[Justin lee]

Hi all,

i currently wrap my machine in a duvet (ah bless..) and have a small camping heater running over night to keep my machines from freezing up. Whats the most efficent small electrical heater and how much per hour does it typically cost? I am worried that when my electric bill comes it will be sky high as i have no idea how much they cost to run.. any help greatly appreciated!!

[kerrmiddleton]

  this is a problem we have every year , in scotland , best take out all kit  and put in house , when i had my truckmount , i had 4 philps tublur heaters fitted in th van on the ground , i hav a good friend who has a electricalshop , whom will supply you them. i had mine about 7 yrs now 1 , 2feet tube cost aprox 1.5 pence per hour, so it was costing approx 6pence an hour  for the four very practical and very safe to use , if your intrested or any on out there intrested you can contact him on 08006950144 ,or email alexanderselectrical.com, , cant remeber what i paid , i think £25-£30 each

[Len Gribble]

Nice to see that you take precautions (gas) just had a SM franchise round in a panic (job tomorrow) K valve split will be lending my spare wand tomorrow what’s the betting he ant check his machine   


Aren’t all bills (apart from fines) to the business tax deductible? But I do understand your concern 

[Matt Seymour]

I am in the process of clearing out the garage so I can get the van in there. I have a powerpoint in there, so will put some kind of electrical heater in the back of the van overnight.

What I could really do with is something with a thermostat, so the heater won't be going all night long.

Anyone know where I can get a cheap electric heater with a thermostat?

[wynne jones]

I've just been online looking for a one of those wireless thermometers. Some you can set with a temp and the alarm goes off. Just wondering of the signal will make it indoors from the van though.

[Steve. Taylor]

I use a little oil filled electric rad with thermostat argos i think a few years old now.

Dont get the van warm but keeps it above freezing so good enough think its 750w

[John Milnes]

I run an extention lead from the garage into the van connected to a fan heater set on low.

No need to empty van and no frost to clear from windows in the morning.
I think the cost of running the heater is neglegable especially compared to the damage that could be caused by frost and not to mention getting on the job to find a split pump head or 'k' valve.

[Neil Williams]

Electrical lead for me to a fan heater in the back of van.
Going by electric bills over previous years it doesn't cost much, and even so you can still put so much percentage of cost against your figures (if you work from home).
Another tip is to bulk out the back of the van with quilts etc, because the less 'open space' your heating the cheaper it be be.

[Ajpick]

I use a green house heater does a great job only comes on when it's just above freezing so keeping the running costs down.

[Matt Seymour]

I've had a look at the Argos catalogue and there seem to be quite a few cheap fan heaters with thermostats on them.

I'll be investing in one of those I think. Got to be better than dragging all the gear indoors on a daily basis.

[derek west]

electric fan heaters, no fookin chance. oil filled rad everytime and a good tip. placky bag your plug socket, condensation drips into that could cause a few probs.

[colin thomas]

I'M with carpet guy here, the cost doesn't compare with ruining your equipment for the sake of a few quid over the winter, i use an oil fillled radiator, never let me down yet,

colin

[wynne jones]

Same here Colin, if you have a truckmount you can't really use the fan heaters because of the breather unless it's plumbed externally.

[Mike Halliday]

I would worry about cold spots with oil filled radiators at least with an electric fan heater it blows the air around the van. I use a fan and aim it under the machine so it warms the machine but hot air vents all around the van

[Len Gribble]

My van is bone dry so should not have a problem

[wynne jones]

Yes I worry about that and have it higher than it probably needs. I was thinking of adding a low speed fan running constantly to move the air around but couldn't be arsed in the end.

It was quite bad here last Jan but usually milder than up north and being by the sea.

[derek west]

oil rad on full so no chance of freezing
cost per full day is £5
amount of days a year below freezing, mean is 40

guessing that i work 30 of them so they're half days for the rad in the van, so full days are 10 + (30 devided by 2) = 25

lets say 20% of them days are only just below freezing and my van can take that so...

total cost of heating the van for the year is.....

25 - (20%of 25) = 20
20 x £5 = £100

here endeth the maths lesson.

phewwwwwww

[wynne jones]

£5?

You need a new tariff mate 

Try EDF online7 unless you are on a meter you bloody pauper. 

[Paul_Ashworth]

Derek,
I had an Oil filled on Full last winter and it Froze up and now use a fan heater like this one, The problem is like whats been said earlier the oil filled dont push the warm air around your van

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4152215/Trail/searchtext%3EFAN+HEATER.htm

Regards Paul

[Jim_77]

It really makes me laugh.  I see this all the time, people are saying "I stand to lose hundreds/thousands of pounds of kit if it freezes, where can I get the CHEAPEST heater, i want it to cost me NOTHING to run..."

DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : :

For pete's sake it's part of your business to keep your kit in order.  It's an INVESTMENT made of a relatively small amount for a decent heater and running it for the 30 or so frosty nights we have per year!


p.s. why wrap a machine in a duvet and put a heater in the van???  You're insulating the machine AGAINST the heat that the heater is putting out!  Insulate the van instead.