Problems with Your Car Wash Business?
A functional car wash drive oftentimes results in higher customer satisfaction. If you have a business in this sector, it’s important to have a clear picture of all the responsibilities that come with it. You need to ensure a preventative maintenance schedule where you constantly inspect the system and make sure that everything works as it should.
Here are some of the most common issues a car wash business could face, so you’ll know how to deal with them in an effective manner. Even if you don’t have a car washing business, it’s still useful to check out this article, as you will know what to expect in terms of high-quality services for your car.
Electrical
Your car wash features many electrical control panels, both for workers’ and customers’ use. Here are some of the issues that might affect your system’s electrical connection:
Issues with the local electricity
Your city’s electrical supply might short circuit or even shut down your car wash’s system one day, completely out of the blue. That’s why you should consider reaching out to a local utility company for more information about how to solve this issue before it continues.
Faulty electrical parts
If any of the panels stop working because of old age or even damage, you might want to hire a licensed electrician instead of dealing with it yourself. After all, we’re talking about very complex and rather dangerous equipment. It might help to become familiar with your equipment, such as where different parts are and how they really work. You can also pinpoint the reason why your electrical system has failed, then try to contact a professional.
Temperature and humidity issues
A car wash will feature plenty of water and humidity sources that could easily damage your electrical system. Humid air can easily get trapped in your electrical boxes and even condense as it cools down. Consider installing a dehumidifier or any other ventilation system in order to control the temperature and humidity at your location.
Water
Your water delivery systems are supposed to flow, so they can clean the vehicles passing through the car wash. Here are some of the main issues you might have when it comes to a good water supply:
Clogs and damage
If you notice that water isn’t flowing out of the system, you might want to check all the components for leaks or even clogs and make sure you repair them as soon as possible. You might also deal with water pressure issues from different conditions, like oil from the road, bugs in the summer, or even salt in the winter. In that instance, you might have to treat your water with chemicals.
Problems with your local water supply
You might deal with water pressure issues at different times of the day, mainly due to the utility use in the area you’re activating. For example, if your business is located in an older city, you might have to install a booster pump or any other device to make your pressure feeds more consistent.
Poor water quality
The water your car wash needs has to be clean and soft, so it can effectively remove dirt and debris from your customers’ vehicles. Chemicals that get mixed with soft water definitely perform better and also result in cleaner cars. You can apply softeners to your water supply and remove any hard water minerals.
Issues with water softeners
If you apply a softener but your water still has some hard minerals in it, you might have to run a couple of tests to diagnose the underlying issue. Your softener needs salt in it, or you might have to fill the salt reservoir. After checking it, you can buy testing trips to determine whether you have hard or soft water. You might also have to service or replace your softener, especially if the test indicates you have hard water.
Improper use of reclaimed water
Federal and state regulations might require car washes to connect their reclaimed water drainage systems to other treatment facilities and reduce freshwater contamination. Because your car wash requires fresh water to run smoothly, you should focus on using reclaimed water for intermediate rinse cycles and make sure you avoid using it to mix different products.
Chemicals
Your car wash’s cleaning chemicals depend a lot on clean and soft water. All these chemicals are generally very reliable, but you might have mechanical or even manufacturer issues that could affect their quality. Here are some examples:
- failed check valve – a failed check valve directs chemicals and water back into containers. Sometimes, the process makes quite a mess and ruins your chemical supply. If you notice leaks or any other blockages in your check valve, you might have to get it replaced.
- spills and leaks – Equipment leaks and spills can easily contaminate your products, and destroy the chemicals’ drum. Ultimately, all of this will lead to reduced performance quality. You might have to replace and repair any faulty equipment to avoid future contamination.
- the blending of harmful products – Combining two chemicals might harm not only your equipment but also your employees and customers, especially if they result in a dangerous reaction. You might want to avoid mixing those products unless you’re 100% confident they are identical and compatible.
Mechanical
Your car wash equipment has many moving parts that make the whole system work as it should. Here are some relevant mechanical components that could malfunction after improper maintenance or excessive use:
- failed bearings – greasing your bearings on a regular basis with the right products will prevent them from failing. If you don’t know how to tell if you are overgreasing your bearings, it’s quite simple. You have to check if the grease is oozing out. Too much product might push out the seal and damage the bearing.
- clogged vacuums—these appliances could develop blockages, especially since customers try to clean large debris out of their cars. Clogs could easily weaken the suction power and put extra strain on the turbines. You might not notice this problem right away, especially if you have self-serve vacuums at your location. Check your vacuums at least once a day for debris buildup.
Equipment
A car wash bay mixes aggressive chemicals, water, and other moving parts through regular wear and tear that could easily break down your foot valve, injector tip, or even nozzles. Even if you have some kind of protection in place for these products, your old car wash equipment could easily malfunction over time. You might even have the following issues with your equipment:
- broken foot valve – When you check the equipment, make sure you start at the foot valve and work down the system. This component automatically filters out substantial particles, allows constant suction on the drawn line, and also prevents product backflow. Try to remove the drawn line from the chemical supply and check the amount within the tube. You might have to replace the foot valve if chemicals leak out of it.
- clogged and damaged injector tip – If the foot valve works fine, make sure you carefully inspect the injector’s tip’s small opening for other clogs or signs of damage. You might have to clean (make sure you have plenty of these on hand) or even replace the injector to ensure the right water and chemical flow.
If you found this article useful, then you also need to check out this one: 10 US Cities With the Highest Car Insurance Rates
