Entrepreneurs looking at setting up a car or truck wash
What accessories should you consider? An industry insider shares advice for a successful washing business
In the second part of a 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 – assisting entrepreneurs and start-ups on their road to success.
“Quality accessories and informed decisions are essential when setting up a car or truck wash, as ill-advised purchases can lead to costly mistakes,” says Melanie Mokawem, CEO of Hawk Pumps.
High-pressure gun and lance – Hawk pressure washers come standard with a 900mm lance.
When cleaning a car, the lance should not be too long, around 500mm. The longer the lance, the further you will have to stand and if your wash bay is enclosed, there may not be sufficient space for this.
For truck washing, longer lances are preferred to reach further up the vehicle without having to over-stretch or the operator having to stand on a ladder or raised platform.
Nozzles should be of the flat 15° fan type. The lance should have a good rubber nozzle protector fitted to allow the spray to be easily directed under wheel arches without scratching the paint with the nozzle.
Hoses, booms, reels & tidies – Most high-pressure washers come standard with 10m of 2-wire hose. If you require a longer length, you must state this when ordering your unit.
The hose must be looked after; if it is left lying on the floor and driven over, the wire in the hose will eventually be compromised, and the hose will leak. Furthermore, moving around the vehicle could result in the hose dragging on the floor and possibly banging against the vehicle, causing scratches and marks. To prevent this, overhead booms are ideal for easily moving around the vehicle and protecting the hose.
These are available in single or double hose versions. Where a separate foaming gun is used, a double boom is preferred. Alternatively, a range of live hose reels or tidies is available to store the hose off the floor conveniently.
Foaming accessories – Foaming equipment is an effective way to apply detergent for de-greasing. The thicker the foam, the longer the active ingredients will have to do their job. The thickness of the foam will depend on the method you use, and the method you use will depend on budget and preference.
That being said, car washes and truck washes prefer a short turn-around time for cleaning each vehicle. Spending money on expensive foaming equipment isn’t necessary, especially if you are using a good quality foaming chemical.
Available options are:
- Foaming bottle set-up – is the most cost-effective and popular with car washes
- Chemical injector with a foaming lance – The chemical injector sucks up a metered amount of soap and sprays it out through a foaming lance. This delivers a very wet foam which runs off the vehicle quickly.
- Wall-mounted chemical injector – A wall-mounted foam generator delivers a lot of thick foam. However, it requires an air compressor and can be pretty costly.
Under-carriage Whirl-A-Way – Some locations require the underside of a truck to be clean before they are allowed onto the property, e.g., at ports and certain mines. Truck washes servicing these trucks find the Under-carriage Whirl-A-Way a quick and effective way of performing this operation.
HotBox – The Hawk HotBox is an accessory that converts to a hot water unit when connected to any standard high-pressure washer. Some truck washes require hot water for the cleaning to be more effective.
The advantage of the HotBox over having a hot water unit is that the HotBox can used by multiple users. If the HotBox needs a service, the high-pressure washer still operates as a cold-water washer.
Industrial Vacuum Cleaner – A good quality wet and dry industrial vacuum cleaner should be used for cleaning the inside of the vehicle.
It is always vital to empty the drum and clean the filters. It is also recommended that you have spare filters on hand so that if you wash one in the cleaner, you have another to use whilst it dries.
Hawk’s Modular System – Hawk offers high-pressure cleaners with a wide range of accessories available so that customers can customise the pressure washer and build onto the system as their needs demands or budget allows.