[Klean07]

With winter fast approaching just wondered what everyone uses in their van to stop pipes and tank freezing up. Last winter was a nightmare.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cz2104-all-metal-heater

[DaveG]

I used one of these last year on minimum setting, worked fine and the van was nice and toastie in the morning ( and defrosted!)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1000-2000W-PORTABLE-SILENT-ELECTRIC-FAN-HEATER-HOT-COOL-/260599664147?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item3cacf34e13

[Dave Willis]

I normally use a tube heater but it failed miserably last winter. I might get one of these tomorrow.

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_15518.htm

[sgibsoncleaning]

lets hope this year is not as bad, but i am prepared i tried a tube heater but it didnt work, the better results came from a fan heater so it circulates warm air. remeber gas and parafin heater produce water so it will make your van damp get a greenhouse heater with a frost setting

[awcs]

green house heater from focus 20 quid. sorted

[jsm]

propex van heater all the way for me - van was toasty warm at night last year

[Paul Coleman]

I don't use a heater.
I just switch the pump on with the feed pipe removed from the tank.  Then I loop the pipe that normally supplies the hose reel back around into the tank.  This drains the pipework of water.  There may be a little left by the pump but not enough to crack it if the water expands into ice - though it may stop the pump working temporarily.
Another idea that I've read on here though never tried is to put the tank feed pipe into a large container of isopropanol then switch on the pump.  This leaves isopropanol in the pipes (and the reel too if desired) which may be pumped back into the container the next day.  Probably better to run water through for a few minutes before starting work if using this method.
When I park my van, I have no access to mains electricity.  If I had such access then I would do things differently.

[boldy1304]

the guy i was doing some subby work for at the time ran anti freeze through his pumps and hose reels and flushed really well the next morn but this didnt stop the main tank and outlet freezing and as it was so cold last winter it also froze in the pipe when you ran it along the customers garden so unless you have a hot system you could do what ever you like to stop it freezing over night but wont stop it freezing in the pipe before you start i did hear of guys with hot systems cracking glass though as hot water on very cold glass dont really mix i dont know how true that is though 

[richard jagger]

Dont worry about a little Iso in the system it will mix with water and will clean glass better.

[Londoner]

I bought a 500W heater on ebay last winter and it worked really well. Just set the frost stat and left it in overnight.

[Klean07]

I bought a 500W heater on ebay last winter and it worked really well. Just set the frost stat and left it in overnight.

Did you plug it into your house power supply or have you got an external source.

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

sound like he has a inverter in the car and runs from battery or external battery am i right mate or barking up wrong tree again

[Londoner]

I bought a 500W heater on ebay last winter and it worked really well. Just set the frost stat and left it in overnight.

Did you plug it into your house power supply or have you got an external source.

I run a lead from the garage. You can't use an inverter to produce heat. No van battery is capable of producing that much heat over about a twelve hour period without going flat. And on a frosty morning you need your battery to be tip top.

[easycleaner]

230v greenhouse heater. 10p per day to run just the job
Mart

[Richard Neal]

Remember if your running a heater off of an extension lead that you un wind all the cable if not it can over heat and melt

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

this thread is getting boring vw bluebird heater
4 ton (GASPS COSTLY) van toasty warm
u able to work easy decision really

[jsm]

yes they gone up £100 this year -

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

john they 5 ton now

[jsm]

yes they gone up £100 this year -

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

il give you 250 cash for yrs m8