[Jsw window cleaning]

I've tried oil radiator method but it ended up being very costly over a long winter. Looking how I can insulate van pumps and pipes best. Thanks

[NWH]

Facelift do a blower for the rear of the vehicle about 500.

[Jsw window cleaning]

Facelift do a blower for the rear of the vehicle about 500.

Sorry mate so not understand that at all

[Jsw window cleaning]

Facelift do a blower for the rear of the vehicle about 500.

What do you mean by a blower

[nathankaye]

Ive got the silver bubble bk insulation sheets and wrapped my 500 litre tank.
Last winter and currently i use the oil radiator, its only dinky and a digi timer plug. I set it for an hr at midnight till 1am then bk on at 3-4 and finally at 5-7 or sometimes longer. I have a 2006 fiat scudo and inside of roof is lined with same insulation. Not had any problems with freezing.
Currently waiting on hearing how someone has got on with a hot tub heating pump. Look on the thread "is anybody using this to heat the water" thread.

[Jsw window cleaning]

Ive got the silver bubble bk insulation sheets and wrapped my 500 litre tank.
Last winter and currently i use the oil radiator, its only dinky and a digi timer plug. I set it for an hr at midnight till 1am then bk on at 3-4 and finally at 5-7 or sometimes longer. I have a 2006 fiat scudo and inside of roof is lined with same insulation. Not had any problems with freezing.
Currently waiting on hearing how someone has got on with a hot tub heating pump. Look on the thread "is anybody using this to heat the water" thread.

Thanks mate I used to use that silver bubble stuff to insulate My ro  filters it's good stuff.

[Nathanael Jones]

That bubble foil insulation is brilliant stuff - I stuck it to the van roof & wall panels (In behind the ply lining where possible), and then got a 500w fishtank heater to drop in the tank with the thermostat on it turned down to minimum (16C I think). It was cheaper to run than an oilfilled radiator, and got the heat where it was needed most

[Soupy]

Facelift do a blower for the rear of the vehicle about 500.

Sorry mate so not understand that at all

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/facelift-proheat-van-heater.html

Probably cheaper to carry on with the oil filled radiator to be honest.

[dazmond]

I've tried oil radiator method but it ended up being very costly over a long winter. Looking how I can insulate van pumps and pipes best. Thanks

how much does it cost a night?and how many times do you have to put a heater in the back of the van during the winter?

you dont need to put a heater in the back unless its below -2 in my experience.the last few years it been around 10 times each winter (roughly £1-50 a night in electric).which works out at £15.which in turn allows you to work the next day.

even if it was 30-40 times during a cold winter its only £45-£60.

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

EBERSPACHER AIRTRONIC are the best things to have ,  we have them in all our vans , park up turn on and walk away northing else needed

[Og]

Drain water out of pump etc and lag the hell out of the outlet on the tank, assuming you have an isolater there. If there's no water to freeze.....

[Tristan R Clean]

Nice idea Susan but these Eberneezerspatula units are a bit pricey 

Tris

[Windy Miller]

Drain water out of pump etc and lag the hell out of the outlet on the tank, assuming you have an isolater there. If there's no water to freeze.....

+1

If there's a remote chance of a frost I disconnect and drain everything in the van which holds water and cover everything with old sleeping bags,it sounds basic but I've never had an issue yet.

Although I do plan to get a heater with timer as it seems like we are going to get a bad one this winter!

[Smurf]

I suppose if you’re looking for the cheapest way but could be a pain in the arse is to take out any vulnerable kit indoors. That’s if you don't have a ro/di setup and/or static reels etc in the van.


 

[DeLuce]

I agree with Dazmond 's post. You only need to think of the heater whatever when temp drops to -1 downward. If you have access to an electricity supply and extention, just buy a  standard fan heater and put it on frost setting and leave over night in the back of the van. Don't need high tech. Not been that many nights over the last few years when it's gone much below -1 anyway unless you are in't far north.
As already said, if you think it's going to be a decent freeze, empty pressure from your hoses, cover with duvet or something like that. Job done. 

[nathankaye]

Somebody i know once told me he got one of those big slow burning candles. His vans is secure on his drive, sets candle save inside and lights candle

[Dave Willis]

Greenhouse tube heater is the cheapest method but not the best. I used to put one next to the pump and cover the reel with an old quilt. Quick blast with a fan heater whilst having breakfast always worked for me. This year I'm hoping the immersion heater does the job.

[dazmond]

Somebody i know once told me he got one of those big slow burning candles. His vans is secure on his drive, sets candle save inside and lights candle

 

[dazmond]

its certainly frosty where i am this morning!just put heater in the back at 7am.should be fine for work today(dont start til 10 on saturdays)

[Soupy]

Throughout winter here is what we do:

1. Blow out the reels. If you buy a small compressor off ebay you'll find the fitting is the same as the rectus 26 ka fittings (sometimes called pro 26 or brodex fittings). The reels are the worst to defrost if they're totally frozen. Disconnect the reels plug em in and wait till air comes through.

B. Drain the pump. All we do is unplug both sides and run it for 2 mins. If the pump freezes overnight and it's full of water it can crack so it's better to have it drained.

D. Insulate where possible. We use the silver bubble wrap stuff. Everywhere we can get it.

3. Fill up. On winter mornings saving time is the name of the game so it's a much better idea to leave it full. Sometimes the top freezes but that's not a problem, the business end is the bottom. It needs to be really cold to freeze that much water. We've only had one instance of a full tank freezing and that was below -20 so we weren't going to be doing much anyway.