Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: andrew.ralph@homec on January 04, 2009, 06:29:48 pm

Title: heaters in van
Post by: andrew.ralph@homec on January 04, 2009, 06:29:48 pm
hi all is it safe to leave a electric fan heater in back of van over night to stop everythink freezeing up thanks andy
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: cherubs cleaning on January 04, 2009, 06:37:33 pm
yer no prob low heat





jerry
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: supernova77 on January 04, 2009, 08:12:14 pm
I got one of these >> http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4150729/c_1/1%7Ccat_10197552%7CHeaters+and+coolers%7C10197884/Trail/searchtext>HEATER.htm from Argos last week.

I keep it on low over night and haven't had any problems at all.

Andy
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: East coast window cleaning Services on January 04, 2009, 08:14:43 pm
im of to buy one of these tommorow

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/43699/Heating-Cooling/Electric-Heating/Creda-Suntube-180W-Tube-Convector-Commercial-Heater
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: DaveG on January 04, 2009, 08:19:14 pm
You guys that use heaters overnight in vans... do you find the water freezes when you start work or is it ok?

Cheers Dave
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: supernova77 on January 04, 2009, 08:21:20 pm
Quote
You guys that use heaters overnight in vans... do you find the water freezes when you start work or is it ok?

Cheers Dave

No problems with freezing so far...

Andy
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: DaveG on January 04, 2009, 08:23:37 pm
Cheers Andy Ive been wondering about that!

Off to buy a heater tomorrow !

Do you just have it on frost setting?

Cheers Dave
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: simon w on January 04, 2009, 08:31:19 pm
Hi Jerry..

Just bought an electric greenhouse heater today from B&Q. will be using it from tomorrow for as long as this cold spell lasts.

Probably a silly question but I was wondering why you say keep it on a low heat as I was going to use it on It's highest temperature?

Simon.

P.S is anyone using a gas or paraffin heater just wondering if their any good? thought they may be better than electric if the weather gets wet during the night!

Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: rscleaningservices on January 04, 2009, 08:42:35 pm
Dont no one sell little heaters what can plug in the ciggerette lighter then when u get to the job everything would be defrosted just a thought  lol maybe ill patenet one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 ;D
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: DaveG on January 04, 2009, 08:43:45 pm
Someone said earlier about the dangers of using "naked flame" heaters because they need oxygen to burn but if the van is closed all night then all the oxygen would get used up, causing the flame to go out....

Plus they stink!!
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: simon w on January 04, 2009, 08:52:42 pm
Someone said earlier about the dangers of using "naked flame" heaters because they need oxygen to burn but if the van is closed all night then all the oxygen would get used up, causing the flame to go out....

Plus they stink!!


I thought that would be the case. Just wondering if anybody on here has been using a fuel heater in their van to prevent freezing with any success.
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: jaykie on January 04, 2009, 08:59:02 pm
Ive got a oil heater, i had to use them electric ones once when my heating went in house, cost a fortune on electric i used about £30 electric in 4 days,
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: DaveG on January 04, 2009, 09:01:44 pm
Ive got a oil heater, i had to use them electric ones once when my heating went in house, cost a fortune on electric i used about £30 electric in 4 days,

Yeah but youve got a mansion!! ;D
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: simon w on January 04, 2009, 09:10:00 pm
Ive got a oil heater, i had to use them electric ones once when my heating went in house, cost a fortune on electric i used about £30 electric in 4 days,

 
What type of oil heater are you using in your van, have you had any problems with freezing since you started using it. Also have you had any problems with the wick going out during the night or fumes and soot in the van in the morning?
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: paul saunders on January 04, 2009, 09:14:29 pm
im of to buy one of these tommorow

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/43699/Heating-Cooling/Electric-Heating/Creda-Suntube-180W-Tube-Convector-Commercial-Heater

I have one of these in my dogs kenel (I'm such a softie), just a word of caution, these tubes get very hot .......... as in too hot to touch for more than a couple of seconds.!!
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: DaveG on January 04, 2009, 09:17:53 pm
im of to buy one of these tommorow

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/43699/Heating-Cooling/Electric-Heating/Creda-Suntube-180W-Tube-Convector-Commercial-Heater

I have one of these in my dogs kenel (I'm such a softie), just a word of caution, these tubes get very hot .......... as in too hot to touch for more than a couple of seconds.!!

Even on frost setting???
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: d s windowcleaning on January 04, 2009, 09:25:24 pm
use a aquarium heater rather than a fan heater , advantage you will have warm water for use the next morning , the heat that comes off the water during the night will prevent your hoses & pumps freezeing up .
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: Dave Turley on January 04, 2009, 09:28:30 pm
parrafin heaters=MEGA CONDENSATION

I like using a fan heater set a bit above frost setting, it circulates the air nicely and i've never had a problem since I started using one
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: paul saunders on January 04, 2009, 09:34:06 pm
im of to buy one of these tommorow

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/43699/Heating-Cooling/Electric-Heating/Creda-Suntube-180W-Tube-Convector-Commercial-Heater

I have one of these in my dogs kenel (I'm such a softie), just a word of caution, these tubes get very hot .......... as in too hot to touch for more than a couple of seconds.!!
They don't have a frost setting ............. it's either on or off

Even on frost setting???
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: DaveG on January 04, 2009, 09:35:16 pm
oh right !!! 

Cheers
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: paulscotney on January 04, 2009, 10:59:08 pm
I have an old boat,  I have left an oil filled rad on for the last 6 winters (on low) never had a problem. Do the same in my van every night when below -1.

Wouldn't do the same with other types of heaters though. You can get a small oil filled rad for £20 if not cheaper.
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: simon w on January 04, 2009, 11:14:15 pm
Quote
I have an old boat,  I have left an oil filled rad on for the last 6 winters (on low) never had a problem. Do the same in my van every night when below -1.

Wouldn't do the same with other types of heaters though. You can get a small oil filled rad for £20 if not cheaper.

So what do you do about ventilation in your van? does the heater cause any problems with fumes or soot from the burning oil? can you recommend any oil filled heater in particular?
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: jaykie on January 05, 2009, 08:36:41 am
This is the sort of thing i use

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4150530/Trail/searchtext%3EOIL+HEATER.htm
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: supernova77 on January 05, 2009, 09:08:49 am
Quote
Cheers Andy Ive been wondering about that!

Off to buy a heater tomorrow !

Do you just have it on frost setting?

Cheers Dave

I have the power setting set to 1, and the heat setting inbetween 2 - 3.

Andy
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: terry 9235 on January 05, 2009, 09:21:28 am
hi has anyone thought of hgv  cab night heaters run on diesel ?
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: paulscotney on January 05, 2009, 11:14:52 am
Quote
I have an old boat,  I have left an oil filled rad on for the last 6 winters (on low) never had a problem. Do the same in my van every night when below -1.

Wouldn't do the same with other types of heaters though. You can get a small oil filled rad for £20 if not cheaper.

So what do you do about ventilation in your van? does the heater cause any problems with fumes or soot from the burning oil? can you recommend any oil filled heater in particular?

No everything is sealed. I have one like jaykies but smaller. Focus and B+Q all sell them from  about £20.  The good thing is, is that they don't use too much electric as it the hot oil that does the warming. They just come on every now and then depending on how hot you have set the switch.
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: paulscotney on January 05, 2009, 11:21:49 am
hi has anyone thought of hgv  cab night heaters run on diesel ?

You can get secondhand Eberspacher, similar to Webasto,  ones from old buses,  they used to be about £100 6 yrs ago or so.

Also some larger  BT vans did have a similar heater but it runs on calor gas and not diesel. They used to go for about £25 secondhand but some years ago now.
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: WCE on January 05, 2009, 03:00:46 pm
Dont no one sell little heaters what can plug in the ciggerette lighter then when u get to the job everything would be defrosted just a thought  lol maybe ill patenet one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 ;D
They do but because of the power needed to produce a decent heat they are rubbish and if there was one that was good enough then you would have a flat battery in a matter of mins ;)
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: Oakley Windows on January 05, 2009, 03:11:50 pm
One thing to take into consideration when burning Gas is that for every gallon of fuel burnt a gallon of water is produced as a by-product.

How much condensation??? ???
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: www.mrgutters.co.uk on January 05, 2009, 09:01:00 pm
maybe i am being stupid here but do the oil ones still need electric to start up or run?

shawn
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: East coast window cleaning Services on January 05, 2009, 09:40:58 pm
yes it a electric radiator filled with oil. there good cause when you turn them off they hold the heat
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: RobE on January 05, 2009, 09:58:26 pm
Can you wire any of these heaters up to a leisure battery?
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: DaveG on January 05, 2009, 10:06:26 pm
I wouldnt have thought a 12v heater would have enough power?
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: www.mrgutters.co.uk on January 05, 2009, 10:08:16 pm
yeah i cant use it im almost 60m from the van...at least ....so no way i can run leads down my street

shawn
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: Oakley Windows on January 05, 2009, 10:16:59 pm
use a aquarium heater rather than a fan heater , advantage you will have warm water for use the next morning , the heat that comes off the water during the night will prevent your hoses & pumps freezeing up .

You are joking right?
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: chris@c.m.s on January 05, 2009, 10:17:14 pm
Shawn I'm in the same boat as you,  I was thinking about a small night storage heater the other day I know it would cost a bit to heat during the day but it may keep the van warm at night
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: jaykie on January 05, 2009, 10:38:41 pm
I thought about getting butter and connecting  my inverter to it to keep van warm while working

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7402223/Trail/searchtext%3EPOWER+INVERTER.htm
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: www.mrgutters.co.uk on January 05, 2009, 11:44:09 pm


i hate being in this situation...especially that i have not worked since 28 nov as my wife has been really unwell...

Then yesteday the cracked pre filter housings have set me back ....now all this freezing temps....its been such a crap year for me...now this flippin weather. and there does not seem to be any sign of things getting better..at least not for a while...

to get work done i have resorted to using bags of resin to filter my water as by boster has just packed  up so its costing .... 70 in bags of resin each week roughly from now on till the cash starts coming in...

sometimes i wish i had a normal job...but hey they arent looking that secure these days...lol


oh well chin up....things can only get better
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: Allways Cleaning on January 06, 2009, 12:25:49 am
ever thought of a coleman northstar? even on low they are quite hot and run on unleaded fuel... electronic ignition too. if you had no windows in back of van i would not bother shielding it they last a very long time on one fill.  ;)you can buy them for £79.99 most places and you can use them for sea fishing at night too...  ;D ;D
regards
paul
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: dai on January 06, 2009, 04:50:50 pm
I use a very small fan heater with a frost stat, It keeps the containers and hoses from freezing.
Strange thing though, the condensation freezes on the inside of the windscreen, the top of the bulkhead is wire mesh too. The rear door windows are fine.
Title: Re: heaters in van
Post by: d s windowcleaning on January 06, 2009, 06:02:38 pm
use a aquarium heater rather than a fan heater , advantage you will have warm water for use the next morning , the heat that comes off the water during the night will prevent your hoses & pumps freezeing up .

You are joking right?
give it a try matt then you will see im not joking you will be surprised , dont knock it till youve tryed it mate .