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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: R W C™ on December 15, 2009, 09:54:57 pm

Title: Tubular Heaters
Post by: R W C™ on December 15, 2009, 09:54:57 pm
Ive just bought and installed one of these under my RO
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001801&langId=-1&searchTerms=tubular+heaters

Do they switch off at a certain temp, I did have a oil heater in shed aswel but once I felt how hot the tubular heater got I turned the other one off, are they ok to leave on over night.
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: jouk45 on December 15, 2009, 10:02:35 pm
the one i used in my bird aviay had a dial on it
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: R W C™ on December 15, 2009, 10:03:42 pm
Ive looked on this and cant see anything
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: paul saunders on December 15, 2009, 10:24:46 pm
They just stay on all the time, I have one and I have wired it to a room thermostat that has a frost setting on it.
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Window Washers on December 16, 2009, 07:36:02 am
how much do these cost to run per hour roughly ?
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: paul saunders on December 16, 2009, 12:09:12 pm
It depends on the size of the tube, an 180watt tube wit cost about 30p an hour to run.
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Small but perfectley formed on December 16, 2009, 02:39:12 pm
if its 180 watts it will run for 5.5 hours before it uses a kwh so 11hours use would cost between 20-30 p depending on your electricity supplier
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Bobs Window Cleaning on December 16, 2009, 02:57:35 pm


Ian.

I have one (2ft long) and I also have an energy meter which tells me that mine uses 3-4 pence per hour  :)

Bob
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: R W C™ on December 16, 2009, 07:03:19 pm
wow thats good then think ill just leave it on then.
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Window Washers on December 16, 2009, 07:06:39 pm


Ian.

I have one (2ft long) and I also have an energy meter which tells me that mine uses 3-4 pence per hour  :)

Bob
do these stop the van freezing up is the question ?
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: concept on December 16, 2009, 07:08:31 pm
try an oil filled radiator for that maybe? thats what i have, and that has a thermostat on it.

vans, so far, been toasty and frost free even on the front screen!
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Window Washers on December 16, 2009, 07:10:10 pm
try an oil filled radiator for that maybe? thats what i have, and that has a thermostat on it.

vans, so far, been toasty and frost free even on the front screen!
would not like to see your bill.
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: concept on December 16, 2009, 07:14:00 pm
thats why you have a thermostat on low...so it kicks in when very cold, not on full whack constantly.
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Window Washers on December 16, 2009, 07:15:31 pm
thats why you have a thermostat on low...so it kicks in when very cold, not on full whack constantly.
problem is if it is on 1 degree it drops below it will be on full wack all night. what is the cost to use it any idea ?
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: R W C™ on December 16, 2009, 07:16:52 pm
I usualy have a oil filled heater with my system they dont cost much to run, but the tubular heater does get hot id say it would keep the van warm enough but may take a bit longer to heat up.
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: concept on December 16, 2009, 07:17:30 pm
no, and to be honest, i am not overly worried, as long as i have a few jobs in, it will pay for itself...i hope! ;D
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Bobs Window Cleaning on December 16, 2009, 07:25:43 pm
Ian.
Minus 2 here last night so I put the tube heater in the van overnight.

Nothing was frozen this morning but it certainly wasn't warm. I suppose the heater keeps the temprature just above freezing which is absolutley fine.

Bob
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Window Washers on December 16, 2009, 07:27:32 pm
Ian.
Minus 2 here last night so I put the tube heater in the van overnight.

Nothing was frozen this morning but it certainly wasn't warm. I suppose the heater keeps the temprature just above freezing which is absolutley fine.

Bob
when do you put it Bob ? I am being serious when I ask I know its in the van :D
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Bobs Window Cleaning on December 16, 2009, 07:32:46 pm
I laid it on top of my small A frame ladder last night but it did come with 2 clips which can be screw to the top or side of the van and then the heater clips in.

There heater was very hot so thats why I paid it on the metal ladder.

Bob
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: Window Washers on December 16, 2009, 08:14:09 pm
I laid it on top of my small A frame ladder last night but it did come with 2 clips which can be screw to the top or side of the van and then the heater clips in.

There heater was very hot so thats why I paid it on the metal ladder.

Bob
Thanks Bob, I had one heating in my hands today and was hot, do not know how hot they really get, did not want to damage anything nor burn out van. I was think 2 chains and suspend from roof
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: ccmids on December 16, 2009, 08:16:27 pm
i have a 60watt philips one not tried it yet but hope it keeps the frost out.
Title: Re: Tubular Heaters
Post by: AuRavelling79 on December 16, 2009, 08:19:43 pm
OK lets assume you are paying a mid level amount for your leccy at 11p per unit (kwh).

This means that if you leave an appliance of 1000w on for one hour then you will pay 11p.

So if you have an 80 watt tube heater on for 10 hours (Say 9pm until 7am) then you will use 800w and at 11p per kwh hour it will cost you about 9 pence.

If you use an oil filled radiator rated at 400w with a thermostat  and 2 heat settings (200 and 400w) and you set your thermostat it will heat above that, switch off and when the temperature cools it will click on again.

Let's say you set it at 200w and it runs for 5 hours out of ten then it willuse 1000w and cost about 11p to run.

Don't forget to put the costs on your business spend.

As for me, my RO is in my car port in an insulated box and I have a 40w tube heater in there. If the temperature is forecast to be 1 degree celsius or less then I switch on the tube heater when I go to bed.

If the temperature is forecast at 2 degrees C or less then I put an oil filled rad in the van with a thermostat as I like pliable hoses and a working pump first thing in the a.m.!

I have been known to dip a 300w pond heater in my tank too, but only until I bought the radiator.