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Joe W Brown

  • Posts: 217
Frost
« on: November 01, 2012, 02:35:28 pm »
With my van left in a garage will it need insulation also? What sort of heater will I need, baring in mind there is no electrical supply to the garage as it is not near my house?


What sort of temp outside should it be when I start thinking about turning the heater on?


Thanks v much

Neil Jones

  • Posts: 1592
Re: Frost
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2012, 05:32:26 pm »
Get and oil filled rad with thermostat. Does me fine, some on here will have their van ply lined with insulation underneath. I have the rad in the back but I also remove a lot of the gear for security reasons as well. Although this year im off to Aus for three week so it can get as cold as it likes :-)

Simon@arenaclean

  • Posts: 1054
Re: Frost
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2012, 08:40:28 pm »
I use a fan heater that distributes heat better to keep everything warm and set it to come on around 4 degrees. Van is insulated too. Most will have a frost watch but it can be bloody cold by the time it kicks in. If you cant get electric out to the van consider taking stuff indoors. Machine, wands/handtools, liquid chems. It can be a real pain but a new pump in the machine, and trigger valves on you tools aren't cheap. I have an external thermometer stuck on the kitchen window so easy to keep an eye on and I just flick a switch to turn it on. We are at only 3 degrees tonight so the heat is on ;D

Joe W Brown

  • Posts: 217
Re: Frost
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2012, 10:05:44 pm »
Does this apply even with the van in a garage Simon? I just coughed up some money to rent a garage from the council.

Thanks both of you for your replies.

Carpet Dawg

  • Posts: 2968
Re: Frost
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2012, 11:00:34 pm »
Joe, the easiest thing to do would be to take your machine in at night. Its also safer and i like to run a few litres of water through the pump at the end of the day to rinse any detergent  residue from the pump and pipes.

Wrap the vavles of your hand tools, solution line and wand with duvet (make sure the tirgger is held down) if its going to be a frosty night.

Your chems will be fine in sub tempretures, apart from any protectors.

I've never had any problems doing it this way

p.s. It also helps if your van in ply lined.

Tony

Simon@arenaclean

  • Posts: 1054
Re: Frost
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2012, 11:24:39 pm »
The garage will offer some protection but i'd still be cautious and at least take the machine in.

Carpet Dawg

  • Posts: 2968
Re: Frost
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2012, 11:28:25 pm »
Just noticed your "leased a garage from the council" post. STOP! Save your money, bring the machine in. Stick it in a cupboard or something.

Jim_77

Re: Frost
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2012, 01:34:40 am »
You have no electric, how are you going to turn a heater on?!! ;D

Unless you fit an eberspacher or webasto you are not going to get any heat into the van.  Insulation only slows down the loss of heat that is already inside, but an insulated van inside a garage which is drught-proofed well enough may be OK on most winter nights... however in the really cold snaps for more than an overnight period it will probably still freeze up inside

*Hector*

  • Posts: 9268
Re: Frost
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2012, 08:11:30 am »
You can get greenhouse heaters that run on parafin.... these do not heat up the van,but they do keep the frost out and if the van is insulated, should stop the machine and tools freezing up.......

To you high tech new fangled modernies... What is this electricity you keep mentioning ??  ;D ;D
Everyday this forum slips further from God.  :'(

david@zap-clean

  • Posts: 684
Re: Frost
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2012, 08:20:14 am »
You can get greenhouse heaters that run on parafin.... these do not heat up the van,but they do keep the frost out and if the van is insulated, should stop the machine and tools freezing up.......

To you high tech new fangled modernies... What is this electricity you keep mentioning ??  ;D ;D

Do you know if there are any safety/insurance issues with using this type of heating in a vehicle?  My wife has a habit of knicking the van to go to the shops (at speed) - I can just imaging a paraffin heater spinning about in the back, and she's thinking 'he's not strapped that **** machine down again'...
David @ ZapClean
www.zap-clean.com

*Hector*

  • Posts: 9268
Re: Frost
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2012, 08:42:05 am »
They are perfectly safe if used in Greenhouses (which do not move all that much, or that fast)....

For use in vans, no problem if van is stationary......

Shyte creek if van is moving....

For elf and safety issues I would put a bloody big sign in the front window facing inwards saying...

HEATER ON IN BACK ..................... GET OUT AND TAKE IT OUT  ;D
Everyday this forum slips further from God.  :'(

John Kelly

  • Posts: 4461
Re: Frost
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2012, 09:13:15 am »
Stick the heater in the garage.

JandS

  • Posts: 4265
Re: Frost
« Reply #12 on: November 02, 2012, 09:23:23 am »
Everything indoors for me...pain in the backside but
worth it.
Got it down to 6 minutes last year loading in the morning and
unloading at night.
Worth that extra 12 minutes peace of mind.
Also I'm usually home by 4.30 and if I can help it I don't set off
on a morning till 9.15.

John
Impossible done straight away, miracles can take a little longer.

david mitcham

  • Posts: 43
Re: Frost
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2012, 10:41:11 am »

You could get some 8ft & 4ft sheets of kingspan & insulate the internal walls of the garage, job done!

http://www.secondsandco.co.uk/

The above link supply kingspan seconds

David

Jim_77

Re: Frost
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2012, 03:18:22 pm »
You really don't want to be putting anything like a paraffin heater into the back of your van, the fire risk is simply too great for a start, but also the condensation will fill the van up... it'll be dripping.

*Hector*

  • Posts: 9268
Re: Frost
« Reply #15 on: November 02, 2012, 04:35:55 pm »
I was only sayin like... as no leccy needed.

I have no problem as mentioned on another thread... Handles of buffer slightly cold for first job..  :P :P
Everyday this forum slips further from God.  :'(

tim handley

Re: Frost
« Reply #16 on: November 02, 2012, 05:39:06 pm »
i used green house heaters in my van for a few years no probs, until the really bad freeze of two years ago, or was it three when it went down to the minus 10 mark, that froze my pressure wash and killed it, but it was an exceptional year. i then bought an halogen heater which is safer and cheaper and works perfect, obviously with a timer attached and with care where its placed. the problem with the paraffin/greenhouse heaters is  soot residue which builds up inside your van a tad!!!!!!  now i have the carpet cleaner im simply bringing it inside, full stop, also the wand!!!!!

Re: Frost
« Reply #17 on: November 02, 2012, 08:24:34 pm »
With my van left in a garage will it need insulation also? What sort of heater will I need, baring in mind there is no electrical supply to the garage as it is not near my house?

I rent a brick garage which in in the middle of numerous others, a sort of 'terraced' garage if you like ;D
I keep all my spare gear in there porty, pressure washer and chems to name the water orientated kit and have never had a problem over the years with just some old quilts just put over them.
It might be different if you have a 'detached' garage and more so if it's of a fabricated structure.

Joe W Brown

  • Posts: 217
Re: Frost
« Reply #18 on: November 03, 2012, 12:28:38 am »
Its a brick terraced garrage tht I am renting, as you described.

I have bought my Storm into my bedsit. To get too the sink I will have to climb through the bath now, but at least I have peace of mind!