IBA heating without doors

[rtcgolf]

We have owned the car wash for about 17 years. we usually have only a couple of days of below temperatures and our weep sytem with our PDQ handles it fine. However, we experienced 7 days of below freezing this last year. Doors for a 7 day freeze (once a year) seems expensive. Anybody set up to keep an IBA from freezing for short periods of time? Thinking some type of set up with a space heater?

 

[Eric H]

Ho you have floor heat?

 

[rtcgolf]

Ho you have floor heat?

no floor heat. thoght about it?

 

[Waxman]

I suppose you could tarp off the openings and run a torpedo heater but that gets expensive in fuel and the fumes are not great.

 

[Keno]

It's kind of a pain to do, but once you're setup for it, it's not bad. You can disconnect all the lines and pump full of antifreeze and leave them disconnected to protect from freezing for the few days you need it.

 

[rtcgolf]

It's kind of a pain to do, but once you're setup for it, it's not bad. You can disconnect all the lines and pump full of antifreeze and leave them disconnected to protect from freezing for the few days you need it.

Keno, thanks for that. Had not thought of this option. Will give it some thought, and let you know.

 

[DAWGWASH]

no floor heat. thoght about it?

like they said put tarps up and use a kerosene torpedo heater and use a timer to cycle it on and off

 

[Blanco]

We have owned the car wash for about 17 years. we usually have only a couple of days of below temperatures and our weep sytem with our PDQ handles it fine. However, we experienced 7 days of below freezing this last year. Doors for a 7 day freeze (once a year) seems expensive. Anybody set up to keep an IBA from freezing for short periods of time? Thinking some type of set up with a space heater?

Here's a permanent solution although it will cost a few bucks. You'll need a water heater. If you already have a water heater or boiler then you can use a cheap heat exchanger from amazon. You'll also need a small holding tank, thermostat, circulating pump, supply/return manifold, and about 350ft of 1/2" hose. Essential you will run these supply and return lines out to your machine and rails which will heat it all. Not very difficult. Doing the gantry will be easy but your rails will take a bit of custom work using either pex or copper tubes strapped to the outside of them. Back when I was young and dumb and had no doors in Michigan I would rely only on this. I may have had 4 inches of ice to break off the machine and walls every morning but the machine would still be running and id always be in business. If you're interested DM me and I can help you out.

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

I think it would be easiest to install a radiant heat tube in the bay.

 

[Eric H]

I think it would be easiest to install a radiant heat tube in the bay.

Do you mean those loooong heaters? You need to be careful about clearances, I think you need 4’ from the closest object. Unless you have a very high ceiling, you need to keep the heater away from the machine which limits the effectiveness of the radiant heater.
What’s your goal? Keeping some of the ice off the floor, keeping the machine from freezing or keeping ice off the rails?

 

[kentadel]

For the cost for possibly only a few days of cold temps I would simply cover the doors, use a heater, or inject antifreeze. Go home and enjoy the break!

 

[Blanco]

no floor heat. thoght about it?

Floor heat won’t do anything if you don’t have doors.

Let alone it’s the most expensive heating option to run and the least effective.

Machine heat and/or tube heater is your best options besides doors if you want to stay open.

 

[rtcgolf]

I suppose you could tarp off the openings and run a torpedo heater but that gets expensive in fuel and the fumes are not great.

conceptually, we have been thinking about enclosing the space with tarps on both end with a space heater, but we have a lot of wind. still could be an option. thanks for the response

 

[rtcgolf]

It's kind of a pain to do, but once you're setup for it, it's not bad. You can disconnect all the lines and pump full of antifreeze and leave them disconnected to protect from freezing for the few days you need it.

this seems like a lot of work, but worth considering

 

[rtcgolf]

like they said put tarps up and use a kerosene torpedo heater and use a timer to cycle it on and off

like the idea of cycling on and off. space heater with tarp creates a bit of concern for fire, since it would be unattended over night?

 

[rtcgolf]

Here's a permanent solution although it will cost a few bucks. You'll need a water heater. If you already have a water heater or boiler then you can use a cheap heat exchanger from amazon. You'll also need a small holding tank, thermostat, circulating pump, supply/return manifold, and about 350ft of 1/2" hose. Essential you will run these supply and return lines out to your machine and rails which will heat it all. Not very difficult. Doing the gantry will be easy but your rails will take a bit of custom work using either pex or copper tubes strapped to the outside of them. Back when I was young and dumb and had no doors in Michigan I would rely only on this. I may have had 4 inches of ice to break off the machine and walls every morning but the machine would still be running and id always be in business. If you're interested DM me and I can help you out.

This soumd like it has potential. We have no rails so basically keeping the gantry from freezing. like to learn more, but do not kn ow what"DM me" means. Help!

 

[rtcgolf]

Do you mean those loooong heaters? You need to be careful about clearances, I think you need 4’ from the closest object. Unless you have a very high ceiling, you need to keep the heater away from the machine which limits the effectiveness of the radiant heater.
What’s your goal? Keeping some of the ice off the floor, keeping the machine from freezing or keeping ice off the rails?

We have no rails. It is a PDQ 360 plus touchless. We need to keep it from freezing. If we weep the gantry, we would likely need to keep ice from the floor.Thought about radiant heat, but was led to believe it would not survive the moist environement?

 

[Mr. Dude with a face]

DM means direct message. Click on his profile and I think you will see the option.

 

[Mr. Dude with a face]

I have heard stories that those radiant tube heaters don't always live long in an auto bay. And they can absolutely cook stuff that is close to them, so they need space.

 

[rtcgolf]

For the cost for possibly only a few days of cold temps I would simply cover the doors, use a heater, or inject antifreeze. Go home and enjoy the break!

At this point this concepts seem to have the most possibilities from a cost consideration. Unattended fire would be a concern. How we would manage the instaltion and removal without a fuill time attendant will takes some planning.