[Steven White]

This year I upgraded to DIY WFP static to van with two stations on a big Ford Transit and two tanks (400L and 650L) and it's cost me about £9000 in all inc the van. Now I out of money to invest in the buisiness. I was looking at an email for a hot box, but they're about 3 grand, so I can't get one for this winter. But in my shed is an electric shower box. I'm wondering if I can rig it up to give me a hot water system. The two problems I've got is will the flow be enough and it not interfering with the 12V shurflo pumps running off the van battery. The other problem is how to power it?? I'm wondering if I'll have to get a diesel electric generator. Even if I do thats gotta be a cheaper option. Any thoughts/advice from DIYers... or is just plain impractical/impossible?

Steve White (SWS Window Cleaning) North Beds

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Just use a portable gas shower heater like evryone else.

£200 all in.

[keyser soze]

Just use a portable gas shower heater like evryone else.

£200 all in.

+1
lpg portable water heater run of lpg its the cheapest way and good results

[bobplum]

immersion heater installed into the tanks may be a cheaper way

[Steven White]

I don't know what everyone else uses (I'm new to WFP) but thanks for telling me. Any links or ones you recommend would be apreciated

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

immersion heater installed into the tanks may be a cheaper way

This is also my method.

[bobplum]

I don't know what everyone else uses (I'm new to WFP) but thanks for telling me. Any links or ones you recommend would be apreciated

there is a youtube video regarding the element heating
it is actually very simple to do

[Ian101]

I just use cold ...... hot will still freeze on the ground  

and if you put salt down and an accident occurs u guilty as charged as why put the salt down if you didnt know the risk ??

in winter u just have to accept your going to loose the odd day.

I do a Dazmond and draw from my winter fund ... which in my case is not like Dazmond and his piles of cash ... mines called an overdraft  

[Steven White]

Cheers. The immersion heater thing on youtube I'll look into. I wonder if in really cold weather even if the water in the tanks is hot the water in the pipework (jg pushfit and hoselock, no metal) will freeze overnight. Spose I'll find out the hard way.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I just use cold ...... hot will still freeze on the ground  

and if you put salt down and an accident occurs u guilty as charged as why put the salt down if you didnt know the risk ??

in winter u just have to accept your going to loose the odd day.

I do a Dazmond and draw from my winter fund ... which in my case is not like Dazmond and his piles of cash ... mines called an overdraft  

Kind of agree to a certain extent.

However. the warm/hot water does come into it's own via a small window of temperatures. From zero to approx -4 it's of serious benefit. Below these temps you'll hit almost the same amount of issues as with cold water anyway IMO.

IMO though, the biggest benefit of all is keeping the system frost/ice free inside the van overnight- allowing you to work the next day if temps permit.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Cheers. The immersion heater thing on youtube I'll look into. I wonder if in really cold weather even if the water in the tanks is hot the water in the pipework (jg pushfit and hoselock, no metal) will freeze overnight. Spose I'll find out the hard way.

The water tank acts like a huge radiator in the van, ensuring a frost free system. In Fact, the van is like toast in the morning!!

[Steven White]

Hmm. When I was trad I used to fill my container with hot water from the shower. But my mate said hot water has more oxygene in it than cold and freezes faster on the glass than cold. Still as long as I didn't have to wash my chamois out in ice cold water I was happy with my hot 25L container with an old coat wrapped round it. I don't miss those days whatever the problems using WFP in the winter brings.

[trevor perry]

I just use cold ...... hot will still freeze on the ground  

and if you put salt down and an accident occurs u guilty as charged as why put the salt down if you didnt know the risk ??

in winter u just have to accept your going to loose the odd day.

I do a Dazmond and draw from my winter fund ... which in my case is not like Dazmond and his piles of cash ... mines called an overdraft  

totally agree i cant believe how many think that throwing salt down is managing the risk i also cant believe the manufacturers who promote using their hot systems in sub zero temperatures in their advertising

[Steven White]

Right that doz it for me. I'm definately going for the immersion heating idea if my van is warm and toasty in the morning

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Right that doz it for me. I'm definately going for the immersion heating idea if my van is warm and toasty in the morning

You'll need 4 to 5 hours heating with a 3KW element in a 400ltr tank to give a tank of hot water. If you know what you pay per KWH (kilo watt hour) then you'll know how much it costs per night to use.

So, @ 10p per KWH , 3KW element, 10p x 3 = 30p per hour. 5 hours = £1.50 per night.

It will cost approx £50 for all the gear to install.

[Steven White]

Ah damn! Does that mean I'm going to have to plug my van into the mains overnight. Because if it does that's that idea out of the window, because I'm not like normal people who have garages and parking ajoining their houses

[wightsurf]

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=160758.0

should help you

[Steven White]

Cheers wightsurf. Currently I have two pumps/flow controllers, as it's a two man/station on the van. So would I have to buy two Eccotemp Portable Tankless Water Heaters? Or can I just get away with buying one and putting a splitter 'T' junction after the hot water outlet to feed both poles. I wonder if the flow rate will be any good to a two pole system. I'm guessing it'll have to go Tank-Pump-Heater-pole, or can it go Tank-Heater-pump-pole which would be better as you would be able regulate the flow rates to each pole individually.

[firefly123]

fitted another tap outside which runs hot water connect up the hose into van away you go in the summer i use cold water

[geefree]

"  I just use cold ...... hot will still freeze on the ground 

and if you put salt down and an accident occurs u guilty as charged as why put the salt down if you didnt know the risk ??

in winter u just have to accept your going to loose the odd day.

I do a Dazmond and draw from my winter fund ... which in my case is not like Dazmond and his piles of cash ... mines called an overdraft  " 

its not just about hot water freezes too,

put the element on a timer... say 4 hours in the early morning,... when you open the van doors, everything is warm in the van, ....

when you work in -1 conditions the water does not freeze on the glass as its warm.... its steam to be honest....

and the hose are supple all day...... but the main thing for me is the tank in the van acts as a radiator.... preventing anything freezing.

look,.... if you are going to spend money on oil filled radiators, to prevent frost overnight... put a blooming element in the tank, and get all the benefits.

how many blooming more times do i have to tell you ?