Calling all entrepreneurs looking at setting up a car or truck wash
An industry insider shares advice for a successful washing business
In this two-part series, Hawk Pumps manufacturers and distributors of quality high-pressure pumping equipment, shares insights into what to consider when setting up a car or truck wash.
"For keen-minded entrepreneurs in South Africa, setting up a car wash or truck wash can be lucrative to profit from the huge number of vehicles on our roads today while offering a valuable service every road user needs. However, without a full understanding of what is required, car and truck wash businesses could be in for a costly lesson, which could potentially lead to failure," says Melanie Mokawem, CEO of Hawk Pumps.
Mokawem continues, "When it comes to the vehicle washing procedure, the best way to use your equipment depends on the equipment that you have. The process should include four basic steps:
1. Remove abrasive sand and mud – using the high-pressure washer, clean all dirt, sand and other debris from the vehicle
2. Foam – use a foamed detergent that is spread all over the vehicle
3. Rub soap – rub soap into the surface of the vehicle to dislodge any road film
4. Rinse – use the pressure cleaner to give the vehicle a final rinse
"To ensure that you can do the best job when it comes to car cleaning, you need the right type of car or truck was equipment. This includes everything from the right type of high-pressure unit, to water supply and accessories like foamers, booms and other basics such as sponges and so on."
In this article, the focus is on the cleaner itself. The follow-on article will cover all other accessories.
High-Pressure Cleaner - Before choosing the correct cleaning equipment, it is imperative to define what type of vehicle cleaning you will be doing and what resources you have available i.e. water and power supply.
For car wash applications, pressure washers delivering 100-150bar maximum - anything higher than this may strip decals off vehicles - and volumes of 10-15l/min are ideal.
Truck washing requires a high pressure of 200-250bar at a volume of 15 – 21l/min. For standard truck washing applications, a cold water pressure cleaner is adequate. For more heavy-duty cleaning, a hot water pressure washer may be needed.
When choosing a pressure washer, you must consider your wash site. If you have electricity access, an electrically operated pressure washer would be the most cost-effective to run. Before ordering your pressure cleaner, note whether the electricity supply is domestic 230V or commercial 380V. Select a petrol or diesel-operated pressure washer if you don't have electricity. Remember to consider emissions and ventilation if your wash bay is enclosed.
When it comes to the actual pressure washer, a simple pump and motor combination, mounted in a wall or floor cabinet or on a wall bracket in a dedicated room, with plenty of ventilation, is the best option. However, if you don't have the facilities for this on your site, a mobile trolley-mounted pressure washer is suitable and easy to store in a lockable facility.
Header Tank - The importance of understanding your water supply cannot be overstated. The water supply must be at a good, consistent pressure that delivers twice as much water as the pump uses. If your water pressure is low or tends to fluctuate, or if you do not have a dedicated water mains supply that is not shared with other users (e.g., to flush toilets), then water must be pressure-fed from a header tank. The header tank prevents your pump from cavitation, caused by air being sucked into the system when the water supply is insufficient, protecting your pressure washer and saving you money and downtime.
Hawk's cabinet units include a header tank as a standard feature. Pressure washers on mobile trolleys up to 15L/min do not come standard with a header tank, but they are available as an optional extra.
Total Stop/Start - Look at a total-stop or automatic shut-down electrical option where the motor stops when the gun is closed. If a Start option is included, then when the trigger on the gun is pulled, the motor restarts. This is a good way of lengthening the pump's life, as water that continuously bypasses when the gun is closed but the motor is still running, will gradually get hotter and hotter. This shortens the life span of the seals, and it could cause the now-heated ceramic pistons in the pump to shatter when cold water is introduced to the system once the pressure washer is in use again.
This is not a standard feature but is highly recommended, as relying on operators to switch off the pressure washer during short periods of inactivity is not always practical.
For more information commercial truck wash equipment, please get in touch with us!