I used a ‘fogwash’ from Peter Fogwell who’s sadly dead now. It was a good machine and lasted 10 years!
I think the risks are overstated by most mate. People use portable showers and transport gas in campers and caravans all the time. I do think controlling the emissions is an issue and it doesn't seem worth installing a vent in the roof for a system only used when it's at or near freezing.
Thanks Steve. What's the score with the gas emissions from the machine? From what I can see they're meant to be used outside. Every install you find on YouTube etc doesn't have a vent to the roof but they do seem to be near the door of the van, I assume this is the way of venting the gas emissions away.
If you lad who has your 2nd van can get electricity out to the van then I'd just do what I do mate, oil-filled rad and an aquarium heater a decent extension lead with rcd you might spend £100-150 to get this sorted.
I had mine bolted to the back door so used to leave it open.
I may be misunderstanding but the problem is the water freezing while he’s working. It’s apparently -7 here today but the van has been reading between -11 & -9. The vans are all at my house overnight, I can stop them freezing overnight just not while we’re working.
Ahh gotcha, they do know not to stop water flow?
If you have a few vans have a look at Hot Boxes, used by pressure washers, that can heat the water while you transfer it to the van. Something like this, but fairly sure there are cheaper and better options.
You probably know but legally a gas bottle should be in a compartment sealed off from inside the van with gas drops etc. Plus heaters in motorhomes/campers are designed to be used in vehicles and so are made to withstand vibrations etc.
You've never met him
Yeah but it's literally freezing to the floor as you go. I'd rather we were down a van than making puddles all over peoples gardens.
It's on the shopping list but I'm about to buy another van which will be leaving the coffers bare for a while haha. The gas heater is sorting the problem for less than £300If you have a few vans have a look at Hot Boxes, used by pressure washers, that can heat the water while you transfer it to the van. Something like this, but fairly sure there are cheaper and better options.
Volcano Hot Box Pressure Washer Boiler | B&G Cleaning Systems
Get hot water from your cold water pressure washer with the Hot Box heat exchanger. Diesel powered, thermally efficient. Available at B&G Cleaning Systems.www.bgclean.co.uk
I barely know how to dress myself in the morning so don't be so sure haha. I've had a good look and decided I'm going to mount the heater and bottle to a sack truck. This way the install will be able to be used outside of the van. From what I can see, much like a plumber carrying gas for a job, if the install isn't a permanent feature and just used on the job site I'm ticking the legal boxes.
Do us a favour and post what you come up with. Interested to see this!
There was a cleaner on here by the name of Smurf. (I think he got banned from here, I believe, but he never applied to come back. It was a pity because he was a very knowledgeable and helpful chap giving plenty of good advice. I liked him.) This is how he operated his hot water system, according to his posts. He wasn't a fully fledged window cleaner, as his core business was gutter clears. If he was doing anything such as conservatory roof cleans, soffits and gutter cleans, having a portable gas water heater allowed him to heat water from a customer's outside tap.
This is true. Easy to do though, just a little screw next to the water connectors ?
Hot water isn't going to stop this though it will delay the freezing, those puddles will still be there and turn to ice whether it's within 10 seconds or 10 minutes, I get why you want hot water as this will enable you to get through your work but you aren't removing the risk of those puddles freezing.
