[julianbiggs]

Hi guys.

Here comes another Winter.

We no longer have to worry about ladder carnage Winter as we have moved over to the bright side and are WFP !!

But.....How are we gonna avoid the hoses freezing up ? Do we need to wrap them up at night or is there an economical way of installing an electric heater to run all night to keep the inside of the van warm.

Please dont suggest removing the hose reels at night  as we have built a platform in the back of the van and the hoses are a permanent fixture.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[gary999]

heater in van convector/oil filled rad etc is what a lot of these boys use

[Spruce]

Doesn't anybody do a search before they start a new thread?

[julianbiggs]

Sorry for asking ! im hardly a serial enquirer.

323 posts in 7 years !!

Thanks for your help.

[d s windowcleaning]

Doesn't anybody do a search before they start a new thread?

no

[geefree]

Its been asked a thousand times... sometimes its better to type the question in search ... for instant answers rather than wait for replies.

I used to use oil filled radiators in the van overnight....

now i have a 3kw element in the tank , set on a timer from 4am until 9am.....

 the van is warm in the mornings.... as the warm water acts as a radiator..... and the water stays warm until after lunch, well around 2pm..... keeping all hoses soft and supple.

[H2GoKent]

If you're really worried while working leave water running thru them all the time they are on the ground. Not onto the path or pavement obviously but onto the grass say.
It's when I've turned off and moved that they froze on a very cold day.

[Ian Sheppard]

 Flowing water is less likely to freeze. However the issue is hoses and water freezing overnight when temps drop.
You can look at
Lagging
Full HW water system with controller
Carlor or Diesel heaters
some put a rad in the van over night

The issue is going to be the hose will be much stiffer in the colder weather which will in turn effect pressure in your system you may find the pump has to work faster for the same flow

This is due to lower ambient temp and lower water viscosity (Colder water runs slower)

If you have a pump box it may be worth taking the pump box and hose in doors overnight. You do need to think about how you stop the water in the tank freezing overnight

Hope this helps

[Mike #1]

Over the past week I have to turn flow up due to cold weather , hopefully moving house next week so will have the option to heat water in static tank or tank in back of truck .

Will be first winter using warm water after 3 winters

[Ian Sheppard]

Over the past week I have to turn flow up due to cold weather , hopefully moving house next week so will have the option to heat water in static tank or tank in back of truck .

Will be first winter using warm water after 3 winters

As the temp starts to fall further it may be worth recalibrating your control as this will help take into account the change in the hose expansion and water viscosity.

Re calibrating should allow you to run the pump around the same rate as it would during warmer months, This will also help the battery consumption

[mick hay]

you can do everything possible to stop them freezing overnight, but if you have micro/minibore, if its still freezing in the morning, the water will freeze inside it when laid on the ground!!!

Oil filled rad overnight, then start later in the morning, just wait for the temp to rise a little.

[JackieW]

With regard to oil filled rads, am I correct in saying they still have to be left switched on via a 240v  electric power lead from the house? And obviously immersion or electric heaters too.

How do guys manage if, like me, the van has to stay on the road and can't have a mains lead running across the road/pavement all night?

Is an LPG  gas fired heater the only answer?

[andyM]

you can do everything possible to stop them freezing overnight, but if you have micro/minibore, if its still freezing in the morning, the water will freeze inside it when laid on the ground!!!

Oil filled rad overnight, then start later in the morning, just wait for the temp to rise a little.

I worked last year with nearly 100 mtrs of hose laid in 4" of snow and the water never froze in the microbore hose.
What I do is keep the water flowing even just very slightly to avoid it freeezing up. 

[richard jagger]

use two 500 watt water heater in you tank and insulate you tank. I had 33 degrees till lunch time.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100W-200W-300W-500W-Aquarium-Fish-Tank-Pond-Water-Heater-Thermostat-Submersible-/221023785194?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&var=&hash=item33760b50ea

[Mike #1]

Already increased CAL but still had to turn flow up Cal is set at 23 and Flo is 27 overnight temps are 1 deg and day temps have been about 4-8 degrees . Mike

[WINDYCLEANER]

slumpy the heater looks great idea, does it come with a normal 3 pin plug fitted, one isn't shown in the pictures

[barry mallett]

if you are di only . just fill your tank up with hot water in the morning . stays warm till about 2 . no problems at all last year .

[Sean Dyer]

slumpy the heater looks great idea, does it come with a normal 3 pin plug fitted, one isn't shown in the pictures

do u just hang these in the tank?

i generally fill my van in the morning so would i be better filling at night and then leaving these in?

also , how long do u leave them on for do u have  timed switch or anything , i really need to get sorted this weekend for the cold or else its gonna beat me

[Mike #1]

I fill up on a morning alot aswell mate just drop heater into your static tank once full and heat overnight,

That is what I plan on doing should not loose to much heat transferring to tank in van or truck going to insulate static tank and tank in truck to reduce heat loss.Mike

[richard jagger]

Yes it has a 3 pin plug 230 volt. I used to to spread the heat and you will have to make a water proof join in the wire I used that tape that seals its self cant remember the name the covered it in silicon  block around the joint. I put them in at night and the water was 33 degrees in the morning and if you cover the tank with silver insulation it will keep it heat till lunch.