Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: benny donnelly on August 23, 2015, 07:55:50 pm
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just looking to here of the pros and cons of the peop who went with a hot water system as im considering myself
also what method of heating did you go for diesel, lpg etc
cheers
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Don't go diesel, waste of money from personal experience. Thinking of replacing mine with a cheap gas/lpg version
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You have to decide if the cost will be recouped by working quicker or when cold would freeze so you can carry on.
Some here use hot all year and say it makes a real difference, personally, never noticed much of a time difference between hot or cold whether that's regular cleans or manky one off work.
Hot is great during the winter months November to February for keeping the hoses supple and makes them easier to use.
I use immersion heaters in the tank cost £15 and heat overnight so prevent freezing as well
I couldn't get a written reply from my insurance company regarding lpg and as I employ can't take chances
Diesel systems are so highly priced I just don't see that you could get a return on your outlay
Darran
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I have a brilliant system for freezing water . . . . just go abroad somewhere hot for three months ;D
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Hi I think this topic has been raised many times .I have one of the better hot water systems its gas and have used the hot about 3 times in a year. Lets look at a few facts extra cost the old chestnut about being able to work when its freezing is rubbish because your system is frozen, unless you put a heater in the back of the van over night or drain your water heater (a pain in the arse) it will freeze up and when it does 9 out of 10 times its had it new boiler. Now for all those who says it cleans better . Think of this your a trad window cleaner you start the morning with you bucket of nice hot water as you go around you round are the windows getting worse or are you tacking longer as the water gets colder (I think not ).
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Any chance of a link to the emmersion you use please?
You have to decide if the cost will be recouped by working quicker or when cold would freeze so you can carry on.
Some here use hot all year and say it makes a real difference, personally, never noticed much of a time difference between hot or cold whether that's regular cleans or manky one off work.
Hot is great during the winter months November to February for keeping the hoses supple and makes them easier to use.
I use immersion heaters in the tank cost £15 and heat overnight so prevent freezing as well
I couldn't get a written reply from my insurance company regarding lpg and as I employ can't take chances
Diesel systems are so highly priced I just don't see that you could get a return on your outlay
Darran
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I have gas (fogwash) waste of time in the summer. Dodgy insurance too. If I have time I may go down the immersion tank route this year.
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I think you have to ask yourself the questions - in an average year how many days were lost to freezing weather ? how many times was your equipment unusable because it was frozen ? had you have had hot water would have been out working ?
and would the initial price and running costs of whichever hot water system you choose be worth the investment ?
In my situation the answer was no.
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For the few days a year when it's minus 4 or 5 an immersion heater does fine to stop the brushes freezing up. I also fill up direct with hot water with a bypass tap from the Combi boiler straight onto the outside tap for the days when it's colder than forecast or I forget / can't be bothered to put the immersion on.
I couldn't be bothered with the hassle using hot all year round.
Ask Dazmond ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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The immersion is any standard one from the like of screw fix etc... You will need a back nut available from tool station and depending on the tank long arms !!
I'd also reccomend you use artic flex and don't run off an extension but a suitable socket on mains ring 32a I think
A search should bring up some great threads in installation and running, over six hours the tank gets to between 28 and 30 degrees, but close of play the remaining water is about 15 to 18 degrees
Darran
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Does it not cost a small fortune to run an immersion all night? Also is it really that safe to have that voltage running in van while ur asleep
Are the LPG really that bad? For the money are they not worth having or is there other issues with then like insurance or fumes?
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LPG is good but installation and insurance is a bit of a grey area.
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Depends on your tariff but something in the region of 20p per hour.
Are you worried that your water tank is heating water overnight in your home ? Right next to where your sleeping ?
Darran
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Though I use hot water for about 2-3 months of the year, I could probably get away with not using it most of the time during those months. However, it makes my gear nice and warm to work with on those cold winter days and prevents freeze-ups on the days when the temperature does drop and stay below zero. I've not worn gloves in winter for years as a result.
I use an Ecotemp L5 propane shower heater when filling my barrels in the morning whilst I'm getting ready. It takes about an hour to fill 7 25ltr barrels
I have to say I don't find it cleans significantly better though it does feel slicker under the brush for some reason and it is a tad quicker on bird muck and snail trails.
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I had an old L5 heater for yonks until one night last winter. Guess who forgot to drain it down overnight...Oops! ;D
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I replaced it with one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless-New-8L-Gas-LPG-Propane-Tankless-Instant-Hot-Water-Heater-Boiler-Hot-/301722139509?hash=item46400a7b75
Which is a great little heater unlike the L5
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So did you have it installed by a gasman ?
Darran
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I replaced it with one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless-New-8L-Gas-LPG-Propane-Tankless-Instant-Hot-Water-Heater-Boiler-Hot-/301722139509?hash=item46400a7b75
Which is a great little heater unlike the L5
Looks good. What are the dimensions? Is it smaller or bigger than the L5?
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So did you have it installed by a gasman ?
Darran
its portable, do you need a gas man to hook up a bbq?
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I replaced it with one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless-New-8L-Gas-LPG-Propane-Tankless-Instant-Hot-Water-Heater-Boiler-Hot-/301722139509?hash=item46400a7b75
Which is a great little heater unlike the L5
Looks good. What are the dimensions? Is it smaller or bigger than the L5?
Slightly bigger but not by much but to be honest I cant be arsed to measure it.
Anyway if you have a look on the fleebay link it give you them there
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I replaced it with one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless-New-8L-Gas-LPG-Propane-Tankless-Instant-Hot-Water-Heater-Boiler-Hot-/301722139509?hash=item46400a7b75
Which is a great little heater unlike the L5
Looks good. What are the dimensions? Is it smaller or bigger than the L5?
Slightly bigger but not by much but to be honest I cant be arsed to measure it.
Anyway if you have a look on the fleebay link it give you them there
What probs did you have with your L5?
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I replaced it with one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless-New-8L-Gas-LPG-Propane-Tankless-Instant-Hot-Water-Heater-Boiler-Hot-/301722139509?hash=item46400a7b75
Which is a great little heater unlike the L5
Looks good. What are the dimensions? Is it smaller or bigger than the L5?
Slightly bigger but not by much but to be honest I cant be arsed to measure it.
Anyway if you have a look on the fleebay link it give you them there
How have you it vented then? and how is it any better than the L5?
Any issues with your insurance with it in the van?
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Before getting all prickly I was asking the question because that's what the seller stated
See below quote from sellers ad:
Safety Tips
1. Must be installed by gasman.
2. Must be used under the condition of ventilation, ensuring the normal condition of the flue kit.
3. Please use and maintain the heater according to the manual.
4. Please check the gas connection regularly to ensure there is no leaking risks.
Best regards
Darran
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Before getting all prickly I was asking the question because that's what the seller stated
See below quote from sellers ad:
Safety Tips
1. Must be installed by gasman.
2. Must be used under the condition of ventilation, ensuring the normal condition of the flue kit.
3. Please use and maintain the heater according to the manual.
4. Please check the gas connection regularly to ensure there is no leaking risks.
Best regards
Darran
I dont think you read the questions properly lad
I was asking how you vented yours, why is it better than the L5 and any insurance issues with it i.e. are you covered in the event of an accident
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if your round consists of mainly maintenance window cleaning week in/week out id say hot water is an expense you dont really need.you can clean windows 99% of the time with cold water just fine.
id say keep expenses to a minimum and forget about hot water.its also an extra faff you can do without.
keep it simple.
to make a difference in regards to cleaning power you need to have the water at 40-50 degrees which brings its own problems(risk of cracking glass,blown hoses and of course extra expense in gas).the time you might save is marginal and easily eaten up by the extra time you ll spend draining heater,tightening connectors,changing bottles etc.
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Have to agree 100% with Dazmond its a lot of trouble for little gain. I could have brought a whole new cold system for what the hot part of my system cost to buy and fit. I don't understand this working in winter when its freezing advantage, all hot water boilers start by water flow if your system is frozen like any van base system will be below zero if you haven't left some sort of heating on over night. you cannot fire up your system.
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Before getting all prickly I was asking the question because that's what the seller stated
See below quote from sellers ad:
Safety Tips
1. Must be installed by gasman.
2. Must be used under the condition of ventilation, ensuring the normal condition of the flue kit.
3. Please use and maintain the heater according to the manual.
4. Please check the gas connection regularly to ensure there is no leaking risks.
Best regards
Darran
I dont think you read the questions properly lad
And smurf pointed out he uses the one linked in his post, therefore I was asking HIM did he use a gasman to fit it ;)
I was asking how you vented yours, why is it better than the L5 and any insurance issues with it i.e. are you covered in the event of an accident
i don't use them, too many question marks over insurance
Ok sunny ;D
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I used to have the purefreedom diesel hot system in my last van, expensive overkill IMO. Now thanks to advice from chumbucket and others on here I now have a 3kw immersion in my tank, total cost including upgrading electrics in my garage around £200
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Ising hot doesn't have to be a ball ache as Daz describes, if set up properly.
I use hot/warm all year round & have done for the last 7-8 yrs.
I have a refillable gas tank, not a cylinder, so once a week when i go to the garage to Get diesel i fill up with lpg ( no hassle there )
I never drain the system at night,
I have my heater mounted on my tank in the centre of the van, it has a big air gap around it which helps to stop freezing.
When i had the old L5 mounted on the wall of the van i had 2 or 3 freeze up.
If the overnight temp is around about zero to minus 1 or 2 i just wrap the heater with an old duvet, any colder i'll put an oil filled rad in there overnight.
You also need a good pump controller, i use the analogue one with the external dead end control dial, so you can easily adjust the D/E to stop over pressuring the hose ( ive had the same reel of Thermobore for 4 1/2 yrs )
As said hot wont make things magically melt away, i just like using it, makes my working day that little bit easier ad i find that cost is minimal, its roughly about 1% of my weekly earnings .
As been said prviously using hot feels different & i dont know why, i hate using cold nowadays,
To summarise,
Will hot dramatically change they you work No
Will using hot help you work through freezing winters, a little, if its too cold the water will freeze on the window as soon as it cools down
But it will make your day a bit easier, plus i dont carry any chemicals like tfr etc for con roof/ fascia cleans as i find if i turn up the heat a bit theres no need for them.
Hope this helps
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each to their own but i was spending £50 a month on gas.if i used hot all year round thats £600 a year.over 5 years thats 3grand(enough to buy a good decent second hand van).
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each to their own but i was spending £50 a month on gas.if i used hot all year round thats £600 a year.over 5 years thats 3grand(enough to buy a good decent second hand van).
Or a new Gardiners pole ;D
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I totally agree with Daz. I admit in past i used it every day, and yes i loved it! But it does come with the hassles daz mentioned. Since moving over to my truck i havent put the heater on once, and can honestly say its been a lot less hassle and i havent missed it.
I wouldnt say it makes the job much quicker...it just makes the job nicer...meaning youll probably stay out a bit longer and do a couple more. I would say it costs £30 - 50 a month in gas. Im not slating it at all, and if you fancy it, try it.
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each to their own but i was spending £50 a month on gas.if i used hot all year round thats £600 a year.over 5 years thats 3grand(enough to buy a good decent second hand van).
but you said it was the best thing seen slice bread last year ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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each to their own but i was spending £50 a month on gas.if i used hot all year round thats £600 a year.over 5 years thats 3grand(enough to buy a good decent second hand van).
but you said it was the best thing seen slice bread last year ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
i have the right to change my mind franky through experience! ;)
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I would not be without my chepo lpg gas heater but each to their own. ;D
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each to their own but i was spending £50 a month on gas.if i used hot all year round thats £600 a year.over 5 years thats 3grand(enough to buy a good decent second hand van).
but you said it was the best thing seen slice bread last year ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
i have the right to change my mind franky through experience! ;)
Totally agree, its always easy to see something through rose tinted glasses when first using it especially when its cost a
few quid, it only when things settle and you put it into everyday use that you can really make a judgement on what it offers you.
We have all been there.
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I've been using hot for yonks as mostly do exterior property cleaning mingers.
On regular window cleaning it also nice to have the option to use hot on demand too.
Same goes for using hot water using a hot box for pressure washing too.
Speaking of which I better get off my arse now and go clean a customer driveway ;D