[AuRavelling79]

For those of us who manage to continue working wfp in zero or sub zero temperatures, this thread is for us to put ideas up for the rest of the forum to keep going.

Anything from keeping van water warm enough to stopping ice forming on brushes or paths - put your experiences and ideas here.

Thank you!

[GB Window Cleaning]

best idea ive got is trad pole and screenwash oh and maybe get a sack of grit for the old people's paths

[Jeff Brimble]

Holds 2 25L containers, heat loss is 1 degree per hour.

[[GQC] Tim]

Fan heater here :

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/56373/Heating-Cooling/Electric-Heating/Birchwood-H02073-Freestanding-Electric-Fan-Heater-2kW

Brilliant, with thermostat, leaves neighbours wondering why my van is the only one without snow or ice.

Also, working in the snow is fine (up to a certain temp), you just need to have a high ish flowrate to keep it going. Did quite a few here.

Sainsburys basics table salt for parths, 27p for a bottle. Brilliant stuff and you can easily pour it on paths. Does the job and you can buy loads of it for that price.

[Matthew Bateman]

Frost-setting heater in van overnight.

Small gas torch for defrosting pipes under van.

L5 heater.

300W aquarium heater in IBC.

Ensure transfer pipes are empty after filling up.

Ensure van pipe-work is pumped dry after tap on van-mount tank is off

Make sure all R.O. pipe-work, D.I vessels and R.O. unit is sufficiently protected. If that means bringing in from outside do it.

Broom in van.

Salt in van.

Thats it.

[[GQC] Tim]

Snow chains in van, shovel. Tow cable just in case 4x4 needs to pull you out (like me today, had to be pulled out, don't have snowchains)

Make sure your RO doesn't freeze up while you are away (static) or when parked up (in van) 4040s aren't cheap and it takes very little for them to freeze up.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

4x4 Pick up wfp system

Heat water before transfer to van tank to about 35 Celsius, still warm at the end of the day.

Empty tank and hose reels after work and then leave small heater in van.

Blankets on hose reels between jobs.

Don't leave hoses or poles lying around unless being used.  Slightly higher flow rate.

Between jobs have poles in cab rather than on roof.

Simon.

[Dave Willis]

Keep your hose pumping continuously whilst cleaning to prevent the jets freezing up, get it all back in the van as quick as you can and don't stop to chat to the custies!

[Frankybadboy]

dont fill tank right to top and leave lid off,so if it does turn to a big ice cube then the tank aint going to break.

[Londoner]

I've dug my old motorcycle neck warmer out and am wearing it. Very warm.

[trevor perry]

i have a hot system but as soon as it starts freezing on pavement i put a bit of salt down on the couple ive been caught out on then pack up, i couldnt justify saying how safe water fed pole is then go and make an ice ring for some poor old dear to slip on.

[prestige cleaners]

ive given up on trying to insulate van, i drain the pump and pipes then i bring in my 2 reels, 3 poles, 2 barrels and merlin now. only takes 10mins and saves me an hour sorting it out in the morning.

im very tempted to wear my ski-mask tomorrow, but dont want to scare the custs, i was so cold today, i didnt care what i looked like.

i do have a motorcycle balaclava i might wear, its not as intimidating.

only lasted 3 houses today, taps were freezing up and fan jets, and the pole was getting stuck in ice, icicles were forming on the brush. 

[bobplum]

look out of window,get back in bed no problems

[smearo]

Fan heater here :

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/56373/Heating-Cooling/Electric-Heating/Birchwood-H02073-Freestanding-Electric-Fan-Heater-2kW

Brilliant, with thermostat, leaves neighbours wondering why my van is the only one without snow or ice.

Also, working in the snow is fine (up to a certain temp), you just need to have a high ish flowrate to keep it going. Did quite a few here.

Sainsburys basics table salt for parths, 27p for a bottle. Brilliant stuff and you can easily pour it on paths. Does the job and you can buy loads of it for that price.

tim do you leave fan heater on overnight and are they expensive to run

[[GQC] Tim]

Fan heater here :

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/56373/Heating-Cooling/Electric-Heating/Birchwood-H02073-Freestanding-Electric-Fan-Heater-2kW

Brilliant, with thermostat, leaves neighbours wondering why my van is the only one without snow or ice.

Also, working in the snow is fine (up to a certain temp), you just need to have a high ish flowrate to keep it going. Did quite a few here.

Sainsburys basics table salt for parths, 27p for a bottle. Brilliant stuff and you can easily pour it on paths. Does the job and you can buy loads of it for that price.

tim do you leave fan heater on overnight and are they expensive to run

Yep I put it in as soon as I come home and leave it running at a low-ish thermostat setting. No idea how expensive it is to run, it's got two settings 1Kw, and 2Kw. It's hard to say because it's got a thermostat, it only switches on now and then. Regardless, it's cheaper then a new HF-4. Been there, done that. 

[wpclean]

Buy a house with a garage !

[Andy@w.c.s]

make enough in the summer not to have to worry about a few weeks off in the winter 












shame i did'nt take my own advice lol

[steve freeman]

Cold water out of ro and resin cylinder then through inline heat and run carpet cleaning heater into van tank 400 ltr filled just enough to clean from 10am till 2pm £100 per day still then tank emptied and hose nothing to freeze just keep earning enough to keep going and in tank at about 40oc no freezing,no ice left on ground all hose and pump water cant go cold in the 4 hours as its emptied quick

[mick hay]

When you put your heater in the van overnight, dont put it on the frost stat, sooo many times ive got up in the morning and hoses etc frozen!!

this year ive turned mine right up, not a problem at all....may cost a bit more in electricity, but not lost a day in work so far!!!

Also, to stop your microbore freezing on the ground, get the water flowing thro as soon as poss, then keep it running, no freezing for as yet since been doing this!! 

[billozz]

Fan heater here :

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/56373/Heating-Cooling/Electric-Heating/Birchwood-H02073-Freestanding-Electric-Fan-Heater-2kW

Brilliant, with thermostat, leaves neighbours wondering why my van is the only one without snow or ice.

Also, working in the snow is fine (up to a certain temp), you just need to have a high ish flowrate to keep it going. Did quite a few here.

Sainsburys basics table salt for parths, 27p for a bottle. Brilliant stuff and you can easily pour it on paths. Does the job and you can buy loads of it for that price.

tim do you leave fan heater on overnight and are they expensive to run

we have one and it costs 11p per hour to run at 1kw setting