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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Jsw window cleaning on November 25, 2016, 11:15:15 am

Title: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Jsw window cleaning on November 25, 2016, 11:15:15 am
I've tried oil radiator method but it ended up being very costly over a long winter. Looking how I can insulate van pumps and pipes best. Thanks
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: NWH on November 25, 2016, 11:58:55 am
Facelift do a blower for the rear of the vehicle about 500.
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Jsw window cleaning on November 25, 2016, 12:04:13 pm
Facelift do a blower for the rear of the vehicle about 500.

Sorry mate so not understand that at all
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Jsw window cleaning on November 25, 2016, 12:06:09 pm
Facelift do a blower for the rear of the vehicle about 500.

What do you mean by a blower
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: nathankaye on November 25, 2016, 12:10:22 pm
Ive got the silver bubble bk insulation sheets and wrapped my 500 litre tank.
Last winter and currently i use the oil radiator, its only dinky and a digi timer plug. I set it for an hr at midnight till 1am then bk on at 3-4 and finally at 5-7 or sometimes longer. I have a 2006 fiat scudo and inside of roof is lined with same insulation. Not had any problems with freezing.
Currently waiting on hearing how someone has got on with a hot tub heating pump. Look on the thread "is anybody using this to heat the water" thread.
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Jsw window cleaning on November 25, 2016, 12:14:51 pm
Ive got the silver bubble bk insulation sheets and wrapped my 500 litre tank.
Last winter and currently i use the oil radiator, its only dinky and a digi timer plug. I set it for an hr at midnight till 1am then bk on at 3-4 and finally at 5-7 or sometimes longer. I have a 2006 fiat scudo and inside of roof is lined with same insulation. Not had any problems with freezing.
Currently waiting on hearing how someone has got on with a hot tub heating pump. Look on the thread "is anybody using this to heat the water" thread.

Thanks mate I used to use that silver bubble stuff to insulate My ro  filters it's good stuff.
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on November 25, 2016, 12:28:19 pm
That bubble foil insulation is brilliant stuff - I stuck it to the van roof & wall panels (In behind the ply lining where possible), and then got a 500w fishtank heater to drop in the tank with the thermostat on it turned down to minimum (16C I think). It was cheaper to run than an oilfilled radiator, and got the heat where it was needed most
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Soupy on November 25, 2016, 12:57:35 pm
Facelift do a blower for the rear of the vehicle about 500.

Sorry mate so not understand that at all

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/facelift-proheat-van-heater.html

Probably cheaper to carry on with the oil filled radiator to be honest.
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: dazmond on November 25, 2016, 07:55:29 pm
I've tried oil radiator method but it ended up being very costly over a long winter. Looking how I can insulate van pumps and pipes best. Thanks

how much does it cost a night?and how many times do you have to put a heater in the back of the van during the winter?

you dont need to put a heater in the back unless its below -2 in my experience.the last few years it been around 10 times each winter (roughly £1-50 a night in electric).which works out at £15.which in turn allows you to work the next day.

even if it was 30-40 times during a cold winter its only £45-£60.
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on November 25, 2016, 08:03:19 pm
EBERSPACHER AIRTRONIC are the best things to have ,  we have them in all our vans , park up turn on and walk away northing else needed
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Og on November 25, 2016, 08:04:10 pm
Drain water out of pump etc and lag the hell out of the outlet on the tank, assuming you have an isolater there. If there's no water to freeze.....
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Tristan R Clean on November 25, 2016, 08:38:52 pm
Nice idea Susan but these Eberneezerspatula units are a bit pricey  :o

Tris
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Windy Miller on November 25, 2016, 08:56:01 pm
Drain water out of pump etc and lag the hell out of the outlet on the tank, assuming you have an isolater there. If there's no water to freeze.....
+1

If there's a remote chance of a frost I disconnect and drain everything in the van which holds water and cover everything with old sleeping bags,it sounds basic but I've never had an issue yet.

Although I do plan to get a heater with timer as it seems like we are going to get a bad one this winter!
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Smurf on November 25, 2016, 09:15:28 pm
I suppose if you’re looking for the cheapest way but could be a pain in the arse is to take out any vulnerable kit indoors. That’s if you don't have a ro/di setup and/or static reels etc in the van.


 

Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: DeLuce on November 25, 2016, 11:19:46 pm
I agree with Dazmond 's post. You only need to think of the heater whatever when temp drops to -1 downward. If you have access to an electricity supply and extention, just buy a  standard fan heater and put it on frost setting and leave over night in the back of the van. Don't need high tech. Not been that many nights over the last few years when it's gone much below -1 anyway unless you are in't far north.
As already said, if you think it's going to be a decent freeze, empty pressure from your hoses, cover with duvet or something like that. Job done.  ;D
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: nathankaye on November 25, 2016, 11:50:38 pm
Somebody i know once told me he got one of those big slow burning candles. His vans is secure on his drive, sets candle save inside and lights candle
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Dave Willis on November 26, 2016, 07:18:32 am
Greenhouse tube heater is the cheapest method but not the best. I used to put one next to the pump and cover the reel with an old quilt. Quick blast with a fan heater whilst having breakfast always worked for me. This year I'm hoping the immersion heater does the job.
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: dazmond on November 26, 2016, 07:23:42 am
Somebody i know once told me he got one of those big slow burning candles. His vans is secure on his drive, sets candle save inside and lights candle

 ::)roll
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: dazmond on November 26, 2016, 07:25:52 am
its certainly frosty where i am this morning!just put heater in the back at 7am.should be fine for work today(dont start til 10 on saturdays) ;D
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Soupy on November 26, 2016, 07:27:08 am
Throughout winter here is what we do:

1. Blow out the reels. If you buy a small compressor off ebay you'll find the fitting is the same as the rectus 26 ka fittings (sometimes called pro 26 or brodex fittings). The reels are the worst to defrost if they're totally frozen. Disconnect the reels plug em in and wait till air comes through.

B. Drain the pump. All we do is unplug both sides and run it for 2 mins. If the pump freezes overnight and it's full of water it can crack so it's better to have it drained.

D. Insulate where possible. We use the silver bubble wrap stuff. Everywhere we can get it.

3. Fill up. On winter mornings saving time is the name of the game so it's a much better idea to leave it full. Sometimes the top freezes but that's not a problem, the business end is the bottom. It needs to be really cold to freeze that much water. We've only had one instance of a full tank freezing and that was below -20 so we weren't going to be doing much anyway.
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on November 26, 2016, 08:49:55 am
Nice idea Susan but these Eberneezerspatula units are a bit pricey  :o

Tris

you can get the recon ones quite cheap , you get the money back for them on tax , and they paid for them selfs in two days of not having the van frozen , you can go any where you like in the van and never have to worrie what the weather going to and its great seeing all the cars in the street with 6inches of snow on them and your van with northing
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: The Jester of Wibbly on November 26, 2016, 09:13:00 am
If the temperature forcast is forcast to be lower than 2 degrees I play it safe. Never trust forecasts to be accurate.  I just run a small fan heater and set it to just above frost protection.  No timer needed. If it doesn't fall below freezing the heater won't kick in.  If it is freezing the heater will just come on for a short period and shut off again once Van is kept to safe temperature.  Little cost and only spends when it's  absolutely needed.
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: dave the rave on November 26, 2016, 12:53:59 pm
i used a greenhouse  heater on a timer to come on every 2 hours through the night. Never had a problem.
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Tony dunmall on November 26, 2016, 05:18:04 pm
I've just bought the Grippa cabinet with air heater for pumps,  for house reel's I'll just pop 2kw heater in van

Susan what's the cost of running the  EBERSPACHER AIRTRONIC  and how do batteries fair over weekend, are they linked to fuel or just battery just out of interest the look like interesting idea
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: wfp master on November 26, 2016, 07:16:02 pm
Ive got the silver bubble bk insulation sheets and wrapped my 500 litre tank.
Last winter and currently i use the oil radiator, its only dinky and a digi timer plug. I set it for an hr at midnight till 1am then bk on at 3-4 and finally at 5-7 or sometimes longer. I have a 2006 fiat scudo and inside of roof is lined with same insulation. Not had any problems with freezing.
Currently waiting on hearing how someone has got on with a hot tub heating pump. Look on the thread "is anybody using this to heat the water" thread.
where does one purchase the silver bubble stuff.?
Title: Re: How can I stop my van freezing?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on November 26, 2016, 07:42:51 pm
B&Q stock it near me...

where does one purchase the silver bubble stuff.?