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Car Wash Blog / Self Serve Industry Blog and Forum

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  • Another CWGuy on HydraFlex Hydra-Cannon water question?
    I just built a system that fixes the problem of pressure you are referring to. The answer is 2 fold. 1.VFD+ Pressure 2.Monitoring Sensor. Set up where VFD runs at say "40%" putting out 150psi. Then have a sensor that is inline (before manifold) to when a second bay calls for product, and pressure drops, it senses this, and increases the VFD to say 50% to make up for the difference, and retain the 150psi. So on, and so forth depending on how many bays you have. It will take some tweaking, but once it is set, it is set. Also, you only can have a maximum of 5 ports open at once, even if you have 6 different functions, as each bay can only have one selection running at any given time. Email me, and I can give you more info, and / or if you want to buy one rather than build one. It is a very expensive "trial and error" job, as the VFD, pump, and sensor have to do the job right, and give the correct pressures. They will not share any of their tech, as they want us all to buy from ...
  • Another CWGuy on HydraFlex Hydra-Cannon water question?
    Did you know.... You can purchase the "quick disconnect" injectors from "Hydraflex™®? ©" (don't want to infringe on ™®? or © :P) , however you cannot purchase the quick disconnect adapters from them. Hmmmmm? Isn't that nice? Why not? Oh, that's right you can, if you purchase one of their "Aqualab™®? ©." TEN THOUSAND dollar units. Then, they will sell replacement parts for it, which include the quick disconnect fittings. Very frustrating to say the least. IN A STORY NOT RELATED -> If you want to never ever ever worry about check valves again, look into the icheck magnum series which you can buy from Kleen Rite (low ph, high ph, and high pressure) Also, if you are tired of replacing brittle, cracked, sun-drenched, winter haggard poly line, step up and buy the parker (or equiv.) "air brake" line (type B, reinforced). it will last for over 20 years in a carwash, and will outlast stainless steel when running corrosive product thru. I have been running HF thru it for over...
  • Michael Simmons on Make your Fortune Washing Cars – A book? Car Wash people can read? JK :)
    I love your sense of humor, but everything is in the details of any business what separates the strong from the weak is just a few minor details. But that few can be huge, for instance I love Arbys for their sandwiches, but many years ago their facilities were just run down and dirty, back then I would never go to the bathroom in one. Instead I went to Mcdonald's to go the rest room. Now in current time Arby's has gotten the idea that a very clean and modern facility with upgraded equipment will bring in customers. They even have open wifi in many, so that being said a business is the true salesperson it projects an image. Now one must ask yourself what image do you want to project to the public. You yoursef as a owner of a car wash or any business must be the salesman, because without a sale no one has a job. Mike...
  • me on Make your Fortune Washing Cars – A book? Car Wash people can read? JK :)
    I don't think you read the post. Maybe since your not a car wash owner you didn't get the joke? But your a sales person so... :) Maybe in Ohio the government is more restrictive I don't know? But when the government lets people start businesses that they want. Unforgettably to many people have built car washes because of sales people. Which makes them bad investments... so depending where someone is from you will get your desired remarks. Also you are selling a high priced item so only car washes with money would call you... another fact. So of course they would be making money. I also disagree with 90% of your statements except the place should be clean. You do not have to purchase top "knotch" equipment. You can run a super car wash with any equipment on the market. But again your a sales person. :) But I strangely want to purchase a boiler now.... JK LOL :)...
  • Michael Simmons on Make your Fortune Washing Cars – A book? Car Wash people can read? JK :)
    I have met many car wash owners that do make money in the car wash industry. Here is what I have found they are very organized, they buy top knotch equipment, they maintain it everyday, they check their water everyday, they ask for help when needed. Many are true salespeople they get out and meet the customers give them hugs and attend community events. And lets not forgot about having a very clean facility, customers love neatness. Mike Simmons, Vice-President...

Sandpiper pump problem

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I was having a problem with my sandpiper pump again. This time the hydrominder got stuck and the chemical tank was empty. The pump was getting to much air in the intake line and was trying to prime. I had to take the outlet hose off and everything worked fine again. I have a video of what the pump was doing.

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Twice the ICE – Ice House America

I drive by this establishment every day and they were talking about it at:

 http://forum.autocareforum.com/forum.src?Action=Posts&Subject=10230&Topic=15&SubjStart=

So I decided to post some pictures it seems like an interesting topic.

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It cost $1.75 for 20 pounds of ice for a cooler or 16 pound bag.  It has a chute for the cooler ice and a bag drop for the bags of ice.

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Two people showed up when I was taking pictures.  The guy purchased 20 pounds of ice and wanted the bag of ice.  I guess he could not read the sign.  He sold the ice to the lady with the cooler.  I usually never see anyone at the ice place normally.

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This is what is sharing the lot.  Which is closed.

More information:  http://www.icehouseamerica.com/

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Categories: Repair and Wylam.

Meter door break-in – Again

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Someone broke into my meter box again.  This time they stole my latch thing that locks it into place, bent and striped the threads on the lock.  Luckily, I had a spare lock.

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He tried to break in to all the vaults and looked at the vacuums.  It was at 9:27 pm I think unless the time is wrong on the dvr I forgot to check.

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Here is a picture of his suv.

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The meter box worked fine all day except for the guy on the left.  Then the lady on the right decided to steal the quarter for some reason.

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Pit cleaning fun

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I got to clean out one pit in Hueytown and two at Wylam.  It was a lot of fun.

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Rowe changer problem

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I had the same error message "CK L COIN DETCTR" today.  Just reset.

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RO tank overflow – fixed?

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I moved the float down in the tank.  It should work fine now. 

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Full chemical bucket.  The only thing I can think of is when the RO tank over flew.  It decided to fill up my high pressure soap bucket.  So now I have a full bucket again.  Yea.

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Neon lights problem

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Someone broke the neon lights on the corner the wash.

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Softener hose problem

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I must have pulled the hose out when moving the new ro tank out.  The floor had a good amount of water on it from the ro tank overflow and the softener hose problem.

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RO tank overflow

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The tank overflowed last night.  I am going to wait and adjust the float tomorrow when the water goes down.  I also dumped a glass of tea in the tank.  Woops.  I was totally stupid.

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Unitec coin jam

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Unitec coin acceptor was jammed.  I had to loosen all the screws in the coin acceptor to get the coins out.

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New equipment idea – move ro tank

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I removed my new ro tank and switched back to my old black ro tank.  I had to do this to allow the new/used Coleman equipment to fit in the equipment room.  It was a lot of trouble considering I moved it to the other side of the equipment room.

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buy and sell car wash equipment also sometimes :)