[Wayne Boardman]

I thought i'd share my pain from today - If nothing but to get it off my chest and also hopefully stop somone else making such a stupid mistake..

This is my first Winter as a carpet cleaner and naively thought all my equipment would be fine in the van...
Well as you all know it was extremely cold last night (told it was -3 ...Even down south).

As you can all guess - machine, wand and hose's etc. Frozen.

Turned up at my job this morning and looked a right numpty. "Sorry Mrs.. my machine is Frozen !"

Damage:
Pump - Knackered !
Brass Trigger Value on the wand Split - Knackered!
Lost Client today. Cancelled jobs for Monday, Tuesday next week
Machine out of action for a week...(My backup machine broke 2 months ago)

Only silver lining is that I'm picking up Ken Wainwright's old machine on Wednesday....


Rant over - For those who know better have a good chuckle, and for those who it's not happened to maybe this might be of some help. Maybe nip out and wrap up your equipment !?

Wayne 

[Paul Moss]

Wayne, do a search mate on this. There has been loads of posts over the years.
Your not the first and wont be the last, but it is an expensive lesson. And more so feeling like a tos  ser in front of your customer. You only learn by your mistakes, hope the rest of 2012 is warmer

[Eddie_Rhone]

Hi Wayne

Don't worry this has happened to all of us. Real pain I know. I use an oil filled radiator in van now overnight works a treat .

Just a thought any hire shop near you where you could hire a machine to do the jobs you have next week if the cost is lot less than the income might be worth it.

Regards

Eddie

[Len Gribble]

Wayne

Not really into chuckles, will you learn from this oversight? Hope you have antifreeze in you car/van rad

[Wayne Boardman]

Cheers Chaps..!

Machine in the workshop - But will be getting that rad in the van as soon as I get it back.
Managed to push back a couple of my jobs so not a total disaster.


Wayne.

[Craigp]

I had waste outlet freeze even with insulated van and oil filled rad in last year when it went to -7 so this year using fan heater, because with oil rad you can still get cold spots (no air movement)

So get fan heater not radiator. IMO

[Colin Day]

My Zeta froze as did all my hoses as the oil filled radiator blew a fuse through night... Fortunately no damage was done, I will be investing in a fan heater though.... Today!

I had to postpone a job for 2 hours while I frantically thawed everything out in the house.....

[Wayne Boardman]

Good tip - Cancel the rad and fan heater it is then !

Wayne

[Seymour Sunshine]

A very good way of keeping things from freezing is to fill 25 litre Jerry cans with warm water and use them like a hot water bottle. You can usually get them from your local car wash for free or £1 each. Use them next to your sensitive gear and cover with an old blanket or towels (from your local charity shop).

[Neil Williams]

How much is a double quilt from Asda these days? About £8 or something daft like that which makes it an almost disposable item. (at the end of the winter months).
A few of those over the kit creating as small an air void as possible with a warm blower going into the void does the job.
In the morning (tm or porty) get the machine running for a while before setting off so that there is enough heat left in the machine whilst you travel to the first job, because the back of a van can become an ice box over 10 miles.
At the job try and get the solutions hoses off the floor because they are less likely to freeze up that way. Put them through trees, over walls, fenches whatever.

[Blacky]

Its quite simple really. When you know its going to be cold, on the last job purge your machine and pipework dry. Hook up all hand tools and wands and drain every bit of fluid from them.
Fresh air will not freeze and expand!

The most expensive truckmount could sit at -70 for a month and have no issues if the whole system was dry.


Regards
Pete 

[Jim_77]

Solid theory Pete but never gonna work in practice!  I get tired of preaching about proper van insulation but it seems not everyone is yet to see the light!

[Warren Aldridge]

Even the cheap insulation works, I've covered my roof in B&Q bubble wrap foil insulation.
I get a bit edgy when its very cold and go check at the temp in the van, the heater never kicks on as its not dipping below 5c inside.

[Seymour Sunshine]

How much is a double quilt from Asda these days? About £8 or something daft like that which makes it an almost disposable item. (at the end of the winter months).
A few of those over the kit creating as small an air void as possible with a warm blower going into the void does the job.

In the morning ...

... you'll find a burnt-out, smouldering wreck where your van was.

[Jim_77]

HA! Just as I read this post, the Coldplay song "up in flames" came on the radio!!!!

[Phil @ Extreme Clean]

heating van and all that should be for people who cant empty there van my van get's emptied every nite whether it's warm or cold it takes me 10mins in morning.

[neil 47]

My Zeta froze as did all my hoses as the oil filled radiator blew a fuse through night... Fortunately no damage was done, I will be investing in a fan heater though.... Today!

I had to postpone a job for 2 hours while I frantically thawed everything out in the house.....

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_28360.htm

[Russ Chadd]

Today i got up early and went to B&Q, purchased 3 rolls of this...
http://www.diy.com/nav/build/insulation/loft-insulation/thermal_foil/B-and-Q-Aluminium-Thermal-Foil-M-P-Insulation-Silver-Length-7-5m-x-Width-600mm-10617653

Stapled it to the roof lining and all the ply lining too, even around the racking.

Also purchased this...

http://www.diy.com/nav/rooms/heating-radiators/heaters/heaters/2kW-Two-Way-Fan-Heater-11787509

So for the cost of £60.00 this will save me loads of hassle!!

The insulations was recommended to me by John Bolton

[Neil Williams]

... you'll find a burnt-out, smouldering wreck where your van was.

Have you not heard of PAT testing, RCD's and smoke detectors?
They all form part of my system.... thanks very much

[Seymour Sunshine]

... you'll find a burnt-out, smouldering wreck where your van was.

Have you not heard of PAT testing, RCD's and smoke detectors?
They all form part of my system.... thanks very much

Yes, I have heard of all those things. I also know that fan heaters are designed to blow into open spaces.

I've actually had the experience of blowing a fan heater into an enclosed space, the element overheating due to insufficient air flow and causing a fire. That's how stupid I have been. Luckily I was there and caught the fire in time.

* PAT testing shows that a device is safe to be used as it was designed to be used. It doesn't show that it is safe to be abused or used incorrectly.

* If you trip an RCD, you've defeated the purpose as the device will stop working. In any case, that isn't what RCDs are for. They are to protect against short circuits to Earth. Do you really point a fan heater directly at a quilt full of finely spun plastic and expect an RCD to prevent it bursting into flames?

* A smoke detector shows that a fire has already started, by which time your van is well on its way to being a burnt out shell.

I'll never be that stupid again. You can please yourself, Mr safetyawarecontractor.