FACILITY: Car Wash - Chicago, IL

PROBLEMS:

• Need a reliable and efficient heating system to combat the harsh, damp and corrosive environment of a car wash tunnel.
• Must provide adequate heating for cold, below-freezing winter days to allow the car wash to stay open for business.
• Old heating system was not effective, caused icing problems and reduced profitability of the car wash.
• Other heating systems they evaluated, created fogging and would not reduce the icing of floors, brushes and equipment.
• Mold and mildew build-up during warm summer months.

SOLUTIONS:

• Cambridge high velocity Thermal Air Curtains specifically designed for demanding car wash applications.
• Unique rooftop design gets heater out of the harsh indoor environment for more dependable service, easier maintenance and less down time.
  See How it Works

RESULTS:

• With Cambridge heaters they were able to stay open for business when temperatures dropped well below freezing while their competitors with other heating systems were forced to close down. This was a good source for new customers.
• Fogging and icing problems are reduced so the car wash is safer to operate and easier to maintain.
• Summer ventilation mode supplies fresh air to reduce mold build-up in the tunnel and on the equipment.
• Very dependable design that requires minimal service or maintenance.
• Cambridge heaters improved profitability of the car wash by reducing operating/maintenance costs, minimizing down time and allowing the car wash to stay open for business more days during the winter.

The mechanical contractor who installed our heaters said:

• "The Cambridge design is good for contractors because it's straightforward to install and it's great for car wash owners because it does not take up valuable equipment space inside the tunnel."

• "If you need the best heating system for a car wash, then Cambridge is the clear choice."

Car Wash - Hot Air Drying

FACILITY: Car Wash - Cleveland, OH

PROBLEMS:

• An "exterior only" car wash operator needed a more reliable and cost effective way to dry cars when the outdoor temperature dropped below 65°F .
• His current method of hand drying cars required a staff of 2 to 4 employees that cost over $50,000/year. Other expenses included towel laundry.
• Staff scheduling was a big headache: on busy, cold winter days, employees didn't always show up. On slow or warm days, he had too many idle employees.
• The quality of hand drying deteriorated during the day, especially on cold, busy days when employees got cold and tired.
• Poorly dried cars resulted in unhappy customers and lost business.
• Without supplemental heat for the tunnel, the entire car wash closed on very cold days and that meant more lost business.

SOLUTIONS:

• Added a Cambridge high temperature air heater above the existing cold air-drying system to mix with the tunnel air and create a hot air drying system.
  See How it Works
• Used the same heater to warm the tunnel on cold days.

RESULTS:

• Although total gas usage increased with the new heater, the operator still saved over $40,000/year in operating costs by eliminating hand drying expenses.
• The car wash now stays open to below 0°F without freeze-ups because of added heat from the air-dryer heater.
• After four years in operation, the Cambridge heater continues to provide a consistently drier car throughout the busy cold weather season, keeping customers happy.
• The operator now gets drier cars for less money, has more satisfied customers and enjoys a more profitable car wash.

LEARN MORE >
Magazine Article: "Prepare for Stormy Weather"

The car wash owner said:

• "With the heater, I can now dry 100 cars/hour during busy winter months just as well as I can dry only 60 cars/hour during the summer."



• "The pay back on the new heater was less than 6 months."



• "The Cambridge heater shows up every day, employees didn't!"