[steve freeman]

well ive been using cold water fed poles now since 2003 and like everyone else here had all of last week of due to snow,frost etc as after defrosting my set up i thought i cant really take another week of etc etc any way a plumber mate of mine installed a 3kw immersion element into my van tank on Saturday filled up 400ltr water ....was on a timer last night came on 5 this morning and also small oil rad in van......well ill be dammed it was like a sauna in there........ water was 45 deg at 8 oclock so of i went at 10 to do some residential houses.........anyway all of my hose and tank has stayed lovely all day ive just finished..i hand cleaned front and back doors and i was amazed how quick they dried even at -5 here where i am ............ also what normally took me 4 hours with cold water has taken me 2.5 hours amazing why didn't i do it years ago ...seriously ive worked up till 1.30 and its still like a sauna in there i do only have a transit conect but even with warm water the difference is amazing. I worked out i spent approx £1-2 of elec but able to work .................... so heat all the way i would say

[Ross G]

Good stuff Steve

I'm frozen off at the moment my connect sitting doing nowt.
Any chance of some pics of your set up ?

[Nick_Thompson]

Did you insulate your tank?

[steve freeman]

all ive done nick is throw a duvet over covered most of it but its done the trick dont get me wrong its not baking hot steaming water but it didnt freeze anything, its still 000 tds and for 3-4 hours if it makes you 100-200 without freezing thats all i need i kept taking my gloves off to check the 6mm microbore on the ground it just stayed warm and the pump and hose reel and fittings  all you could see was the warm hose trail through the icy grass and the water on the glass just evaporated even quicker AMAZING

[RO-Sheen]

Nice one Steve, Glad to see you back in CIU.

For those that don't know, Steve is one of the old wfp Gurus. He helped me alot when I started up 4 years ago.
Steve- Is that £1-£2 a day thats costing you? Can you send me some photos as Im interested in doing the same. I managed to get out this morning for a 1/2 day but my brushes kept freezing up. so back home now.

[Blue Frog Systems]

Steve... Sounds like your onto a winner there mate. I too would be interested in how your friend has set this up for you.

Would be gratefull if you could take some pictures and maybe ask your friend what it would cost for it to be fitted 'not at mates rates'

Sounds like another option to the L5 heater.

[TomCrowther]

Sounds good to me. I have really struggled along today, resorted to back pack and a bit of trad but am now considering "hotifying". Can I claim that as a new word?

[steve freeman]

Hiya Ade yes mate £1-2 ish but no more ......... ill put some pics up but seriouslly it was easy to do i helped him.......... a £13 emersion element ,hole in tank seal it all round..........high heat cable , plug it in wow warm water,warm hose,soft brushes work quicker,faster and with less hazard that using cold like before..

blue frog it was so simple all he did really was get it and wire it up i drilled hole in tank sealed it up after inserted  easy to do really really easy ..simple but so effective

[LWC]

Whereabout did you put it in tank?

Ive got a layflat 400, id need to put it as low as possible, but would you be able to make a good enough seal?

[Blue Frog Systems]

steve... does it need a thermostat at all ? also what type / size tank do you have it in ? i have a 400l upright. guessing it has to be a certain level from the bottom too. would imagine that it would increase the temprature if you insulated the tank too

[RO-Sheen]

Cheers mate. Did he power it from the battery? I have power supply to my van so could be even easier. My Father in law fitted 2 domestic 3 pin sockets inside van with power coming via a power lead from the external garden sockets.

[Ian101]

Is it powered from the domestic plug socket ?

[Steven Shoreditch]

@ OP...

But didn't the water freeze in the pole hose?  Not even up at the brush?

I'm talking about in between jobs where you're driving in the cold.

[steve freeman]

No ade just off 3 pin 13 amp plug then high voltage thermo extension battery woulnt last mate and you only really need enpough warm water to see you through the day to stop hose etc freezing ....

Right i hope this helps you all

you need one of these this one for flat tank http://www.screwfix.com/prods/89280/Plumbing/Boilers-and-Accs/Immersion-Heater-Copper-Element-11

then you need

1: heat resistant flex 3 core from b& q - 10 pound ish
2: sealant again b& q - 7 pound ish
3: thermo cut out extension fully unwound remember will take over 3000 kw


4: old duvet or what ever you want to use to cover

i have my extension on a timer comes on about 5 am till 8 and when i took the tank lid of its steaming ..not boiling but stays warm in the van heres some pics for you to get ya shopping

[steve freeman]

nope water didnt freeze between jobs as it was still warm thru it and inside van was seriously warm like a sauna that was just from the tank i didnt even turn the van heating on

and yes just standard plug socket

[steve freeman]

and if  anyone decides to do this and you need any help let me know ill try my best cmon lads lets help each other here lets keep our business going.

P.s im not saying the water wont freeze before 9 am as the outside temp is still very very low but after 9am boootiful keep on window cleaning

Oh and you need to empty your pole hose ,pump etc at the end of day just to keep it all nice for the next day

Hot water for under 30- 40 pounds

[dmlservices]

does any body know if there are issues running hot water into pump, as i understand it hot water systems heat water after pump, does running hot into pump damage diaphram ?



daz

[rg1]

With current temperatures outside, won't everything freeze before the timer comes on at 5am?

[Ian101]

3: thermo cut out extension fully unwound remember will take over 3000 kw


sorry little dim .... is that an extension lead from socket to the van ?

will any extension lead do or does it need to be anything special ?

[poleman]

steve what size tank do you have!!!