[gewindows]

I got a pretty good day in today, despite not have an L5 or inbuilt hot-water system.

What I did was plan ahead, which some of you obviously havent by the looks of some of the forums threads.

Anyway, if some of you are in the same position as me, not having a fitted heating system in the van, you might like to try what I did.

Firstly, I had a small convector heater in the van overnight for the purposes of keeping hoses frost free on the lowest setting.

I filled up yesterday, the fact that it was yesterday is important, and put a 300W aquarium heater running in the van tank.

By the time I came down this morning the air temp was -5 and the water in the van was +24.

I waited til the right time, I didnt go out until 11 this morning, which I think is also important.
No point going out early and having no chance against the frost, you'll only jack it in for the rest of the day.

By 11 o'clock the sun was up, one side of all houses was toasty and this helped to reduce the risk of the pipe freezing on the ground.


Anyway, I figured was important to reel the hose in as soon as poss after finishing a house and having the  water flowing pretty much continually despite having a tap on my pole fitted, this to keep the water in the pipe moving and prevent it from loosing too much heat and freezing.

If any of the houses were dodgy regarding freezing water they got a GOOD dose of salt, which seemed to take a minute or 2 to work, but once the ice was defrosted the ground seemed fine.

Prior to salting I ALSO squeged patio slabs, pathways and block paved drives, with a floor squeegee, that had got wet to disperse the puddles.


Now Im back I have filled up again and the heater is in the van tank. Throughout today I have finished topping my IBC with RO whilst at work and the heater was in that to start warming the water whilst I was at work.


Anyway, there you go, it might help someone if you have a convector heater and fish tank heater. If you havent you should have bought one by now, so no moaning tomorrow 


By the way when I came home at lunch time the water temp in the van was  16+ and still had no probs re: freezing hose on the ground in the afternoon.

Matt

[smearo]

i agree matt i started at 8 this morning after thawing out the van i got to first job
and everything froze up went back out at 11.30 till 3.45 and it was back to frezing just glad to get a bit done rather than nothing.. cant wait for this cold snap to end...

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I had a good day as well.  I can't park by the house so have to tuck my reels up with sleeping bags, hot water bottles and 30L containers of hot water.  The system was ready to go this morning.

In my IBC in my shed I have an immersion heater 3 1/2 kw about £20 from B&Q I had this come on 2 hours before I filled my van in the morning, it brought the water upto about 45c and then of to work for 9am, I was due to start at 8 but didn't want to risk it.  Most of the day was spent in minus temperatures but the warm water seemed to make every thing go ok.  If a pole hadn't been used for a while and was outside plugged in then I gave it a little burst to stop any ice forming.  Had to turn down offers of tea so that every thing wouldn't freeze.

Pole only froze once when the mrs went to collect a couple of customers and left it in the open, had to suck the ice out of the pole hose to get it going again.

Gritted the obvious places, front door ect,  Customers well happy.  Did all I wanted in about the usual time.  Roll on March wind and April showers.

Simon.

[Blue Frog Systems]

Good posts !

Dear Agony Uncle Bateman...

Ive found freezing occuring at the metal tap at the end of my hose reel. The one with a red tap and two male ends. Other than buying the heaters suggested in your original post, can you suggest a method that will help prevent her getting so cold on me ?

Many thanks

A worried windy

[gewindows]

Dear Worried Windy

Go out and buy the bleedin heaters ya tight arse

Regards

Agony Uncle Bateman

[Blue Frog Systems]

Uncle Bateman,

Your useless with advice, ill try the Aunt over at 'The Star' next time!

The Worried Windy you wouldnt help

[stephen s]

would that be the star of Headly ??

[Cathal Keogh]

Good posts !

Dear Agony Uncle Bateman...

Ive found freezing occuring at the metal tap at the end of my hose reel. The one with a red tap and two male ends. Other than buying the heaters suggested in your original post, can you suggest a method that will help prevent her getting so cold on me ?

Many thanks

A worried windy

The tap at the end of your hose "frozen" Ya poor thing that must be sore  , Anyway what I have is an Inverter to run a small heater in the van to keep the pipe warm, I plug the heater into a socket at home at night and run the heater off the inverter while I'm driving, works a treat!!!

[suds window service]

i also do not have hot system ,so i have spent today preparing for tomorrow i have bought an oil filled heater lagged it with clear small bore hose attached it to my pump and after an hour i am sucking the cold water out and pumping warm back into the tank i am hoping to have warm water for tomorrow.
     i have also lagged the tank with good quality insulation to keep my water temp warmer for longer.
hopeful of getting some work done tomorrow.

[Central Window Cleaners]

Simon,
how did you fit the immersion heater to the ibc or do you just hang it through the filler hole?

[ccmids]

was the warm water ok through your pump, i herd its ok as long as its not scolding.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

Simon,
how did you fit the immersion heater to the ibc or do you just hang it through the filler hole?

I made an extra hole in the top of the tank for it.  The heater filament has to be entirely submerged and fortunately the water come right to the top of my IBC due to me putting the float switch for the RO in the wrong place.

www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=51045.0

Simon.

[brianbarber]

Been lucky,can keep van in garage, i put convector heater in back of van, leave one rear door ajar and bingo!
it works well ,
will check water temp tomorrow just out of interest,
I really feel for guys who have to leave van outside, or cant park near to the house.

regards

Mr B 

[gary999]

handy having backpack this time of year if necessary i wear
the thing but it normally sits on floor ive strapped one of those
foam gardening kneeling thingys to the bottom. i have my pole
hose on the outside of my pole the 15ft that touches the floor
i cover in climac insulation tubing its lightweight costs very little
and has prevented the water freezing up in my polehose.

for allyou guys with van systems do your selves a favour
and buy some 25 ltr barrels which you can fill up and take in
for the night.humping 25kgs about might not seem ideal
but at least you can get some work done

[gewindows]

I would have thought it would be easier to slip a heater into a van tank wouldnt it Gary?

No humping barrels, lot warmer, quicker.

[gary999]

i havent used a tank for over a year since i started using a backpack
all my work is domestic so i find it quicker.

barrels were an idea for anybody who is feeling the pinch
and didnt want to spend any money you can get them for
nothing from any car wash.

heaters are fine but like anything they can break down
never hurts have another back up plan

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

matt
seems you ad a good day then yeh today was one of those days when you wait for the right time to go out  you got it right mate. i  was out this morn at 9am done good work and me car  got stuck on a icy  bit of road whitch took me 30 mins to get out of it and also saw a bloke run into a post lol i always put a bit of vodka in me water dont freeze up mate i would rather swig it though

[Steve Thomas]

Has anyone fitted an Immersion heater into the tank in their van? if so did it work well?
how long did the water stay warm for and what wattage did you use?

I have a flat 250ltr tank in my van and was thinking of trying it

Steve

[dd]

Matt, you started at 11.00 and came home for lunch! It gets dark around 4.00, that is some working day. Tommorow suggest big breakfast and work right through, possibly stopping to consume sandwich between customers.

You could always pre-heat sandwich and store in insulated lunch box.