Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Richard Groves on February 06, 2021, 01:05:26 am

Title: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 06, 2021, 01:05:26 am
Never had one before. Rarely I'm caught out with frozen hoses as on South coast but have been once or twice. Noticed my local Aldi is doing a 600 w for £15. With another cold snap due, do you think it'll be up to the job or just too small ?
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Simon Trapani on February 06, 2021, 07:33:35 am
Not sure what wattage mine are but at that price I’d just take a punt.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 06, 2021, 07:35:50 am
I would think that’s too small unless you could situate it directly  underneath  what you don’t want to freeze, it won’t protect a full van, it will create a very small hotspot

I don’t like radiator type heaters as they don’t circulates the heat around the van as good as a blown air heater
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: GAZZA B on February 06, 2021, 08:34:19 am
i have one permanently in the van , i never take it out works perfectly well. i have mine right next to the pump and reel, however you only need to keep the inside from freezing which that will do.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Spruce on February 06, 2021, 08:41:21 am
Never had one before. Rarely I'm caught out with frozen hoses as on South coast but have been once or twice. Noticed my local Aldi is doing a 600 w for £15. With another cold snap due, do you think it'll be up to the job or just too small ?

 Mine's an 800watt modified skirting board heater. I welded a frame up for it with castors and added a frostat many years ago. It sits in the back of the van. Mike's right, it does create a 'hotspot' at the back but it's set to kick on at around 3 degrees so the front section of the van will be colder. My tank is fitted width ways across the van. My diesel heater also has a frostat and that is set to kick on around 3 degrees as well. It occasionally does that during the night.

Before I had the diesel heater I threw a large duvet over the tank. It covered the pumps on one side and the hose reels on the other side. I never had anything freeze up, even during that bad spell of weather in 2010/11 (?) which hit us badly on the North East coast.

 
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: SB Cleaning on February 06, 2021, 09:02:23 am
Depends on size of van a 600w would be to cold in my vivaro.

Mines 1800w I run it off a segment timer so i can set it to come off and on through the night.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 06, 2021, 10:08:43 am
Thanks for replies.
Vans a Berlingo.
My local Screwfix has stock of these at same price, thinking this might be better.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/goodhome-colenso-fh-715-freestanding-oscillating-fan-heater-2000w/233jk
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Smudger on February 06, 2021, 10:27:00 am
600 watt is fine - I use one in a transit jumbo to protect the pressure washer pumps

your only looking to keep it from freezing not heat it to 60 degrees like your living room.

I set mine on 4 in really cold weather otherwise just on min which is about 2 degrees above freezing point

Darran
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: GAZZA B on February 06, 2021, 10:30:09 am
Yes I have a Berlingo van its prefect,
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: johnny bravo on February 06, 2021, 12:27:23 pm
do you just leave them pluged in,    do your doors lock ok with the cord .    especially if on driveway
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Ggh on February 06, 2021, 12:58:36 pm
All depends how cold it gets. Might be okay for -4c but not enough for colder.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 06, 2021, 02:12:28 pm
do you just leave them pluged in,    do your doors lock ok with the cord .    especially if on driveway
I run an extension lead out to my van to charge battery. Doors close and lock fine.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Simon Trapani on February 06, 2021, 03:04:37 pm
Just checked mine. They’re both 800w. We have Vivaro’s. Probably wish I’d got slightly bigger though. It hasn’t been ridiculously cold since I’ve had my two.

As said above, you only have to keep the temp a few degrees above freezing; not toasty. You don’t want overkill or it’ll cost you more in electric.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 06, 2021, 06:18:03 pm
Thanks 👍
Yeah I'm not looking to heat the van just stop mainly the fixed hose reel from freezing.
I'm edging more towards getting me a small fan heater now though.
Reasons being it may be more versatile in my workshop etc.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Ched on February 06, 2021, 06:22:54 pm
Thanks 👍
Yeah I'm not looking to heat the van just stop mainly the fixed hose reel from freezing.
I'm edging more towards getting me a small fan heater now though.
Reasons being it may be more versatile in my workshop etc.
The problem with fan heaters is that if some thing falls on it like some drying cloths then they can catch fire. An oil radiator doesn't get hot enough to set anything on fire!!!
I do think a fan heater is much better in a workshop as you can direct the heat at yourself.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Smudger on February 06, 2021, 06:24:24 pm
Have fan heaters changed over the years ? - they used to have elements inside them that are basicically 'live' electrical wires  they were prone to overheat if covered and catch fire also not good in a place with water or lots of condensation - the oil rad is fully enclosed and much more waterproof -

Maybe the more modern electric fans are safer than they used to be ?

Darran
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 06, 2021, 06:40:46 pm
Thanks everyone.
I understand concerns about a fan heater. I wouldn't be leaving it in van overnight like an oil filled rad.  I have a DIY quick connect pump box that I drain on cold nights along with the fixed reel. I have had rare occasions when standing water remains in hose and freezes causing blockages . Like I say, rare on the south coast. I reckon a 30 mins blast of a fan heater first thing in morning whilst I'm getting ready and having a cuppa would sort it if it were to happen.

I just happened to spot the oil filled rad in Aldi whilst food shopping and seemed cheap as chips  so thought I'd ask on here. A decent enough fan heater could cost me up to £40 not that I'm bothered. I think it's versatility may suit my needs better.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Simon Trapani on February 06, 2021, 07:03:43 pm
Just remember ‘prevention is better than cure’, especially when it comes to freezing. And much quicker too.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 06, 2021, 07:12:29 pm
You're right Simon.
It's £15 after all, I'm gonna pick one up tomorrow. Frost stat control is all I need in a small van and needn't bother faffing about draining hoses again. I plug a charger in each night for leisure battery anyhow so it would just be good practice to plug a rad in each night through the winter.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: johnny bravo on February 06, 2021, 10:36:28 pm
keep checking   weather for -  minus sign.      Harder to defrost 100m    reel hose  out  once frozen.  half a days work lost if rest of weather is dry     
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 07, 2021, 12:24:00 am
That's why I've done a u turn and am heeding Simons advice that prevention is better than cure.😉
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: colin bird on February 07, 2021, 09:13:26 am
Never had one before. Rarely I'm caught out with frozen hoses as on South coast but have been once or twice. Noticed my local Aldi is doing a 600 w for £15. With another cold snap due, do you think it'll be up to the job or just too small ?

I'm in West Sussex ( Thakeham) I've used a 500w oil filled radiator in the back of my van for several years not had any problems to date
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: colin bird on February 07, 2021, 09:17:51 am
do you just leave them pluged in,    do your doors lock ok with the cord .    especially if on driveway
[/quote

My radiator is in back of van and plugged in to socket in garage van doors lock,
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: NBwcs on February 07, 2021, 01:30:30 pm
That's why I've done a u turn and am heeding Simons advice that prevention is better than cure.😉

Dont hang about, i phoned aldis to make sure they had some in b4 i turned up  and still had a wasted journey. Worth a punt at £15 if you can bag one.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: deeege on February 07, 2021, 01:54:21 pm
https://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-st-52-241-e-freestanding-space-heater-2000w/8020p

Been using one of these for years now, great bit of kit.

Throw it in the back and forget about it until the morning. Can either use heat or just air movement.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 08, 2021, 05:13:19 pm
That's why I've done a u turn and am heeding Simons advice that prevention is better than cure.😉

Dont hang about, i phoned aldis to make sure they had some in b4 i turned up  and still had a wasted journey. Worth a punt at £15 if you can bag one.
My mistake, they're 800w. Anyways took a punt for £15. Fortunately my local Aldi still had good stock. 😊
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: NWH on February 08, 2021, 05:28:52 pm
I had an absolute nightmare yesterday I had to plug my van in to the external charger 🔌 and forget about it till I next go to work 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣,get a hot 🥵 1.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 08, 2021, 05:49:36 pm
I had an absolute nightmare yesterday I had to plug my van in to the external charger 🔌 and forget about it till I next go to work 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣,get a hot 🥵 1.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: NWH on February 08, 2021, 05:58:04 pm
More like the same old record comes out every year once the cold weather starts,a hot system is a complete waste of money all year apart from when your van is like the inside of my freezer lol oil filler rads 🤣🤣 what kind of work are you boys cleaning is it boys work 🤣🤣 going out doing blocks of flats and 5 houses are you,I think you should be charging a bit more you could buy a hot system with no worries couldn’t you or have a week off with the fire on all I’m worried about this week is keeping my wood burner going.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Smudger on February 08, 2021, 06:14:22 pm
5k Spent  or £15 both still at home who's the big fool  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Ian will on February 08, 2021, 06:18:52 pm
Ive got a little 700w oil filled rad which Ive used once  so far in my vw transpoter t5 lwb  with a row of seats behind the driver and passenger seats then a bulk head fitted. I turned the temp switch to half way and checked it at different  times to see what the temp in the back of the van which varied between 2 to 10 degrees c, when I checked in the morning the temp was 8 degrees c and nothing frozen so I  would get one  and give it a go. At a very rough  guess at the power used was about 60p going by the monitor in the house to the reading on the monitor the next morning but dont take it  as right.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: NWH on February 08, 2021, 06:39:47 pm
5k Spent  or £15 both still at home who's the big fool  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Who cares m8 not a problem rich Mrs lol she doesn’t want me going in the van tomorrow with it smelling like a greenhouse 🤣🤣🤣 🥬 🥬 🥬 🥬 🥬 🥬
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: deeege on February 08, 2021, 06:43:42 pm
5k Spent  or £15 both still at home who's the big fool  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Who cares m8 not a problem rich Mrs lol she doesn’t want me going in the van tomorrow with it smelling like a greenhouse 🤣🤣🤣 🥬 🥬 🥬 🥬 🥬 🥬

Is your pretend rich Mrs going to pay your pretend staff whilst they all sit on their arses for the rest of the week?
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Bungle on February 08, 2021, 07:48:52 pm
I had an absolute nightmare yesterday I had to plug my van in to the external charger 🔌 and forget about it till I next go to work 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣,get a hot 🥵 1.

(https://media.giphy.com/media/l0Iyg5ti9tCHDf7Co/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: NWH on February 08, 2021, 07:56:02 pm
5k Spent  or £15 both still at home who's the big fool  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Who cares m8 not a problem rich Mrs lol she doesn’t want me going in the van tomorrow with it smelling like a greenhouse 🤣🤣🤣 🥬 🥬 🥬 🥬 🥬 🥬

Is your pretend rich Mrs going to pay your pretend staff whilst they all sit on their arses for the rest of the week?
Yeah she is m8 good girl.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Smudger on February 08, 2021, 08:01:36 pm
Ive got a little 700w oil filled rad which Ive used once  so far in my vw transpoter t5 lwb  with a row of seats behind the driver and passenger seats then a bulk head fitted. I turned the temp switch to half way and checked it at different  times to see what the temp in the back of the van which varied between 2 to 10 degrees c, when I checked in the morning the temp was 8 degrees c and nothing frozen so I  would get one  and give it a go. At a very rough  guess at the power used was about 60p going by the monitor in the house to the reading on the monitor the next morning but dont take it  as right.

don't mention transporters - you'll have Nigel gagging and pulling his bell end so hard he'll get mayo on his underpants while swivelling in his chair
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :-*
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: NWH on February 08, 2021, 08:13:54 pm
No fingers making a little triangle whilst sitting back on my swivel chair lol,laying on the couch peeling my plums maybe 🤣🤣🤣
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Don Kee on February 08, 2021, 08:53:23 pm
No fingers making a little triangle whilst sitting back on my swivel chair lol,laying on the couch peeling my plums maybe 🤣🤣🤣


If you are going inside buildings and members of the public are coming and going the management company will want it if you are to carry on,if we hadn’t had provided it we wouldn’t have been allowed to continue it just means you have to adhere to COVID guidelines ie gloves face masks etc.


Who are “we”?
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: NWH on February 08, 2021, 08:55:35 pm
We are we have you watched Shaun Atwood yet on Apostates.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 08, 2021, 10:00:03 pm
I'm having the time off in this cold weather too also with my feet up in front of my woodburner. Only difference between us is I've an extra 5k in the bank ( or to spend on whatever I so wish ) rather than in the back of my van doing nothing.
I'm sure hot waters great. I can afford a hot system if I wanted. I don't want one though.
I've spent the grand sum of £15 so I don't have to drain my system and reel of a night in freezing temps.
But carry on by all means.
Keep beating your chest like a big hairy ape.🐵
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: NWH on February 08, 2021, 10:48:41 pm
When it freezes like it will this week night after night after night it will still freeze up,you have water in the system somewhere ie the pump the joins and the bends in tubing the fitting going into the reel the list goes on.
If you do get it going the hose will be so stiff once you get it off the reel you won’t get it back on it lol.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Mike Burd on February 09, 2021, 06:23:23 am
When it freezes like it will this week night after night after night it will still freeze up,you have water in the system somewhere ie the pump the joins and the bends in tubing the fitting going into the reel the list goes on.
If you do get it going the hose will be so stiff once you get it off the reel you won’t get it back on it lol.
I had it in my mind you were Ascot way?
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 09, 2021, 01:14:01 pm
When it freezes like it will this week night after night after night it will still freeze up,you have water in the system somewhere ie the pump the joins and the bends in tubing the fitting going into the reel the list goes on.
If you do get it going the hose will be so stiff once you get it off the reel you won’t get it back on it lol.
Well, plugged my £15 radiator in last night and guess what ?
None of the above happened.
Just cleaned my own windows as a test run. No issues whatsoever.
Still wouldn't want to be out working today/tomorrow and I don't need to be. Pavements are still iced up and the wind chill doing my own windows was enough , I've got to tend to my wood burner anyway  :D
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: NWH on February 09, 2021, 02:17:02 pm
If you use a mono brush in these conditions they’ll just look like someone run their fingernails through the dirt after they’ve been cleaned,please if you must clean windows in this use a flocked brush lol.
Title: Re: Oil filled rad
Post by: Richard Groves on February 09, 2021, 02:54:45 pm
If you use a mono brush in these conditions they’ll just look like someone run their fingernails through the dirt after they’ve been cleaned,please if you must clean windows in this use a flocked brush lol.
I did.  I was testing the system out on my own windows to see if the heater did the job I intended it to  -  keeping my pump, reel, hoses and gear frost and ice free and it did . I'm not working in these conditions , I can't be arsed and I've no need to.