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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: russ_clark on September 24, 2007, 10:08:56 pm

Title: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: russ_clark on September 24, 2007, 10:08:56 pm
Has anyone been thinking about these.
I got caught out last year when Mr.Frost came along.
My vans have 1/2 inch hose running from the pumps
through the floor and exit under rear bumpers.
I have some pipe lagging which I put on last year
and that helped but I really need something a bit
more professional on the heater front.
Maybe something that can stay on all night
in the rear of the van or underneath it??
Any Ideas?
What do you do??
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Pole2pole on September 24, 2007, 10:12:19 pm
I get the misses to breath in and out all night long. All that hot air, not only stops the pipes freezing up but makes the van nice and toasty for me in the morn  ;)
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: russ_clark on September 24, 2007, 10:38:31 pm
Dino
u r a funny guy
 ;D ;D
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Pole2pole on September 24, 2007, 10:40:49 pm
If she ever reads these posts, i trust you'll all be attending my funeral?  ;D
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: russ_clark on September 24, 2007, 10:49:24 pm
As long as it's not in the winter
cos my bloody pipes will be frozen :'( :'(
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on September 24, 2007, 10:51:56 pm
I use a camping gas heater, put it on in the back about an hour before a leave for work.  They are really small which is important with my setup.

Simon.
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: russ_clark on September 24, 2007, 11:11:51 pm
Hi Simon

Are they the ones with the aerosol type gas ??

Russ
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: dave0123 on September 24, 2007, 11:15:00 pm
I was thinking of having my static tank outside but inside a built wooden box for it like a little shed just for that and the RO.

do you think itl be ok outside? forgout about winter now thinking the pipes will freeze.

DAVE
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Paul Coleman on September 24, 2007, 11:19:58 pm
Has anyone been thinking about these.
I got caught out last year when Mr.Frost came along.
My vans have 1/2 inch hose running from the pumps
through the floor and exit under rear bumpers.
I have some pipe lagging which I put on last year
and that helped but I really need something a bit
more professional on the heater front.
Maybe something that can stay on all night
in the rear of the van or underneath it??
Any Ideas?
What do you do??

It might not look professional but as well as pipe lagging, I also use old duvets to wrap around things.
I suppose the best way if you have to park on the street overnight might be one of those Eberspacher heaters that ruin off the glow plugs like the lorry drivers use - except use it to keep the back frost free.
It's not something I will be doing with my current van but I will be considering it when I eventually replace this one.
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Pat Purcell on September 24, 2007, 11:42:54 pm
At the end of the day in winter we used to disconnect the outlet hose from the DI and pump windshield washer( deicer )fluid thru the pipes until it came out the other end, Then in the morning pump it back out into the gallon and repeat that evening
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on September 24, 2007, 11:47:10 pm
That's what I've got.  Works really well.  Cheap and cheerful.

Simon.
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on September 24, 2007, 11:49:14 pm
Oh dear
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Trevor Knight on September 26, 2007, 10:45:18 am
We use a pond heater to keep the water luke warm to avoid freezing.
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Spursboy1972 on September 26, 2007, 11:33:58 am
Somewhere someone told me that heating the water after it has been purified affects the properties of the pure water. Is this BS?

Ifg it is I was thinking of putting an inverter in my van and I have an old water bed heater at home that |I dcould put under the tank and warm it up that way.

Any advice or input greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Trevor Knight on September 26, 2007, 11:42:47 am
Not sure to be honest Tony, we heat the water and then send it through a DI cannister so the reading is always 000tds?
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Captain Scarlet on September 26, 2007, 06:54:41 pm
Trevor, do you heat it onboard, if so how? thanks, Luke
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: windowwashers on September 26, 2007, 07:05:54 pm
We use a pond heater to keep the water luke warm to avoid freezing.
Trevor, any chance of a pic? also how do you power a pond heater in the van and where di you get it from sry for all the Q's just never thought of it before, god I love this forum  :D
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: geefree on September 26, 2007, 07:56:52 pm
Has anyone tried those small paraffin greenhouse heaters,... i guess they will smell a bit , but do you reckon they are safe to use?

if the side door locks on the first click leaving a gap, it would be ventilated , but then again thats letting jack frost in  ::)
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: tonyoliver on September 26, 2007, 07:57:27 pm
hope your insurance covers fire
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: geefree on September 26, 2007, 07:59:28 pm
its about the size of my hand a greenhouse heater, frost protector etc.... i dont use one, im asking if anyone has    ::) ::) ???
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: windowwashers on September 26, 2007, 08:22:55 pm
Has anyone tried those small paraffin greenhouse heaters,... i guess they will smell a bit , but do you reckon they are safe to use?

if the side door locks on the first click leaving a gap, it would be ventilated , but then again thats letting jack frost in  ::)
I would not use one myself, you are just asking fro trouble, there must be a van heater on the market, and someone on here will have heard of a sort of thing, just have to wait for the right reply.

Ian
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Captain Scarlet on September 26, 2007, 08:27:50 pm
ive been asking for weeks, nobody gives the right reply on this topic!
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: jeff1 on September 26, 2007, 08:30:05 pm
This is what I do with my Tank in the winter?
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/Trailerpics001WinCE.jpg)
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Captain Scarlet on September 26, 2007, 08:34:02 pm
do you keep that stuff underneath the tank aswell or does it just get squashed?, I have been thinking of doing this to mine too!!
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Lizzy on September 26, 2007, 08:38:33 pm
A night heater like in Lorries can be fitted to your Van.  they come in 12v and 24v and cost about £750.
Sounds expensive but how many days off in 1 year due to frozen water and burst pipes?
Eberspacher Night heater will last years.   
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: jeff1 on September 26, 2007, 08:39:48 pm
do you keep that stuff underneath the tank aswell or does it just get squashed?, I have been thinking of doing this to mine too!!
I put it underneath aswell in the winter, but really no need to as its a timber base, but I just like to make sure, I take it out in the summer and reinstall in the winter.

Got it all ready to do my IBC tank as well.
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Captain Scarlet on September 26, 2007, 08:40:58 pm
I have never wfp in winter so what can I expect if I do nothing to keep things warm?
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: jeff1 on September 26, 2007, 08:42:13 pm
Frozen pump, and pipe, cracked tank, cracked RO-System and so on.
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Lizzy on September 26, 2007, 08:43:50 pm
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EBERSPACHER-AIRTRONIC-D2-NIGHT-HEATER-KIT-IVECO-24V_W0QQitemZ140161475303QQihZ004QQcategoryZ108854QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thats what you need, except in 12v


ah...heres a 12v




http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EBERSPACHER-D2-AIRTRONIC-DIESEL-HEATER-12VOLT-Brand-NEW_W0QQitemZ260161000904QQihZ016QQcategoryZ15263QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: Captain Scarlet on September 26, 2007, 08:43:52 pm
I dont have ro!! the tank can crack!!!! do you live in scotland by any chance? Luke
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: jeff1 on September 26, 2007, 08:46:52 pm
I dont have ro!! the tank can crack!!!! do you live in scotland by any chance? Luke
Luke just make sure every thing is protected, if a tank is full of water and it freezes then yes a tank will split.

I live a few hundred miles from scotland ;)
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: geefree on September 27, 2007, 12:44:17 am
hust thought.... i have a plug lighter socket heater... ( i once had a blown heater in an old van lol)....

i could croc clip that to my leisure battery in my van eh?...

go, tell me my batt would be flat in the morning.? ;D 8)
Title: Re: van heater for frozen pipes
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on September 27, 2007, 08:45:09 am
Quote
Somewhere someone told me that heating the water after it has been purified affects the properties of the pure water.

Surely this can't be true. Once you've removed the particulate matter form the water with an RO and DI how can heating it it put it back? What other properties of water could heating it change that would affect the way we use it?

I was thinking of using a pond heater in my storage tank after filtering it. They normally only take the edge off it and that should be enough I would have thought.