Mobile grooming vans for Delta, BC

Why is Delta so windy for a grooming van?

Delta is low and flat, with the Strait of Georgia to the west, Boundary Bay to the south and wide fields between Ladner and the highway. There is little to break the wind. During an Arctic outflow, cold air coming down the Fraser Valley crosses those fields with nothing in its way, and Tsawwassen, out on its peninsula, catches wind off the water from more than one side.

Wind takes heat out of a parked van much faster than still air at the same temperature. In a ProVanWorks van, a small diesel, gas or electric heater under the seat moves heat through pipes in the floor and walls and through heat exchangers around the cargo area, and the thermostat keeps the work area where you set it. That even, all-round heat is what keeps a wet dog comfortable when the van is parked broadside to the wind on a farm road. The cold-weather design page explains the system.

How do Delta groomers plan their routes?

North Delta is suburban, with single-family homes on hilly streets above the Fraser and close to the Surrey border. Ladner is a small town centre surrounded by farms, with older houses near the village and acreages along the roads out of town. Tsawwassen has newer houses and townhouse complexes, and it is a long drive from North Delta through farmland.

Many Delta groomers keep each day to one community to cut down the driving. Farm days take more water, because dogs that have been through fields or along the dykes come in wet and dirty. A ProVanWorks van carries a large fresh water reservoir and a separate grey water tank, both in the utility area at the back, so a day of farm stops can be finished without a refill. The water system page covers the tanks and hot water.

How far is Delta from the ProVanWorks shop?

Delta is a short drive west of Langley. North Delta is closest, reached by Highway 10 or the South Fraser Perimeter Road, and Ladner and Tsawwassen are a bit further along the same roads. Most Delta groomers come to the shop to collect the finished van, and we go through the heat, hot water, pumps and battery charging with them before they head home. Email info@provanworks.com if you want to see your van during the build.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Tsawwassen groomer need a heated van if it rarely snows there?

Yes. Tsawwassen gets less snow than inland areas, but cold, damp wind off the water chills a wet dog quickly, and outflow cold snaps still reach the peninsula. A thermostat-controlled heated work area lets you bathe and dry dogs on those days instead of rebooking them.

Can I get a bed liner for my farm truck at the same shop?

Yes. The Langley shop sprays bed liners for pickup trucks and floor liners for work vans, and many Delta farm and trades vehicles are a short drive away. It also does van wraps and wrap design for groomers who want their name on the new van.

Does a Delta grooming van need air conditioning?

Yes, on sunny days. The breeze off the water helps in Tsawwassen, but a van parked beside an open field in Ladner gets no shade, and a closed van with a dryer running warms up fast. The front fan in a ProVanWorks van also runs the A/C, and the same thermostat controls heating and cooling. See how van fans and A/C work.