[Lee.]

Hi,
Its been some time since I've posted so I'm not sure if this has been discussed but is anyone using or thought of using a heat pump water heater to heat water? Would  a heat pump for a small swimming pool be enough to heat the water in the van? Could it be a possible efficient way of heating the water, maybe even along with an immersion heater to get the water warm enough?

[AuRavelling79]

Hi,
Its been some time since I've posted so I'm not sure if this has been discussed but is anyone using or thought of using a heat pump water heater to heat water? Would  a heat pump for a small swimming pool be enough to heat the water in the van? Could it be a possible efficient way of heating the water, maybe even along with an immersion heater to get the water warm enough?

Tell us more. What's the wattage?

I used my immersion for the first time this year today. Mainly for supple hoses and ease of use rather than 'hot' water.

[Lee.]

I was thinking of something like this…
https://amzn.eu/d/21ehNfq
It’s 5kw output but there are various types. I have no experience with heat pumps and wondered if anyone has tried or whether something like this could be a viable option. Not quite sure if it would make the water hot enough? 

[Lee.]

Did the immersion heater work well for you? I fitted one before but totally ruined my tank. It was an expensive error for me and was quite costly to run. But it was so nice to have warm pipes!

[windowswashed]

Could always plumb a calorifier tank to your vehicle radiator and indirectly heat your deionised water. I done it years ago and it works, heats the water too hot on long journeys but short journeys is fine. Only downside is in the winter the heat for cab heater isn't as warm unless you fit something to half heat the wfp tank and the cab heater.

[AuRavelling79]

Did the immersion heater work well for you? I fitted one before but totally ruined my tank. It was an expensive error for me and was quite costly to run. But it was so nice to have warm pipes!

Yes. I initially ran 3KW but all the connections got hot. I thought about getting a 16 amp socket wired in professionally to the house electrics board but ended up getting a bespoke 2KW which I have run since before COVID.

How did you ruin your tank?

Mine has been fine.

But I don't run it for 'hot' like you would get from a diesel heater - just 'warm'.

So rarely above 30 degrees in the tank.

[Spruce]

5.5kw.!! That's heading towards ev charging requirements.

[Lee.]

5.5kw.!! That's heading towards ev charging requirements.

That is the output Wattage Spruce. Input is more around 1KW

[Spruce]

5.5kw.!! That's heading towards ev charging requirements.

That is the output Wattage Spruce. Input is more around 1KW

My understanding is that you can't get more energy out than you put in. I maybe wrong though.

[dazmond]

Same thing every year.

Only 2 systems work for us window cleaners

9kw Diesel heater (recommended) or if you want a cheap solution an immersion in your tank.

Under no circumstance use a cheap gas shower heater. They are dangerous

[AuRavelling79]

5.5kw.!! That's heading towards ev charging requirements.

That is the output Wattage Spruce. Input is more around 1KW

My understanding is that you can't get more energy out than you put in. I maybe wrong though.

Don't be self-deprecating Spruce. You're never wrong.

 

[zesty]

For the few days a year it’s below 0, none of it is financially viable for me.

I don’t work enough these days to need it.  My round is now so well refined that a long day is 4 hours.

Just no point running a diesel heater, I lose so few days to cold it’s not worth it.

[Splash and dash]

For the few days a year it’s below 0, none of it is financially viable for me.

I don’t work enough these days to need it.  My round is now so well refined that a long day is 4 hours.

Just no point running a diesel heater, I lose so few days to cold it’s not worth it.

So surely not worth buying a new transit custom in the spring then ? That’s not a wise investment

[Spruce]

5.5kw.!! That's heading towards ev charging requirements.

That is the output Wattage Spruce. Input is more around 1KW

My understanding is that you can't get more energy out than you put in. I maybe wrong though.

Don't be self-deprecating Spruce. You're never wrong.

 

You haven't met the wife or our son. 😂

[Spruce]

For the few days a year it’s below 0, none of it is financially viable for me.

I don’t work enough these days to need it.  My round is now so well refined that a long day is 4 hours.

Just no point running a diesel heater, I lose so few days to cold it’s not worth it.

So surely not worth buying a new transit custom in the spring then ? That’s not a wise investment

Buying a new vehicle is never an investment. It's a depreciating loss. However, it's a tool needed to aid us in doing our job. So I would class that as a need.  No van equals no window cleaning. Simple

Having a diesel heater does make the job of hose management easier in cold weather. We appreciated having ours going today. But I wouldn't call it a need. We worked through 15 winters without hot water.

Many years ago there was a diy window cleaning forum. There was a cleaner on there who used his brush until there was hardly any bristles left as he refused to spend money on equipment until he absolutely had to. His priority was saving as much as he could for his holidays. He would definitely never have bought a diesel heater.

[Splash and dash]

For the few days a year it’s below 0, none of it is financially viable for me.

I don’t work enough these days to need it.  My round is now so well refined that a long day is 4 hours.

Just no point running a diesel heater, I lose so few days to cold it’s not worth it.

So surely not worth buying a new transit custom in the spring then ? That’s not a wise investment

Buying a new vehicle is never an investment. It's a depreciating loss. However, it's a tool needed to aid us in doing our job. So I would class that as a need.  No van equals no window cleaning. Simple

Having a diesel heater does make the job of hose management easier in cold weather. We appreciated having ours going today. But I wouldn't call it a need. We worked through 15 winters without hot water.

Many years ago there was a diy window cleaning forum. There was a cleaner on there who used his brush until there was hardly any bristles left as he refused to spend money on equipment until he absolutely had to. His priority was saving as much as he could for his holidays. He would definitely never have bought a diesel heater.

My point was that he already has a half decent van there is no point in spending the best part of 40k on a new one doing minimal work .