self service car wash equipment needs

Self Service Car Wash Equipment

While this is not an all inclusive list, it does provide information on most standard self service equipment.

Air compressor - this should be a reliable well manufactured compressor. You can purchase a cheaper brand, but typically you will find they will need to be replaced every 1 - 2 years. Sometimes it is not worth the hassle, loss of revenue from down time and can be very expensive to install if you can not install it yourself. We use Rol-Air compressors which are solely manufactured for long lasting industrial use. We have been using this brand since we started selling car wash equipment, and have never had to replace one yet!

Water Softener - This is really a must for any car wash. In order to wash cars most chemicals can only do there job well if they have totally soft water. This should be a softener that is made for heavy industrial use. It will have to be sized according to the amount of water usage your car wash is capable of using. Softeners come in various sized heads and water inlets. They can have twin tanks or single tanks. Water softeners can regenerate themselves, or have to be manually regenerated. Prices will vary according to all these factors. Note: A softener that reaches 2 grains hard should have it's membranes clean.

Hot water heater, boilers and instantaneous water heaters - most people go with at least a hot water wash. Some companies only sell their equipment with hot wash/hot rinse. We offer a cold rinse option to cut the costs of heating rinse water. If going with a hot wash and hot rinse, a boiler or a few palomas set in line is very economical. If you are going with just hot wash and cold rinse an industrial water heater is just fine. Again, unless you want to be replacing this item frequently only buy a well known brand that makes commercial water heaters. We typically handle, Teledyne Laars boilers, Rheem, A-Osmith or Ruud commercial hot water heaters and Palomas for instantaneous on demand water heating.

Cold Rinse Options - This can be added to the primary pumping stations when using cold rinse instead of hot.

Floor Heat - In cold climates where the temperature drops below freezing, this is one of the most economical ways to prevent freeze ups. It is also very important for heating the concrete just outside the bay to prevent vehicle mishaps. It can be run around doors as well to stop them from freezing and ran along hoses in the ceiling to prevent them from freezing. If floor heat is used, typically no other type of heat is needed in the wash bay or equipment room. Boiler size will depend on the amount floor heat needed.

Spot Free Rinse Machine - This is optional but it also is a very important option. In order to provide spot free rinse to your customers, you will need a reverse osmosis machine with repressurization. While this can be a fairly expensive option when first putting up a car wash, this is option where your customer has a choice to "buy" something and will help you increase revenues in the long run. Most owner operators also add an optional storage tank for the spot free rinse water so they don't run out when demand is high.

Pumping station - this the high pressure delivery system. If you live in a climate where the temperature can below freezing, you will need freeze protection added to this delivery system. Pricing can vary depending on the HP and electrical wiring running into the building. The cheapest pumping station will be a 3 HP with 208/240 3 Phase electrical supply. The most expensive unit will be 1 phase electrical. This will also be the most expensive to run!

Ceiling boom - a 360 degree boom that delivers high pressure soap, rinse or wax.

Ceiling boom extension - a stainless steel extension that brings the ceiling boom down to the proper level. Yet keeps it higher than door clearance.

Gun, wand and nozzles - delivers the high pressure option.

Wand holder - can be flexible or non, we use only stainless steel but have seen them made with PVC type materials.

Low Pressure delivery system - this is where many options can come into play. There is foaming presoak and non foaming presoak, foaming brush and foaming tire/motor cleaner. This is also an area where some people mistakenly decide to cut down on the initial expense of putting in a self service carwash. It is not a good idea to skimp here, because this is where the money is made! Customers that only have a choice of presoak, will only buy presoak! If you only offer foam brush - they will only buy foam brush! Give them a choice of all three and they will frequently buy two or all three options!

Wall boom - 180º wall boom - holds the hoses out from the wall and delivers the low pressure options.

Brush and Brush wand - End of the low pressure delivery system. 1 foaming brushes is used for delivering all three low pressure options.

Wand hooks, weep buckets - wand hooks hold the brush wand, weep buckets are optional depending on the type of weep systems used in cold climates to prevent freezing. A weep bucket has holes in them so the water that is wept through the wand and brush has an escape route.

Mat clamps - these hold a customer's floor mats so they can easily wash them down with your high pressure gun.

Change machine - This is pretty essential as customers need change in order to spend it in your car wash!

Coin meter - The coin meter is where a customer puts the change and makes his/her option selection.

Signage - First time customers (and even many repeat customers) need to know how to use the wash equipment.

Vacuums - Most car washes have at least two vacuums for customers to vacuum out the interior of the vehicle.

Vending machines - Vending machines is another area where you have a great chance of increasing your revenue. Most often you will see 50% -100% profit on money spent on these products.

Awning and Signs - An illuminated sign is probably the most important thing you can add to your lot. It advertises your car wash while you sleep. Awning is warm and inviting, it will attract more women as any building that is will lit up will, but unless you are putting in many self service bays or are not going to have the self service carwash along side of an automatic car wash, awning can be an unnecessary expense for the smaller self service car wash.

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self service car wash equipment needs