Infrared Heaters: A Cost Effective and Green Heating Alternative

by Mark Kirkwood
Owner, Kirkwood's Sweeper Shop

With winter in the Midwest predicted to be colder than normal and heating costs continuing to rise, many people are looking for ways to stay warm at home without breaking their budget. Since we tend to spend 80 percent of our time in only 20 percent of our house, it’s really inefficient to just turn up your thermostat and heat your entire house and then deal with a rising gas and electric bill. So is there an alternative?

At Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop, we recommend a cost effective alternative for our customers – an infrared zone heater.  An infrared zone heater lets you stay cozy and comfortable where you spend most of your time. You can move it where you need it, and you don’t waste money to heat the whole house. When you turn down the furnace and use an infrared zone heater, your heating costs actually can go down.

How Do Infrared Heaters Work?

Infrared heaters work differently than the other types of heaters you may be considering for your home or office. A combination of industrial grade infrared heat tubes and cured copper are the key ingredients to an infrared zone heater. Infrared heat tubes transfer heat to copper cylinders.  The illustration above shows the simple steps involved in infrared heat:

1.    A whisper-quiet fan draws air from the room, through a washable filter.
2.    The air is drawn into the heat chamber.
3.    Moisture in the air absorbs the infrared heat when it passes around and over the copper cylinders.
4.    This moist warm air is moved out into the room, where it warms you and all objects in the room.

This transitive heating process works in a manner similar to the way humidity and sunlight combine to create a heat index in the hot summer months.

Healthy, Quick Heat That Fills Your Room

Infrared heaters produce heat quickly, unlike other typical space heaters. So they are especially useful when you come in from the cold and want to warm up fast.  Hot coils are wrapped over the heat source so heat is transferred evenly. The heat is reflected by a polished metal so it extends out for several yards, creating a gentle, comfortable source of warmth.

Infrared heaters also are healthier, because they do not reduce humidity or the oxygen in a room.  Again, a typical space heater can dry out your sinuses and skin and cause static electricity. Infrared heat can even promote healthier blood circulation.

 
“Green” and Cost Effective Heat

With an infrared heat, there is no carbon combustion, no toxic-by-products, no open flames and no fuel lines. In summary, infrared heaters don't add anything to the air, and they don't take anything from the air.

And since infrared heaters warm only specific rooms, you don't waste energy heating an entire house There's also no need to preheat a room since these heaters work instantly. Nearly 100 percent of the heat created is transferred out, so you can get efficient heating for a very low cost.

There’s also very little maintenance for an infrared heater. Since there are no moving parts, there's no motor to wear out or lubrication required. At Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop, we only recommend that you periodically clean the reflectors to keep your unit working perfectly.

Attractive design

The infrared heaters we offer also feature a choice of furniture-like wood finishes that compliments the look of your home – and that’s a huge difference from the eyesore of typical room heaters.  

Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop has a large selection of infrared heaters to fit your needs and budget. You can visit one of our conveniently located, Greater Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky stores, pick one up today and be warm tonight!

Mark Kirkwood is proud to continue a family tradition that began when The Kirkwood Family entered the vacuum business in 1969. Today, Mark and his brother Bob Kirkwood operate a total of nine vacuum cleaner stores in Ohio and Kentucky under the Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop banner. With the continued support of our valuable team members, and loyal customers, we hope to serve your vacuum sales and repair needs -- and infrared heater needs -- for many more years.

Central Vacuum Systems Provide Proven Allergy Relief

by Mark Kirkwood
Owner, Kirkwood's Sweeper Shop

With winter around the corner, many people think that the days of dealing with allergies are over – but nothing could be further from the truth.

Although most of allergy attention is directed toward pollen and other outdoor allergens, what is inside your home— dust, dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens—are allergy triggers for more than 25 percent of us. And the combination of spending more time indoors as the weather gets colder along with today’s more energy efficient and tightly sealed homes make the problem worse, since it’s tough to get the allergens out of your home.

But there is an answer to this growing indoor allergy problem, and Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop is proud to be the most experienced Greater Cincinnati company to offer this solution. A Central Vacuum System from Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop REMOVES all of the dust, dirt and allergens from your home. And Central Vacuum Systems do not recirculate any exhaust air into your home, providing a truly cleaner home for you and your family.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends frequent deep cleaning to eliminate allergens from your home. Carpets and upholstered furniture should be vacuumed one to two times a week.

A Central Vacuum System from Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop makes this household chore manageable with the most powerful, easy-to-use – and quietest -- vacuum money can buy. By comparison, portable vacuum cleaners are heavy, noisy, and they blow dust all over your house. And Central Vacuum System prices start at only $599 for a do-it-yourself vacuum system.

Clinically PROVEN Allergy relief -- up to 62% improvement!

Use of a built-in Central Vacuum System, which blows no air into the room, is a highly effective method for reducing dust mites and other indoor allergens and improving indoor air quality. With a motor up to five times more powerful than a conventional vacuum, a Central Vacuum System captures more dust, dirt and allergens than an upright vacuum. It also moves all of the dirt and allergens in your home to a central collection container in your garage or other convenient area of your home.

Independent clinical studies have shown up to a 62 percent improvement in allergy symptoms when homeowners used a Central Vacuum System instead of a conventional vacuum to clean their homes.

Central Vacuum Systems Improve Indoor Air Quality

Unlike conventional vacuums that can recirculate dust, a Central Vacuum System removes 100% of contacted dirt, dust mites, pollen, dander and other allergens and carries them away from living areas—to help improve indoor air quality.

And you don’t have to have a new home to install a Central Vacuum System. Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop can install a Central Vacuum System in virtually any home or business. We routinely install Central Vacuum Systems in existing homes and new construction. We also install Central Vacuum Systems in commercial businesses such as hair salons, veterinary clinics, restaurants, medical and dental offices, and day care centers.

Vacuum Experience Counts!

Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop has been installing Central Vacuum Systems since 1974. With thousands of successful central vacuum installations, we have the experience to engineer and correctly install the right equipment, to ensure years of trouble-free service.  Everything from the selection of the best quality equipment and materials, right down to the little details like nail guards, pipe hangers, fire rated wire, and proper tubing cutters, make all the difference. We have a proven track record of installing Central Vacuum Systems that our customers love.

Now you can breathe easier knowing you've found a great way to improve your indoor air quality. Delight in the numerous convenience features and whisper-quiet operation. Call today for your Free Estimate – 513-612-6100 ext. 104.

Mark Kirkwood is proud to continue a family tradition that began when The Kirkwood Family entered the vacuum business in 1969. Today, Mark and his brother Bob Kirkwood operate a total of nine vacuum cleaner stores in Ohio and Kentucky under the Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop banner. With the continued support of our valuable team members, and loyal customers, we hope to serve your vacuum sales and repair needs many more years.

If you are considering any one else to install or service your Central Vacuum System, ask them if they have over 80 years of combined experience – and ask them if they have hundreds of references for systems that have been working properly for close to 30 years.