.

Hope this helps

Title: Re: Heating external van ports and feed?
Post by: andyM on November 10, 2013, 12:52:46 pm

There was a flexible wrap around heating system around a couple of years ago.
I think it ran off of a 12 volt battery and they might of even advertised it on this site.
If I remember rightly I think it was also used to stop cattle drinking trays from freezing up in winter.
But I can't remember what the company was called now.  ::)roll  
Found this on Ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12w-m-TRACE-HEATING-CABLE-LOW-VOLTAGE-12v-FROST-PROTECTION-price-p-m-/390497824667

Title: Re: Heating external van ports and feed?
Post by: SeanK on November 10, 2013, 02:54:17 pm

As long as theres no water in the port you wont have a problem.
If the port connector has a cut off valve push your finger into it to let the water drain.
Make sure the port hose is above the connector. If not some of the water wont drain away.
Basically you need to make sure the ports are empty of water at the end of the working day.
Then pour some hot water over the connectors in the morning and you will be good to go.

Title: Re: Heating external van ports and feed?
Post by: kempy on November 10, 2013, 03:03:13 pm

Ur yep drain as much as you can .
Then use my towel tip , as moist will still freeze up for you .

If only I had a bigger garage