How’s Your Morning Going? (Electric Heater Reccomendations)

Morning all,

Hope your days are going more successful than mine. I actually only had an hour to do, a block I couldn’t access yesterday. Checked van this morning, everything was working, nothing frozen. So went to work. Turns out I was wrong.


 

CLX is actually fine but thought I’d soak it anyway. The gooseneck value in the Supermax appears to have frozen up. It turns but let’s no water through. So will soak it all for a few hours. 
 

Wondering if anyone has any electric heater Recommendations? Looking for one with a thermostat (so it only comes to stop everything freezing) and fall detection. I have my own drive and power so running a line to the van isn’t a problem, I already do it each night to charge the battery. 
 

Thanks all! 

You need little oil filled rad. Like you say make sure it’s got a thermostat on it. Never had a problem in 5 years. 

screwfix are doing one for £20

Stevieboy said:

You need little oil filled rad. Like you say make sure it’s got a thermostat on it. Never had a problem in 5 years. 

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ks789 said:

screwfix are doing one for £20

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Thanks lads. What’s the advantage of a oil filled one? The one I had been using is a electrical one (if you look through the top you can see the metal heat up)

Master Jedi Alejandro said:

Thanks lads. What’s the advantage of a oil filled one? The one I had been using is a electrical one (if you look through the top you can see the metal heat up)

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They are still electrical really, as you still have to plug into the mains. Its just they are quite economical and safe. Theres oil in them, sealed in, you dont have to do anything to do with that, just plug in, and the oil heats up inside. You can set the thermostat low, so it only heats up when the temp goes below 2 or 3 degrees.

ks789 said:

They are still electrical really, as you still have to plug into the mains. Its just they are quite economical and safe. Theres oil in them, sealed in, you dont have to do anything to do with that, just plug in, and the oil heats up inside. You can set the thermostat low, so it only heats up when the temp goes below 2 or 3 degrees.

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Thanks mate, I'll pick one up. The one you posted, do you have that one? If so, any good? Wondering if I should go for a slightly larger one. 

Master Jedi Alejandro said:

Thanks mate, I'll pick one up. The one you posted, do you have that one? If so, any good? Wondering if I should go for a slightly larger one. 

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From what I can gather you’ll be better off with one with frost protection. Not all of them have it

Master Jedi Alejandro said:

Thanks mate, I'll pick one up. The one you posted, do you have that one? If so, any good? Wondering if I should go for a slightly larger one. 

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I dont have that screwfix one, mines by dimplex but the same thing really. May as well get a cheapy, should be fine. Wont need to be big, that one will be plenty adequate for a van, I set mine real low, so most of the time it wont be using power, only when it dips below 2 or 3 degrees.

Many moons ago people were recommending Greenhouse heaters the ones you fill with Paraffin. Bought one, did the job but come the morning driving the van I was high as a kite, that's the last time I used it. ?

I use a 4 foot tube heater.

Stays in the van all year as I have a caravan outdoor socket on the bumper to power ro booster pump and heater.

About 25 quid and uses about 16 pence a night when on.

Mounted it on the side of the van near the roof on the double skin but easier if the van has ply lining. 

4 foot long and about 4 inches wide so bo space taken up and can keep it in there. 

Like this.

Dave B said:

I use a 4 foot tube heater.

Stays in the van all year as I have a caravan outdoor socket on the bumper to power ro booster pump and heater.

About 25 quid and uses about 16 pence a night when on.

Mounted it on the side of the van near the roof on the double skin but easier if the van has ply lining. 

4 foot long and about 4 inches wide so bo space taken up and can keep it in there. 

Like this.

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 Thats more ideal, no lugging heater in and out plus you cant get cheaper than 16p a night I doubt

doug atkinson said:

Many moons ago people were recommending Greenhouse heaters the ones you fill with Paraffin. Bought one, did the job but come the morning driving the van I was high as a kite, that's the last time I used it. ?

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I tried one about four years ago with the same result. I only used it the once too. ?

 I then tried an oil filled electric rad. It didn't work for me as it didn't spread enough heat throughout the whole van. Then I tried a small fan heater, that worked ok. Finally I fitted a 2kw immersion in the tank. Loads of insulation on the tank. Job done. Water is heated to 60c for the windows and the very small amount that radiates from the tank is plenty to prevent the kit from freezing. I know radiators work for most people but heating the tank water rather than the air is my preference by far.

Davy G said:

I tried one about four years ago with the same result. I only used it the once too. ?

 I then tried an oil filled electric rad. It didn't work for me as it didn't spread enough heat throughout the whole van. Then I tried a small fan heater, that worked ok. Finally I fitted a 2kw immersion in the tank. Loads of insulation on the tank. Job done. Water is heated to 60c for the windows and the very small amount that radiates from the tank is plenty to prevent the kit from freezing. I know radiators work for most people but heating the tank water rather than the air is my preference by far.

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That's how I feel each morning with the petrol fumes from my van mounted pressure washer. 

The petrol tank lid is designed to let air in so inadvertently lets fumes out.

Buzzing in the mornings.

Dave B said:

I use a 4 foot tube heater.

Stays in the van all year as I have a caravan outdoor socket on the bumper to power ro booster pump and heater.

About 25 quid and uses about 16 pence a night when on.

Mounted it on the side of the van near the roof on the double skin but easier if the van has ply lining. 

4 foot long and about 4 inches wide so bo space taken up and can keep it in there. 

Like this.

View attachment 18364

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Does it need to be mounted? My van is small so I need something I can take out each morning, but also don't have lots of spare room in there with all the equipment.

Potta81 said:

From what I can gather you’ll be better off with one with frost protection. Not all of them have it

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Yeah been looking at that. Will pick stuff up tomorrow. To be warm the next night or so then get frosty again.

I think you need to ask Santa for a bigger van Alejandro. ?

scottish cleaning service said:

I think you need to ask Santa for a bigger van Alejandro. ?

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I love the wee van, I don’t have no issue getting parked! (Could do with some parking sensors, mind!)