[Clever Forum Name]

How many window cleaners have had their vans go up in flames due to carrying gas and using a gas water heater?

25 at the last count (added 25 for CIU B/S)

[SeanK]

How many window cleaners have had their vans go up in flames due to carrying gas and using a gas water heater?

How many window cleaners use it ? not many at the moment so the question should be how many vans or vehicles.
I personally know of one work van and one caravan.
When the neighbours caravan went up on a caravan site their insurance refused to pay out, don't know what excuse they
give but it still cost them to replace a new caravan and any repairs to the site pitch.

[robert mitchell]

i wouldn't of thought its that many ......the problem comes when you have a fire for some other reason (usually electrical), if you don't have the stickers on people won't know the cylinder is there and they go off with a hell of a bang when they explode throwing shrapnel out that can easily kill somebody thats in its way .

If your sensible i don't think they are that dangerous but i would much rather have a diesel system ......shame they are so expensive!

[slap bash]

I knew of a gas wells in Kuwait  that went up in flames. So don`t use gas is dangeroos.

[slap bash]

So we need a sticker on all our vans and cars saying they contain fuel in a tank as when we have a fire for what ever reason and they catch fire and explode and send every shrapnel everywhere. NO, its a safe as you allow it to be and the time you spend checking to see if any leaks are fixing. If you are not sure fit a gas detect alarm or don`t use them if you are a fear driven person.

[PoleKing]

So we need a sticker on all our vans and cars saying they contain fuel in a tank as when we have a fire for what ever reason and they catch fire and explode and send every shrapnel everywhere. NO, its a safe as you allow it to be and the time you spend checking to see if any leaks are fixing. If you are not sure fit a gas detect alarm or don`t use them if you are a fear driven person.

I agree with your sentiment slappy but I was under the impression diesel doesn't explode in the same way that gas (or petrol) does. A van is (i guess) more likely to be diesel so the firepeople may treat it differently... Just a thought

[NWH]

When they fit gas systems for window cleaning they are not installed inside the van from what I've seen,I've seen awful set ups in vans with a gas cannister nothing short of just thrown in the back in the corner lol.the top and bottom of it is it's not the ideal choice and it's done by most WC.S because it's  a dirt cheap way of doing it,we all try and justify the way we do things but that don't make it the right way. Those Taliban heater rott with pure water running through em day in day out and the connection on the majority of em are poor,there a portable way of having a wash lol

[ChumBucket]

When they fit gas systems for window cleaning they are not installed inside the van from what I've seen,I've seen awful set ups in vans with a gas cannister nothing short of just thrown in the back in the corner lol.the top and bottom of it is it's not the ideal choice and it's done by most WC.S because it's  a dirt cheap way of doing it,we all try and justify the way we do things but that don't make it the right way. Those Taliban heater rott with pure water running through em day in day out and the connection on the majority of em are poor,there a portable way of having a wash lol

Can you back up your constant claim with proof or evidence that pure water rots the internals of all gas heaters Nige?

[NWH]

I tried one back in the time when they were first tried out,I imported 2 from America and used 1 for a couple of months but it was never reliable it kept turning off and there was to much pressure for the fittings etc. When it split the main gas fed due to the cold temp overnight in the van that was enough for me as I didn't notice it for a few days and it scared the life out of me,a part time fireman - gardener saw it in my van and said I must be completely mad and said it was a time bomb waiting to go off.since then there has been well known waterfed suppliers jump on the band wagon change a few things and pass em off as proper WFP hot water systems which is complete b******s

[ChumBucket]

I tried one back in the time when they were first tried out,I imported 2 from America and used 1 for a couple of months but it was never reliable it kept turning off and there was to much pressure for the fittings etc. When it split the main gas fed due to the cold temp overnight in the van that was enough for me as I didn't notice it for a few days and it scared the life out of me,a part time fireman - gardener saw it in my van and said I must be completely mad and said it was a time bomb waiting to go off.since then there has been well known waterfed suppliers jump on the band wagon change a few things and pass em off as proper WFP hot water systems which is complete b******s

So how does pure water rot the internal workings of Gas heaters?

So, 'cos you bought two imports back in the day that didn't work for you, all gas heaters are the same?

[NWH]

The internals were not stainless steel they were rotted almost through,as you would know unless the internals are stainless it's a matter of time before they corrode,I left it in the van one night and even after draining it the pipe were so cold they just split on change of temp.The old band wagon jumpers have even fitted a frost stat now I believe like I have on my diesel heater,the thing that is amusing is the fact they are passing them off  as WFP heaters by changing a few stickers a bit like saying a ford escort is a Bentley cos it says Bentley on the bonnet really.

[robert mitchell]

So we need a sticker on all our vans and cars saying they contain fuel in a tank as when we have a fire for what ever reason and they catch fire and explode and send every shrapnel everywhere. NO, its a safe as you allow it to be and the time you spend checking to see if any leaks are fixing. If you are not sure fit a gas detect alarm or don`t use them if you are a fear driven person.

A few points here -

1-unless its full electric every motor vehicle on the road will have fuel in a tank , a very low percentage will have a gas cylinder in the back.
2-Yes fuel tanks can explode although this is fairly rare and when they do its just a momentary fireball that a firefighters fire kit would withstand .(diesel wont burn until its either heated or under pressure).
3- Car fuel tanks are not pressurised cylinders - gas bottles /tanks are at high pressure and when subjected to the intense heat of a fully alight car/van will explode and the shards of metal from the cylinder can slice you in half , nothing your wearing will protect you from that .
4- You can check for leaks all you like and maintain it all in perfect condition ......that doesn't stop your car/van catching fire for other reasons (usually electrical) , i have been brand new vehicles including a two week old vw transporter that have caught fire due to electrical faults.

So yes it would be a good idea to put the sticker on your van, they cost very little !

I really do wonder about some people !

[Jonny 87]

The internals were not stainless steel they were rotted almost through,as you would know unless the internals are stainless it's a matter of time before they corrode,I left it in the van one night and even after draining it the pipe were so cold they just split on change of temp.The old band wagon jumpers have even fitted a frost stat now I believe like I have on my diesel heater,the thing that is amusing is the fact they are passing them off  as WFP heaters by changing a few stickers a bit like saying a ford escort is a Bentley cos it says Bentley on the bonnet really.

Nwh you get the title of talking the most garbage on this forum for a long time.

1) The insides don't rot anymore than other metal objects when in contact with water. Pure water doesn't rot faster than normal water.

2) the fact that you were incompetent to use your heater shows that not everyone should use these, you didn't set things up properly so there was pressure building up at the fittings when the pump wasn't dead ending. Not the heaters fault, but user error.

3) a time bomb you say? Surely a bomb explodes? An LPG canister cannot explode if you secure it, and fit a flashback arrestor which In case of malfunction prevents any spark going back into the bottle.

There is far more chance of an electrical fire in work vans but these seems to go unchecked. Everyone jumps on the band wagon that these heaters are dangerous. They are not at all when set up by a competent person.

[robert mitchell]

The internals were not stainless steel they were rotted almost through,as you would know unless the internals are stainless it's a matter of time before they corrode,I left it in the van one night and even after draining it the pipe were so cold they just split on change of temp.The old band wagon jumpers have even fitted a frost stat now I believe like I have on my diesel heater,the thing that is amusing is the fact they are passing them off  as WFP heaters by changing a few stickers a bit like saying a ford escort is a Bentley cos it says Bentley on the bonnet really.

Nwh you get the title of talking the most garbage on this forum for a long time.

1) The insides don't rot anymore than other metal objects when in contact with water. Pure water doesn't rot faster than normal water.

2) the fact that you were incompetent to use your heater shows that not everyone should use these, you didn't set things up properly so there was pressure building up at the fittings when the pump wasn't dead ending. Not the heaters fault, but user error.

3) a time bomb you say? Surely a bomb explodes? An LPG canister cannot explode if you secure it, and fit a flashback arrestor which In case of malfunction prevents any spark going back into the bottle.

There is far more chance of an electrical fire in work vans but these seems to go unchecked. Everyone jumps on the band wagon that these heaters are dangerous. They are not at all when set up by a competent person.

I agree with most of what is said above , in normal use by somebody with a bit of common sense they are not particularly dangerous ......however an lpg cylinder will explode when subjected to an intense fire so carrying a gas cylinder in your van does have some danger attached.  The fire doesn't have to be caused by the heater itself for it to be dangerous .

You don't have this same danger with a diesel heater but they are stupidly expensive!

[robert mitchell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOcaAGsU504

link to a gas cylinder exploding

[robert mitchell]

interestingly this composite cylinder seems to react much better to fire , not sure how full the cylinder was though.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsakH6XT0Ao

[NWH]

I'll reply later I'm just talking rubbish with someone at the mo so havn't got the time at the minute lol

[ChumBucket]

The internals were not stainless steel they were rotted almost through,as you would know unless the internals are stainless it's a matter of time before they corrode,I left it in the van one night and even after draining it the pipe were so cold they just split on change of temp.The old band wagon jumpers have even fitted a frost stat now I believe like I have on my diesel heater,the thing that is amusing is the fact they are passing them off  as WFP heaters by changing a few stickers a bit like saying a ford escort is a Bentley cos it says Bentley on the bonnet really.

Nwh you get the title of talking the most garbage on this forum for a long time.

1) The insides don't rot anymore than other metal objects when in contact with water. Pure water doesn't rot faster than normal water.

2) the fact that you were incompetent to use your heater shows that not everyone should use these, you didn't set things up properly so there was pressure building up at the fittings when the pump wasn't dead ending. Not the heaters fault, but user error.

3) a time bomb you say? Surely a bomb explodes? An LPG canister cannot explode if you secure it, and fit a flashback arrestor which In case of malfunction prevents any spark going back into the bottle.

There is far more chance of an electrical fire in work vans but these seems to go unchecked. Everyone jumps on the band wagon that these heaters are dangerous. They are not at all when set up by a competent person.

 

I couldn't be bothered to write it but that's pretty much along the lines of what I would have.

[Dave Willis]

Flashback arrestor and magnetic gas signs - got a link anyone?

Dangerous stuff pure water - even more dangerous than gas I reckon. Burns your eyes, melts through heaters, frys your T shirts, dissolves frames - useless on glass though.

Anyone got a link for 'Danger Pure Water Carried On Board' stickers?

[ChumBucket]

Flashback arrestor and magnetic gas signs - got a link anyone?

Dangerous stuff pure water - even more dangerous than gas I reckon. Burns your eyes, melts through heaters, frys your T shirts, dissolves frames - useless on glass though.

Anyone got a link for 'Danger Pure Water Carried On Board' stickers?

 

And in the end, it's virtually the same as rain water!!