[richy27]

was at hydramaster the other day and was advised that covering the tm and put oil rad under duvet was good   any one else put the rad under the duvet makes sense

[Andrew Briscoe]

Thats same as me Richard, ever since other week, rad set to +6 and small amount of water froze under rad on floor   

Andrew

[Len Gribble]

Do they mean bit like an electric blanket 

Len

[richy27]

i belive they said cover the tm in duvet and stick the oil rad under duvet so covered   

[Colin Day]

Well it makes sense to me. I'm sure they wouldn't give you duff advice at HM........

[richy27]

Makes sense to me too but bit paranoid about covering up rad.  got 5 days before cold weather is back my farmer senses tell me

[Colin Day]

Makes sense to me too but bit paranoid about covering up rad.  got 5 days before cold weather is back my farmer senses tell me

I see what you mean.... So have you got a TM now rich?

[richy27]

yeah bought a spitfire 3.2   i still use my airflex because many jobs i do i cant use the tm lots of care homes single rooms dotted all over the property and easier to use it and its an excellant porty . Had to spend some money right quick instead of paying the inland revenue next year.

[Steve_Knight]

Rich
Enjoy!

Cheers

Steve

[Mike Halliday]

but what about your wand & handtools? don't they need protecting against the frost?  put a hot air heater in the van at floor level .

you need to keep the full van above freezing not just the truckmount

[richy27]

but what about your wand & handtools? don't they need protecting against the frost?  put a hot air heater in the van at floor level .

you need to keep the full van above freezing not just the truckmount

Mike good point i bring all my tools and chems in at night if its goin to be cold.

[Joe H]

I have a greenhouse fan heater, kicks in at low temperatures, and the fan keeps the cold air circulating, being replaced with warm air. This way gets to the corners.
I used to put an oil fileed rad in, but also used  a small desk fan to keep air circulating.
During the extreme cold I put both systems in, just in case the greenhouse fan went wonkt then the oil filled rad would kick in.

[Jim_77]

Sorry (and a bit shocked) to say this but you've been given some dubious advice in my opinion

If you look on the top of any electric heater it will say WARNING: DO NOT COVER, and for a bloody good reason!!

Admittedly with an oil-filled the danger is very much lower than, say, a convector heater.  But regardless of safety, if you cover an oil filled rad with a duvet the heat isn't going to get very far from the rad!

You insulate the whole van, you heat the whole van, simple.  Stand the rad on the floor as close to the middle of the air space as you can, and keep a thermometer on the floor at one of the extremeties (side door near your solution outlets is a good place).

It doesn't matter a monkey's bum what the air temp is at the top near the roof, is the heat keeping the extremities of the machine warm? (and your chems on the racking down the side, expensive to replace!).

I lost a QD off my solution outlet to the frost because I didn't realise it was getting so cold round that side of the machine, despite the air in the back being quite warm when I opened the door to check.  Glad that's all I lost.

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

Without doubt as Joe has said a heater with a fan is best to keep the whole of the van contents from freezing.

Cheers Tony