[Suffolkcleaners]

Hi guys

It’s my first winter with having the hose reel (fitted in van) and 500 litre tank (again fitted)

I’ve never worried about freezing before When I worked off a backpack. What would be best to use to ensure the hose doesn’t freeze up? Also the tank (although I would probably fill up in the mornings)

I’ve got a double electric socket (standard 3 pin UK) that pure freedom installed so no issues with any heater that has a standard plug.

Silly question but can you get like a therma wrap type thing to cover the hose reel instead of having to have a heater on all night?

In Suffolk we usually get quite mild winters but bet your bottom dollar the first year I have the hose reel with be an arctic winter.

Thanks In advance for any comments guys.😀

[deeege]

I’ve been using this for the last few years. Only really needed it a handful of times as we don’t get real winters anymore (in the NW anyway), but it’s perfect to keep the frost off your gear.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-st-52-241-e-freestanding-space-heater-2000w/8020P?tc=JT7&ds_kid=92700055281954496&ds_rl=1249404&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6NLoha6o7QIVSIjVCh3geAN1EAQYASABEgK7kfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Smudger]

In the pressure washing vans I use a 500 watt oil filled rad - I leave it set on minimum so it comes on if the temp hits zero degrees always kept the van from freezing up

Darran

[KS Cleaning]

Oil filled radiator does the trick.

[Suffolkcleaners]

Thanks everyone. Smudger can you advise where you got your radiator from? I’ve seen a few as cheap as £20. (Not sure if they have the setting where you can set to come on if it hits zero)



Cheers

[Smudger]

Yes just off eBay - I got a pair for £32

Darran

[Suffolkcleaners]

Cheers 👍

[Suffolkcleaners]

Sorry to bring thread up again. Bought a 500 watt oil filled radiator. I’m assuming they are safe to leave on all night in the van? I don’t think this has a feature where it only comes on below freezing. Also where is the best place to put it? It won’t cause any concern to the leisure battery(the heat I mean) will it?

Was going to pit on wheel arch. I’m assuming 500 watts isn’t enough heat to worry about setting anything on fire?

[dazmond]

Sorry to bring thread up again. Bought a 500 watt oil filled radiator. I’m assuming they are safe to leave on all night in the van? I don’t think this has a feature where it only comes on below freezing. Also where is the best place to put it? It won’t cause any concern to the leisure battery(the heat I mean) will it?

Was going to pit on wheel arch. I’m assuming 500 watts isn’t enough heat to worry about setting anything on fire?

i leave mine in my van with a bit of space around it so its not in direct contact with reels,etc......normally i dont use anything as i have frost stat on my hot water system which comes on itself to stop everything freezing if it needs to.....but last night i did because my heater was waiting for a new glow pin and it was really cold!

[Suffolkcleaners]

Thanks dazmond. Should be ok then if I leave on with space around it.

[JandS]

Doesn't all the heat go straight up and  out the roof with radiators......thought a fan would be better to move the air about.

[Spruce]

I have a very old 800 watt wall heater that I fixed to a frame I welded up with wheels.

The kids each had one in their bedrooms in Johannesburg some 28 years ago. (The manufacturer stopped making them some 15 before that.)

I added a froststat thermostat to both and use one in my swb Boxer van
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honeywell-Froststat/164432903905?hash=item2648f6fee1:g:tX4AAOSw741ff~0p

I set it so it kicks on at about 3 degrees and switches off at around 6 degrees.  I have never had a hose reel freeze up, even in the bad winter in 2010/11 that hit us bad in the east coast.

I used to also fill up at night in winter. Even with cold water in the IBC tank in the garage at 5 or 6 degrees that water in the tank does also behave like a giant heat source. I used to throw a large duvet over the tank which also covered the pumps on one side and hose reels on the other. I can't do that now as I have a pair of step ladders mounted to the tank frame.

The only issue I have had with a van mount in 14 years was that the van ports froze on the way to the first clean. I went home.

[Suffolkcleaners]

Cheers guys. Was worrying for nothing as went in van this morning and it wasn’t even that warm. (Well the heater was but the back of the van didn’t feel particularly warm) I think a 500 watt just about keeps things a bit warmer I think.

Also looks as though it’s very unlikely the hose reel will freeze if like you say yours never even froze in the coldest winter in 2010/11.

My first year with the hose reel so learning everything still 👍

[richard connett]

If it’s arctic weather I bring the reel indoors for the night . Even then your van ports could be frozen . Then it’s a 10oclock start waiting for the temp to go above 0!!

[dazmond]

If it’s arctic weather I bring the reel indoors for the night . Even then your van ports could be frozen . Then it’s a 10oclock start waiting for the temp to go above 0!!

I dont understand why window cleaners have van ports.....this means you have to take the hose reel out of the van for every job in between your other jobs......what a waste of time and effort IMO....

The days of humping my gear in and out all the time during freezing nights are over too......👍🙂.......

[Suffolkcleaners]

My hose reel is fixed so no option to bring in. Silly question (shows how utterly clueless I am Lol) does my system have van ports? Got a reelmaster fixed(electric) and a 500 upright tank. Pure freedom fitted everything for me. All wired in etc

[deeege]

My hose reel is fixed so no option to bring in. Silly question (shows how utterly clueless I am Lol) does my system have van ports? Got a reelmaster fixed(electric) and a 500 upright tank. Pure freedom fitted everything for me. All wired in etc

Van ports = fitted ports either under the rear bumper or fixed into the side of your van. Means you usually have to manually lift your reel from your van to plug in. Generally a pain in the arse.

[Smudger]

No, your fine - some people prefer to take the reel out of the van - it's then connected to a 'port' hose connection under the rear bumper

It's not for me, but I can understand it's use as you can shut the doors and lock van and still reel in or out -

Some here just can not appreciate there is more than one way to do things

Darran

[deeege]

Some here just can not appreciate there is more than one way to do things

This place summed up in one single quote   

[richard connett]

What do you have fixed reel then fed through roller bars in floor?

If it’s arctic weather I bring the reel indoors for the night . Even then your van ports could be frozen . Then it’s a 10oclock start waiting for the temp to go above 0!!

I dont understand why window cleaners have van ports.....this means you have to take the hose reel out of the van for every job in between your other jobs......what a waste of time and effort IMO....

The days of humping my gear in and out all the time during freezing nights are over too......👍🙂.......