savantuk
Free Member
It's -15c at the moment here in Cumbria, but it was -20 yesterday when I decided I might try to insulate the taps and filters on my van.
I tried carving some blocks of polystyrene packing, but it was difficult and messy. I then thought I'd try polystyrene beads in bags, but it was still problematical.
I then had an idea, which I thought was worth trying. It worked - wonderfully well in fact!!
I went to my local DIY shop, and bought a couple of tins of polystyrene foam gap filler, at around £8 a tin.
I put a small bin bag liner around the kitchenette taps, and inserted the 'filler tube' of the foam, and pressed the button. the bag immediately filled, and before it had time to dry, i pressed the bag around the taps and spout.
I allowed it to dry (it took around half an hour to go perfectly hard). I then took a Stanley knife blade, and CAREFULLY ran it around the profile of the taps, being careful not to cut right through. I then snapped the polystyrene around the shape of the taps, using the cut line, and the whole thing snapped cleanly in half, leaving two perfectly formed pieces which exactly conformed to the shape of the taps and spout.
It was a quick job to remove the, by now, shredded bin bag, and replace a beautifully well fitting polystyrene jacket, which I then put back around the tap, and gaffer taped it to hold it together.
It took me a couple of hours to do the rest of the vulnerable bits, but it was very easy.
It occurs to me that given the right resources, I could patent an all in one kit, and take it to the Dragons den, but it may already exist, and I really did want to share the idea with you all. It may save a few taps from bursting.
I've also done one for the outside taps in the garden - far better than sacking strips!!
I tried carving some blocks of polystyrene packing, but it was difficult and messy. I then thought I'd try polystyrene beads in bags, but it was still problematical.
I then had an idea, which I thought was worth trying. It worked - wonderfully well in fact!!
I went to my local DIY shop, and bought a couple of tins of polystyrene foam gap filler, at around £8 a tin.
I put a small bin bag liner around the kitchenette taps, and inserted the 'filler tube' of the foam, and pressed the button. the bag immediately filled, and before it had time to dry, i pressed the bag around the taps and spout.
I allowed it to dry (it took around half an hour to go perfectly hard). I then took a Stanley knife blade, and CAREFULLY ran it around the profile of the taps, being careful not to cut right through. I then snapped the polystyrene around the shape of the taps, using the cut line, and the whole thing snapped cleanly in half, leaving two perfectly formed pieces which exactly conformed to the shape of the taps and spout.
It was a quick job to remove the, by now, shredded bin bag, and replace a beautifully well fitting polystyrene jacket, which I then put back around the tap, and gaffer taped it to hold it together.
It took me a couple of hours to do the rest of the vulnerable bits, but it was very easy.
It occurs to me that given the right resources, I could patent an all in one kit, and take it to the Dragons den, but it may already exist, and I really did want to share the idea with you all. It may save a few taps from bursting.
I've also done one for the outside taps in the garden - far better than sacking strips!!
Last edited: