[Steven Biggs]

Ay up , I am new to this job and wondering what everyone does in January . Do you take a month off , I might as I am a little bit scared of the dark mornings , also it might get a teeny bit cold , I've got goretex mittens tho , but I keep losing em . Looks a bit scarey this morning as well . Might go back to bed . Any tips anyone . Cheers baz .

[Dave Willis]

I would stay in bed now until the end of March. Dazmond sleeps in full Goretex pyjamas  throughout January.

[Steven Biggs]

Might have some ready brek . Then go out later . Does Alex sell goretex covers for my extreme poles yet . They felt a little bit cold yesterday .

[deeege]

Man up and crack on with it.

 The last few winters have been very mild (in the north west) with only a few frosts so it hasn't effected my work at all. If we get a winter like 2009/2010 again where temperatures drop to -15 degrees then prepare to have a bit of time off, you should put a bit of money aside for this throughout the year.

Kit yourself out with good gloves, work boots , hat, waterproofs and you'll be fine.

You may need some kind of heater for your van to stop reels etc freezing over night (that's if you are WFP) but it hasn't been needed for the last few years.

[paulben]

When wfp freezes up and too risky to  get ladders out then just trad bottoms . On cold morns I watch thermometer when its rising and hits-2 time to start when I get a skin of ice forming in bucket its time to go home . Just miss out unheated conservatories .

[dazmond]

most window cleaners fly to goa for a month in january.average temperature is 28c.

[Smurf]

Ay up , I am new to this job and wondering what everyone does in January . Do you take a month off , I might as I am a little bit scared of the dark mornings , also it might get a teeny bit cold , I've got goretex mittens tho , but I keep losing em . Looks a bit scarey this morning as well . Might go back to bed . Any tips anyone . Cheers baz .

Sounds like the voice in your head will say sod that and stay in bed anyhow 

Wfp method is a total waste of time in sub zero temps if you ask me so just wait until the temp rises.
Whatever method you use you will soon learn what can be done or not to try keeping the pennys rolling in without risking your neck in doing so.

Whilst out and about keep yourself warm and dry & take hot drinks with you to avoid the risk of getting hyperthermia.

[paulben]

Love the winter not too hot no sun burn sorts out the summer brigade and dole boys/girls who stay in bed through winter

[slap bash]

I sell my van at the end of December and stop working then buy it back at the end of April when the ass who bought has had enough.

[paulben]

 

[Smurf]

You only have to look on fleebay how many used wfp vans and kit are for sale and rises towards winter months for some strange reason   

[richard groves]

I think Baz is pulling ya legs 

But in all seriousness,
I don't do anything different in winter.
However I don't have anything in the van to frost damage even though I am wfp.
I have a removable battery/pump/controller box that I take in every night to charge, a tank and a hose reel and that's it.
I drain the reel each night, if it still freezes I use a backpack for first few jobs until temp rises.
No hot water, no overnight heater.
If its too cold I don't work, but that's maybe a day or two, compared to the expense and faffing about trying to combat nature.

[Smurf]

I remember one prolonged cold snap after having an operation so was off a few weeks thinking great I'm fit enough now to get out and do a bit. Only to find the water in me van tank had turned into one big iceberg. Doh!...  hidsight is a wonderful thing

[Matt.]

I will soldier it out in me shorts for as long as I can, like above it's only if there's a 5-10 day cold snap of less than -5, and everything is freezing over but north west has been ok last few years

[NWH]

Hot water is the solution they have a frost stat mode which comes on when the temp drops below 2-3 circulating the water back to the tank. When you get in the van everything is hot and the hoses are soft as jelly,when cold I to ignored the van over the weekend and I had the worlds biggest ice cube in the van you've ever seen it took a whole day nearly with around 10 kettles of hot water to defrost it

[Steven Biggs]

I'm thinking of putting salt in my tank . That should help towards stopping it freezing . Anyone tried it gotta be a lot cheaper and easier than gas or immersions . Just don't know how much . I'm thinking 500 grams for 500 litres .  Cheers barry .

[NWH]

Facelift do a van heater that will heat the rear of the van and comes on when the temp drops,around £500 I think

[deeege]

I'm thinking of putting salt in my tank . That should help towards stopping it freezing . Anyone tried it gotta be a lot cheaper and easier than gas or immersions . Just don't know how much . I'm thinking 500 grams for 500 litres .  Cheers barry .

Good idea, surprised it hasn't been thought of before.

Let us know how you get on.

[Jonny 87]

I'm thinking of putting salt in my tank . That should help towards stopping it freezing . Anyone tried it gotta be a lot cheaper and easier than gas or immersions . Just don't know how much . I'm thinking 500 grams for 500 litres .  Cheers barry .

Great idea. Then if I'm stopping for a chippy at lunch I can just sprinkle some of my wfp water over them for extra flavour. I use vision too, so my chips will be extra shiny!

[SeanK]

Sandals string vest and speedos go back into storage until march.