It’s a no-brainer. Your business depends on your car wash tunnel equipment functioning properly. Every drive-through car wash is a sequence of finely-tuned machines, all working in harmony to produce clean, dry vehicles each day.
Unless…your wash has been neglected.
If just one of those machines isn’t working as it should, it can diminish the quality of your wash – and your reputation. Over time, the consequences can include significant lost business, costly repairs, damaged equipment, prolonged downtime or shut-down. Who needs the local word of mouth to be, “hey that wash is always closed for repairs.”
This guide walks you through some maintenance tips to help you keep your car wash tunnel equipment in optimal condition.
Importance of Proper Equipment Maintenance
Your carwash doesn’t have teeth (well, maybe a few in the sprockets of your conveyor). But if it did, the advice would be the same: spend a little time and money maintaining your wash systems properly, and avoid costly and painful procedures later. Just like the chompers in your mouth.
Okay, enough said. You get it.
15 Tips for Maintaining Your Tunnel Car Wash
Car wash tunnel system maintenance starts before you ever open your wash. To cut down on maintenance required – and replacements – start with the best.
1. Invest in Systems from Reputable Manufacturers
The quality of your equipment plays a crucial role in your car wash quality. It’s simple: Better car wash tunnel systems can deliver better results for customers.
More than that, high-quality tunnel car wash equipment can save you thousands on repairs in the long run. Poorly made products are more likely to break suddenly or wear down quickly. Even if you save money buying cheaper machinery, you could spend much more fixing or replacing the cheap parts.
2. Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions
Commercial carwash manufacturers know what works and doesn’t work with a particular piece of equipment. Some of us aren’t great at following instructions – you know who you are! – but it pays to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions.
For example, certain cleaning agents and materials for car wash systems may not react well with all types of equipment. Some machinery might require tuning after a certain number of uses, while others might not need that for months or longer. To make sure you’re properly maintaining your equipment and preserving your investment, follow the instructions.
3. Create a Maintenance Schedule and Checklist
Large car wash chains in the wash industry often have a comprehensive maintenance schedule based on their equipment type and wash volume. They also tend to have trained staff on hand and an inventory of spare parts or repair tools.
Smaller car wash businesses, however, don’t always have that luxury. What works for a big chain might not work for you. That’s why you may want to create a unique maintenance schedule and checklist – one that works for your business specifically.
Start with the maintenance schedules recommended by the manufacturer. From there, you can build a more thorough schedule and checklist to ensure all your parts are always working. Your time programs should include daily, weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance for each piece of equipment.
One thing to keep in mind here is that maintenance needs will increase as your car volume grows. If your business is growing and serving more wash packages for more cars per hour, your schedule will need to evolve too.
4. Inspect Your Car Wash Tunnel Equipment Often
Even if your maintenance schedule says the equipment isn’t due for inspection, your car wash tunnel system could still benefit from a daily checkup. At least 30 minutes before the car wash opens, do a visual inspection of the car wash equipment. Be sure to perform any maintenance procedures according to the manufacturer’s guidance.
Then, run a test wash without a vehicle. This warms up the equipment and gets everything lubricated. It’s also a chance to spot any issues, like leaks or malfunctioning tools.
Finally, perform a test with a vehicle and do a walk-through inspection of the tunnel. This is your chance to assess how the equipment performs under pressure. For example, consider the timing of the wash conveyor, the pressure of the brushes and the quality of soap application. Take note of anything that seems unusual for later followup.
5. Clean Equipment Regularly
Customers expect a clean, professional environment in the car wash – that extends to the equipment too. Make sure to clean your equipment daily to meet this expectation and improve the look and safety of your car wash. Removing accumulated grease, dirt, debris and rust will help equipment last longer and keep things running smoothly.
6. Use the Correct Chemicals and Fluids
Nothing will break a machine faster than the wrong car wash chemistry. While keeping fluids topped up is essential, ensure you use the proper chemicals for your machinery. Follow manufacturer guidelines when possible to avoid damage to your equipment.
The same goes for cleaning solutions. Ensure you aren’t using chemicals that could cause damage to sensitive equipment.
7. Grease and Lubricate Moving Parts
Lubrication is essential for keeping your equipment working in top condition. Using the correct lubricant reduces friction, heat and wear, maximizing the life of your car wash parts.
Ensure you stay on top of your lubrication schedule – just a few minutes of running without proper lubrication can cause damage.
8. Replace Worn or Damaged Parts
Daily use can make car wash parts wear out over time. How quickly they wear depends on the volume of cars you’re servicing, meaning busier car washes must always stay on top of their parts. If you’re unprepared and lose a critical piece of the system you could end up without an operating car wash for days or longer while you wait for repairs.
Keep an eye on parts that may need replacing soon, and have spare parts readily available. This way, you can keep services going without disruption, even in case of an emergency replacement.
If you really want to get proactive, we offer a pre-stocked Spare Parts Cabinet loaded with the critical spare parts most often needed, so you can minimize downtime and keep your wash up and running.
9. Periodically Calibrate Sensors and Control Systems
High-quality automatic car washes have complex control systems, not to mention sensors that detect vehicle exteriors without causing damage. If something goes wrong with these systems, you could end up with an entirely disabled car wash.
Regularly calibrating sensors can mean a world of difference between a safely running car wash and an out-of-service tunnel.
10. Prepare the Equipment for Cold Weather
Depending on your location, you may need to make climate-specific considerations regarding your car wash tunnel equipment. Cold weather, in particular, can be a challenge for many car washes. Your maintenance schedule may need to include:
- Clearing snow from the tunnel openings
- Keeping the openings of the tunnel ice-free
- Maintaining heaters
- Applying rock salt when needed
- Having a snow blower or snowplow
11. Have Equipment Serviced by a Qualified Technician
While you can train staff members to perform minimal maintenance, nothing compares to the input of a professional. In addition to your in-house maintenance cycle, it helps to set up appointments with a third-party professional.
Instead of only calling for help when something goes wrong, take preventative action by having a professional assess your car wash every six months or more. It’s like an HVAC professional checking your furnace before winter every year. Qualified car wash technicians receive specific training for inspecting and servicing car wash tunnels. They can spot signs of issues long before they become major repairs and can replace parts before they compromise the rest of the car wash.
12. Keep Records of Maintenance and Repairs
Whether you’re doing a routine maintenance check or a major repair on your car wash tunnel equipment, keep a record of your work. Detailed record-keeping will help you track the health of your machinery over time. It will aid you in staying on top of inspections, repairs and replacements as your tunnel wash takes on more wear and tear.
Documented inspections also help show customers your commitment to delivering a safe and enjoyable car wash experience.
13. Train Employees on Proper Maintenance Procedures
Most car wash businesses will call professionals for help when something goes seriously wrong. Besides emergencies, however, the responsibility of day-to-day operations falls to the on-site employees. Staff should be well-trained in proper maintenance procedures, including cleaning and minor repairs.
A great way to get this valuable training and experience is to join a College of Clean tunnel maintenance course. Specialized courses cover important ground and offer hands-on training experience.
14. Regularly Test and Maintain Emergency Stop Systems
While a tunnel car wash may not appear dangerous, it’s also not suitable for direct human contact. In an emergency scenario, the equipment could cause serious harm.
Customers expect a safe and reliable experience, which means your safety systems should be in perfect condition. The emergency stop button allows employees to pause the wash process in the case of an emergency, like a customer leaving their vehicle mid-wash.
Keep up with a schedule to regularly test and maintain emergency stop systems. Don’t wait for an emergency to find out if the stop system is working – ensure it’s 100% safe before customers drive through the entrance.
15. Carwash 4.0: The Future of Car Wash Maintenance
With a combination of connected equipment, remote monitoring and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, a Carwash 4.0 system can revolutionize how you maintain and operate your car wash.
A Carwash 4.0 system paired with the NCS Lens App lets you monitor your car wash equipment in real time using your smartphone. You can track, adjust and report accurately on all sorts of systems and parameters, making your wash more efficient and consistent.
Carwash 4.0 integrates Condition Based Maintenance technology that uses sensors and data to anticipate equipment failures long before they happen. Managers or owners can get automated alerts ahead of trouble, and schedule maintenance or replacement during off hours. No surprises, no downtime – and you don’t even have to be onsite to manage it.
Maximize Quality and Longevity With a Trusted Equipment Provider
A car wash tunnel is no small investment, but it can yield significant returns – as long as you start with the best car wash equipment and parts and keep up with car wash tunnel maintenance.
Find the best-built and most reliable equipment on the market with Macneilwash.com. Also look to us for maintenance help and consultation when needed. Just fill out our contact form and someone will be in touch.