Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: russ_clark on October 16, 2008, 06:16:13 pm

Title: freezing vans in winter
Post by: russ_clark on October 16, 2008, 06:16:13 pm: How do you stop your vans from freezing up now
winter is on its way??
Mine froze up a few times in the last couple of years.
I don't want to take poles/hoses/etc out at night either.
was looking at these heaters on fleabay
any one know whether they will do the job and stop the van freezing up at night.
was going to run an extension lead to vans with one of these in each.
Russ
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: Chris Galloway on October 16, 2008, 06:20:44 pm: Do you really need one in Hockley? Do they freeze up easily there?
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: russ_clark on October 16, 2008, 06:25:02 pm: Yes they did a couple of times
Had to get the missus' hairdryer on to them for about an hour
She was not impressed >:( >:(
I am the Essex branch of Hockley ;D ;D
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: russ_clark on October 16, 2008, 06:26:35 pm: item no.130258166727
whoops!!
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: john tomkins on October 16, 2008, 06:42:12 pm: Quote from: russ_clark on October 16, 2008, 06:26:35 pm
item no.130258166727
whoops!!

Get the same from here and save ££££
www.screwfix.com/prods/51805/Heating-Cooling/Electric-Heating/Creda-Suntube-60W-Tube-Convector-Commercial-Heater;jsessionid=4JHTVZ0SBLOYQCSTHZPCFFQ
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: steven ainger on October 16, 2008, 06:47:23 pm: i run an extension out to the van at night in the winter and use a heatrunner, i think, oil filled electric heater.
in the shed where my storage tank is i have a electric greenhouse heater. they both have a frost stat on them so they only cut in when the temperature drops too low, so you not heating all the time.
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: mistersqueegee on October 16, 2008, 07:41:29 pm: I'd also recommend the heaters w/ a thermostat so they don't overheat. Just make sure you don't overload the fusebox.
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: ftp on October 16, 2008, 07:59:16 pm: I've just bought a 120w tube to put in my van. I have an electronic timer somewhere so can have it coming on part way through the night if needed - gets pretty hot.
Pretty sure the Screwfix ones need wiring and a plug.
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: ok cleaning on October 16, 2008, 08:23:20 pm: just cover everyting inside of your van with un used tovels and everyting else overnight
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: ftp on October 16, 2008, 08:42:39 pm: I had a quilt wrapped over my pump and reel with the van a foot from my house and it still froze a couple of times.
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: Bonkors on October 16, 2008, 08:47:38 pm: not very useful if your van is parked on the road at nights. I am looking for a solution to this problem where i dont need to run any kind of extenstion lead.
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: Topclean on October 16, 2008, 10:18:49 pm: ME TO ???
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: Nathanael Jones on October 16, 2008, 10:22:23 pm: Get a HOT system,.. never worry about freezing again!!

:)
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: pjulk on October 16, 2008, 10:28:40 pm: What about a solar greenhouse heater

www.reuk.co.uk/Solar-Greenhouse-Heat-Sink.htm (http://www.reuk.co.uk/Solar-Greenhouse-Heat-Sink.htm)
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: Nathanael Jones on October 16, 2008, 10:35:50 pm: Quote from: Paul Griffin on October 16, 2008, 10:28:40 pm
What about a solar greenhouse heater

[www.reuk.co.uk/Solar-Greenhouse-Heat-Sink.htm]www.reuk.co.uk/Solar-Greenhouse-Heat-Sink.htm[/url]
You'd have to put a cubic meter of a heat sore into the van,.. unless you could think of a way to transfer the heat to you water tank?

Before I got the hot system, I just used to fill 2 25 litre drums with boiling water and throw them in the back of the van late at night with an old quilt over them. They'd be nearly stone cold in the morning, but nothing was frozen.

Seriously though,.. for the £100 or so involved, get a gas heater,.. you'd prob spend half that anyway on an oil filled rad and a long extension lead!
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: matt on October 16, 2008, 10:38:28 pm: Quote from: Paul Griffin on October 16, 2008, 10:28:40 pm
What about a solar greenhouse heater

www.reuk.co.uk/Solar-Greenhouse-Heat-Sink.htm (http://h ttp://www.reuk.co.uk/Solar-Greenhouse-Heat-Sink.htm)

good find

only point it falls down on is right at the start ( i didnt get any further ;))

whats needed :

A hole - the bigger the better, but ideally 1 metre wide and deep

you can see the problem now, cannot you ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: pjulk on October 16, 2008, 10:41:30 pm: I didn't notice that part.

But surely there must be a way of heating the van just to keep the frost off with solar panel on the roof of van.
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: Nathanael Jones on October 16, 2008, 10:43:57 pm: PV solar panels will not kick out enough current to power any kind of heater,....

There are heated car blankets that run off 12v and can plug into a cigarette lighter. If you had a spare leisure battery it'd run for 12 hours or so on 1 charge.
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: pjulk on October 16, 2008, 10:45:58 pm: Thats a good idea i have a spare battery will look on fleebay for one
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: [GQC] Tim on October 16, 2008, 11:56:16 pm: Put some isopropyl alcohol in your tank, think it's about a coke can per 500l tank. That will keep em ice free. Greenhouse heater would work too.
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: ftp on October 17, 2008, 07:46:15 am: Your tank will never freeze anyway it's the pump and reel that go solid and brushes and jets of course.
Title: Re: freezing vans in winter
Post by: Nathanael Jones on October 17, 2008, 09:00:27 am: www.cgi.ebay.ie/NEW-Car-Boat-Caravan-Camping-12V-HEATED-TRAVEL-BLANKET_W0QQitemZ220293889852QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item220293889852&_trkparms=72%3A1301|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14