[CLEANEAST CARPETS]

Regarding the onset of winter is it advisable to continue to store my portable in the garage over-night as I have done during the summer?
This is my first winter as a carpet cleaner and the thought of my machine freezing up had not occured to me until I read the thread about in van heating,I assume that this refers to truckmounts?

[Prestige1]

I have the same problem. last year my pressure washer froze and borke an internal pipe, and the spray bar on my wand froze spliting the rail. this year I intend storing it on thick card board and putting a blanket round it. also try and ensure all fluid is out of the pipes etc.
regards Phil

[Neil Grainger]

Hi Gents

I have a portable and have taken to using a duvet to cover the machine up in the Van. I also have 2 Greenhouse paraffin heaters that are used to keep frost out  so the temp stays above freezing.

You can get these for £15 each from Gardens centre's, keeps the temp at around 5.c so no problem with freezing.

I do take out the hose and wands just to be careful.

Cheers

Neil

[Elite (Ben)]

as long as you drain everything fully, and use a blanket as insulation, you should be ok, mine has never frozen in the van.

ben

[John Kelly]

As well as your machines don't forget that freezing or low temperatures can also affect some of your chemicals. Also your hoses become stiffened and brittle when in a cold state and this can lead to increased stress on the areas under flex.

[BRSL]

Hi guys one thing that helps is using spare male and female fittings on your tools and hoses, so when the water freezes, which it will, it only expands out the fittings, saves running antifreeze through them all which we all should be doing, wouldent trust a blanket over the machine  fittings are cheep as chips from all hydrolic suppliers

hope this helps
saves me a bit of time !!!

James

[COLIN BRIGHT]

I shove a Oil filled heater in the back of the van on the lowest setting,
not only does it keep everthing warm but i don't have to waste time defrosting the windscreen either.

[Glynn]

I was in B&Q the other weekend and in front of me was a couple returning an oil filled radiator and I'm sure it was a dimplex. They had only just bought it a day or so before and on plugging it in for the first time it set on fire. Makes you think eh ?.

[Len Gribble]

Cleanest

Depends on the garage the jerry built one (pre-cast) can be iffy! In summer like a sauna, north poll in winter.

I take out wands/hand tools, solutions hoses and the fluid cleaning agents and put them in my garage, can’t get my machine out then its blankets and electric greenhouse heater, must get some warning signs for the trailing cable to the van

Len

[stevegunn]

   Frost Fighter Electric Greenhouse Heater 2KW

Full thermostatic control which may be used in either a greenhouse or conservatory to circulate air

22.95 homebase

[dave401uk]

I notice a few guys are using paraffin greenhouse heater,s,just a question

Do any of you suffer from a soot residue in your van after using this type of heater?

Dave

[john smith]

why not try an electric blanket

[garyj]

Thats a good idea, the last thing you want to do after a days work is unload the van. My wand froze up 2 years ago and I didn't know it had cracked until I had got to the job and set up, it sprayed water all over the place plus I  had the embarrassment of telling the customer I couldn't do the job, this was after pre-spraying a whole room!! I went back 2 days later and did the job for free 

[HolmansUKLTD]

i take all my handtools and wands in doors drain the pump on the last job andcover with a blanket, i used to run some anti freeze through the pump but i thought this was a little over the top.

Regards

NICK

[BRSL]

Guys I would strongly sugest running antifreez through your system from the shurflow fresh water pump right through to your solution out lets using a descaling loop, as have seen blocks cracked, water lines split brass fitiings caracked and all this has happened in cornwall and it's mild down here 

[Mark Betts]

Does not the antifreeze damage the pump?
Seals etcetc

May be a daft question.

Thanks

Mark

[ABLECLEAN]

I have an Alltec Pro Plus and I drain it down and stuff blankets underneath and cover it with a duvet (£13 for a double), I also wrap the solution valve on the wand with a piece of blanket or take it into the house.

[Prestige1]

I Bought a small parafin heater from b&q today runs for 14 hrs on 1 fill. I sealed up all the gaps in the garage and will run it on nights where -2 or below are forcasted. cost £36
regards Phil

[Barry Livingstone]

ive had-2 to -5 up here in scotch land for two weeks never had any probs with the cold

[John Kelly]

Dont forget the cold can affect some of your chemicals, especially protectors.