[Rogue Trader]

I have 3 midi vans and a very big one and am currently using oil filled rads/fan heaters but the cost of keeping them thawed is ridiculous. I have never been happy with having a naked flame in the form of standard gas or space heaters for obvoious reasons.

Anybody got any more economical ideas that dont involve naked flames?

Everyone is talking about propex heaters at the mo , what would be the initial outlay and the ongoing running costs of these?

[GDwindowcleaning]

Immersion heaters in the tanks, warms water to 60 degrees and acts like a radiator to keep van toasty all day....

[DMC Window Cleaners Ltd]

Immersion heaters in the tanks, warms water to 60 degrees and acts like a radiator to keep van toasty all day....

most immersion heaters are 3000w ish buy a 1500 watt heater and put it on a timer put it on for an hr then off for a few hours then bk on you only need to keep it above 0

[P @ F]

Having 4 vans surely could mean a heated business unit is needed , when you mention cost of fan heaters being pricey .... i have to laugh some ......stop being tight  we all manage to do it with one van , or are you one of these big co's charging peanuts ?

Rich

[brianbarber]

If you have 3 vans, consider say 500/800 sq ft industrial unit with roller shutters, park vans there in evening, job done.
Plus room for huge water storage.
Also handy as a base, plus will have toilet and office facilities.

Mr B

[bobby p]

in Canada and cold places like that they have a heater that sits on the ground below the car/van

[GDwindowcleaning]

From what I have heard immersions cost 1.50 to 2 quid a night so I would have thought 6 to 8 quid a night to keep a 4 van operation on the road and working with warm water and supple hoses is a bargain....

[Moderator David@stives]

we just let ours freeze

we use squeegies on poles on shops anyway, so we just do them in the mornings.

[Jackal]

From what I have heard immersions cost 1.50 to 2 quid a night so I would have thought 6 to 8 quid a night to keep a 4 van operation on the road and working with warm water and supple hoses is a bargain....

to add to this does it really matter that much if it costs you £5 a night per van which it wont anyway,we only need these heaters for about 1 month of the year at the most

[colin purewater]

we just let ours freeze

we use squeegies on poles on shops anyway, so we just do them in the mornings.

Dont this mess ypur pumps up Dave?

[Rogue Trader]

£35 per week per van = £140 per week so yes to me it really does matter!

so please tell me more about immersion heaters , do they keep hoses between tank and van outlet frost free?

[GDwindowcleaning]

I would consider 35 a week cheap to keep working if the only other choice was not working. They wouldnt cost 35 a week all year round though, just while it was really cold....

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

4 propex heaters will doi the trick 

[Moderator David@stives]

No probs with any of it, not worth worrying about.

We used to spend hours in the morning defrosting everything, now we just let nature take its course,

As soon as its warm enough for wfp, your equipment will auto defrost anyway, its natures way of saying dont use yet as it will freeze and cause a slip hazard as soon as you use it anyway.

[GDwindowcleaning]

You like those propex heaters gav lol

The immersion will keep the whole interior of the van frost free as one big radiator...

[Rogue Trader]

well that is what it does cost and im looking for a cheaper alternative

dont do any trad though, i have 1 trad job in 2000 and that is a £12 monthly

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

its a lot cheaper than replacemement
pumps di s hose reels etc
wfp equipment aint cheap
losing days due to ice is worse
if the heaters r 400 tax deductable
surely its cheaper and you can drive
with em running !!!
no ,ore knackered gear n yr still working
its that simple 

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

and if they where running constanly
19kg of gas £27.00
lasts 96hrs 
again tax deductable

[Jackal]

£35 per week per van = £140 per week so yes to me it really does matter!

so please tell me more about immersion heaters , do they keep hoses between tank and van outlet frost free?

its going depend on the actual temp at nite and how long you have the immersion on through the night hoses/pumps  that arnt close to the tank heater may still freeze,other lads who have had them fitted for couple of winter will no more than me,£140 per week is alot but yes but it wont cost that much i was just saying would it matter if it did, if you want to keep working its only 10-15 mins of your working day,other than that just chill at home until the system thaws

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

jackal frozen systems cost money
because parts break m8
i lost two di s one yr cost
wiv resin bout 200 each
never again m8