We got no heat... [Archive] - Coinwash The key to a successful Laundromat Business.

kyle mcpeck

12-03-2002, 04:12 PM

Well, I was in laundromat #2 this AM. I am rarely ever there. My brother runs that location and we just bought it in August. Anyway, I realized today that we have no furnace. We have absolutely no way to heat the laundromat that I can find. I haven't been able to track down the landlord yet.

But, I guess I didn't do as good of due diligence as I thought.

Anonymous

12-03-2002, 04:53 PM

If you are busy and run 24/7 this would not be a problem as the dryers give off enough heat. Since you have a problem it sounds like you will need to add a small gas fired heater.

kyle mcpeck

12-03-2002, 04:57 PM

You are right. This location is open from 7a-9p. I still may not do anything. Who knows. Could explain why the gas bill is low!

Gary C

12-03-2002, 05:46 PM

kyle, I would make sure there is a furnace put in fast. If you freeze up your insurance co will probably not cover the claim.
( your fault ) Is it possable that the prievious owner took it out?
There is no way my dryers throw off enough heat to keep the place warm even on a very busy day. I know I am further North but it still get cold in where you are.

Gary

Anonymous

12-03-2002, 05:52 PM

I'm surprised. Are you in a free standing building? I am in the middle of a strip mall and have double pane glass so there is fairly good insulation. One a weekend, when most dryers are running the heater almost neve kicks on. And I have all new stack dryers.

12-03-2002, 06:05 PM

I had the same problem..I did try to head up in the morning, heater did not work..I asked x owner, he did not turn in heat before(it was unattendent) he told me that I really don't need heat, all of the dryers will heat it up the place...well, i did rent next small place and open it up, now I have a bigger place to heat it up.... anyway, I did find AC/ heat guy(my costumer , he was doing his loundry..) right now, he and his worker are working on putting dacks inside ceiling 8 of them(it was a big blower hanging from ceiling before- old type, it has ac. and electric heat- thay are taking that blower and placing corner of the building where dryers are..all of them casting me $1500...
I also puchased programable thermostad w/ lack box to install..
well..I got to do this improvement to bring more costumer..

SudsMan

12-03-2002, 10:38 PM

Here's an idea that may be of interest. We use the hot water from our boiler to run a unit heater. This is a radiator type of device that hangs from the ceiling and has a blower on it. A thermostat runs the blower and circulation pump to bring hot water to the unit heater on demand. We've had no problem with not having enough hot water for the washers, even when the unit heater is running a lot during our cold and windy days.

BTW, our dryers don't keep the mat warm enough when the front door is opened a lot.

This approach eliminates the need for piping gas. The hot water isn't up to the same degree as a separate gas fired unit would be. But I save on maintenance and such. We've run this way for our 10 years of ownership and the previous owner did the same for an additional 12 years.

Quick and easy to install.

Gary C

12-04-2002, 08:58 AM

Sudsman, That sounds like a good idea. It's also quick and simple.

Gary

SudsMan

12-04-2002, 09:25 AM

I added a second unit heater that is directly over the front door and blows down. It provides a kind of heat curtain. It too is on a thermostat. So that gives me a heater up front and one in the rear of the store, that blows horizontal, and forward towards the front of the store.

The only real hastle that has come up is the need to clean the fins a couple of times a season. They get full of lint. Perhaps this is a good thing, kind of filters the air!!! Yeah, right....