[Richard Groves]

Never had one before. Rarely I'm caught out with frozen hoses as on South coast but have been once or twice. Noticed my local Aldi is doing a 600 w for £15. With another cold snap due, do you think it'll be up to the job or just too small ?

[Simon Trapani]

Not sure what wattage mine are but at that price I’d just take a punt.

[Mike Halliday]

I would think that’s too small unless you could situate it directly  underneath  what you don’t want to freeze, it won’t protect a full van, it will create a very small hotspot

I don’t like radiator type heaters as they don’t circulates the heat around the van as good as a blown air heater

[GAZZA B]

i have one permanently in the van , i never take it out works perfectly well. i have mine right next to the pump and reel, however you only need to keep the inside from freezing which that will do.

[Spruce]

Never had one before. Rarely I'm caught out with frozen hoses as on South coast but have been once or twice. Noticed my local Aldi is doing a 600 w for £15. With another cold snap due, do you think it'll be up to the job or just too small ?

 Mine's an 800watt modified skirting board heater. I welded a frame up for it with castors and added a frostat many years ago. It sits in the back of the van. Mike's right, it does create a 'hotspot' at the back but it's set to kick on at around 3 degrees so the front section of the van will be colder. My tank is fitted width ways across the van. My diesel heater also has a frostat and that is set to kick on around 3 degrees as well. It occasionally does that during the night.

Before I had the diesel heater I threw a large duvet over the tank. It covered the pumps on one side and the hose reels on the other side. I never had anything freeze up, even during that bad spell of weather in 2010/11 (?) which hit us badly on the North East coast.

 

[SB Cleaning]

Depends on size of van a 600w would be to cold in my vivaro.

Mines 1800w I run it off a segment timer so i can set it to come off and on through the night.

[Richard Groves]

Thanks for replies.
Vans a Berlingo.
My local Screwfix has stock of these at same price, thinking this might be better.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/goodhome-colenso-fh-715-freestanding-oscillating-fan-heater-2000w/233jk

[Smudger]

600 watt is fine - I use one in a transit jumbo to protect the pressure washer pumps

your only looking to keep it from freezing not heat it to 60 degrees like your living room.

I set mine on 4 in really cold weather otherwise just on min which is about 2 degrees above freezing point

Darran

[GAZZA B]

Yes I have a Berlingo van its prefect,

[johnny bravo]

do you just leave them pluged in,    do your doors lock ok with the cord .    especially if on driveway

[Ggh]

All depends how cold it gets. Might be okay for -4c but not enough for colder.

[Richard Groves]

do you just leave them pluged in,    do your doors lock ok with the cord .    especially if on driveway

I run an extension lead out to my van to charge battery. Doors close and lock fine.

[Simon Trapani]

Just checked mine. They’re both 800w. We have Vivaro’s. Probably wish I’d got slightly bigger though. It hasn’t been ridiculously cold since I’ve had my two.

As said above, you only have to keep the temp a few degrees above freezing; not toasty. You don’t want overkill or it’ll cost you more in electric.

[Richard Groves]

Thanks 👍
Yeah I'm not looking to heat the van just stop mainly the fixed hose reel from freezing.
I'm edging more towards getting me a small fan heater now though.
Reasons being it may be more versatile in my workshop etc.

[Ched]

Thanks 👍
Yeah I'm not looking to heat the van just stop mainly the fixed hose reel from freezing.
I'm edging more towards getting me a small fan heater now though.
Reasons being it may be more versatile in my workshop etc.

The problem with fan heaters is that if some thing falls on it like some drying cloths then they can catch fire. An oil radiator doesn't get hot enough to set anything on fire!!!
I do think a fan heater is much better in a workshop as you can direct the heat at yourself.

[Smudger]

Have fan heaters changed over the years ? - they used to have elements inside them that are basicically 'live' electrical wires  they were prone to overheat if covered and catch fire also not good in a place with water or lots of condensation - the oil rad is fully enclosed and much more waterproof -

Maybe the more modern electric fans are safer than they used to be ?

Darran

[Richard Groves]

Thanks everyone.
I understand concerns about a fan heater. I wouldn't be leaving it in van overnight like an oil filled rad.  I have a DIY quick connect pump box that I drain on cold nights along with the fixed reel. I have had rare occasions when standing water remains in hose and freezes causing blockages . Like I say, rare on the south coast. I reckon a 30 mins blast of a fan heater first thing in morning whilst I'm getting ready and having a cuppa would sort it if it were to happen.

I just happened to spot the oil filled rad in Aldi whilst food shopping and seemed cheap as chips  so thought I'd ask on here. A decent enough fan heater could cost me up to £40 not that I'm bothered. I think it's versatility may suit my needs better.

[Simon Trapani]

Just remember ‘prevention is better than cure’, especially when it comes to freezing. And much quicker too.

[Richard Groves]

You're right Simon.
It's £15 after all, I'm gonna pick one up tomorrow. Frost stat control is all I need in a small van and needn't bother faffing about draining hoses again. I plug a charger in each night for leisure battery anyhow so it would just be good practice to plug a rad in each night through the winter.

[johnny bravo]

keep checking   weather for -  minus sign.      Harder to defrost 100m    reel hose  out  once frozen.  half a days work lost if rest of weather is dry