The first item I ever sold was a cup of tea, and it became a signature offering that helped spread the word about my business. A hot drink is how many customers try you out before they order food, especially on a cold morning, so mastering a simple cup of tea does wonders for customer loyalty. The kit that makes it possible is the LPG water boiler, and it will quietly earn its keep every single day you trade.
How a gas water boiler works
It is like boiling water at home, just in a much bigger kettle. Turn on the gas in your trailer or van, ignite the boiler, fill with water and let it heat. Once it boils, turn the gas down to a simmer to hold temperature without wasting fuel, and pull the lever to dispense hot water straight into the cup. Top the water up as you go through the day. I started with a 20 litre manual fill urn and it was sufficient for my round.
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The manual fill urns I started with served me well, but the kit has moved on, and if I were fitting out a van today I would go for an auto fill gas boiler instead. Something like the Atlantis 7L gas water boiler at mobcater.com shows why: it plumbs into a water container and fills itself, so there is no lugging and no running dry mid rush. It is a sealed unit, so no steam escaping into the van. It holds a pre set 90 degrees and produces around 30 litres of hot water an hour, enough for roughly 150 hot drinks a day, from a slimline stainless unit that takes up a fraction of the counter space an urn does. For mobile use you pair it with a small pump, a leisure battery and inverter, and a water container, which the product page explains. It costs more than a manual urn up front, but if hot drinks are a serious part of your trade it pays for itself in speed and saved hassle.
Keeping it clean
Regular use, especially in hard water areas, builds limescale that affects the taste of your drinks. Use a quality descaler as needed and flush the boiler thoroughly afterwards to clear any residue. A descaled boiler means better tasting tea and a longer equipment life.
Every LPG appliance needs a Gas Safe engineer
Whatever you cook on, gas kit must be fitted and certificated by a Gas Safe registered engineer before you trade, it’s the certificate your insurer and the EHO both ask to see. The MobCater app’s directory lists 61 verified engineers who work on catering trailers and vans, search by region, check ratings and experience, and call straight from your phone.
Find a Gas Safe engineerThe directory comes with Business-Ready · the app itself starts free, no card needed
Frequently asked questions
What size water boiler do I need for a catering van?
I managed fine starting with a 20 litre manual fill urn. If hot drinks are a big part of your trade, an auto fill gas boiler producing around 30 litres an hour will serve roughly 150 drinks a day without you touching it.
Can I run a water boiler on LPG in a catering trailer?
Yes, gas water boilers are made for exactly this. Like all LPG appliances in a catering unit, it should be installed and certified by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Why do my tea and coffee taste off from the urn?
Almost always limescale. Descale the boiler with a quality descaler, flush it thoroughly, and the taste comes right back.