Refurbished Magic Wand Equipment:
Self Service Bay Equipment:
We have available 1- 4 Bays of Self Service Magic Wand Bay Equipment with high pressure and low pressure systems complete.
Can include all new Bay equipment or partly refurbished Bay equipment with all accessories.
Can install or deliver within a 150 mile radius of Clarkesville, GA.
Call for Winter Prices
– Don’t Forget - It’s time to make plans for Pollen Season. -
2010, as young as it is, has brought some rewards and challenges to those in the car wash industry. The snow in early January and the subsequent salt and gravel on the roads boosted incomes at most of the washes in our area. But, about the same time, we experienced a prolonged period of below freezing temperatures. Our neighbors to the North may laugh that we cannot handle the cold, but, truth is, we are not near as prepared for it as they may be. We do not have doors on our automatics or floor heat, nor do we have sophisticated blow down systems. Instead, our moderate temperatures allow us to operate without such systems. We are able to handle intermittent subfreezing temperatures quite well with Weepmizers and track heaters. The problem with the recent weather pattern was that the temperature remained below freezing for about a week.
Most of our customers handled the challenge very well. I know of only two automatics that were down for the duration and some hand bays that were closed. The problem proved to be that if something froze, there was not much hope of thawing it out until the weather broke. Charlie and I spent a lot of time each morning digging the automatics out of the ice each morning. The oscillators on the Vortex would have so much ice around them that they could not operate and the floor switches would be under about a four inch layer. It was hard work, but we kept them running the entire time and generated the best income we have seen in a while.
I periodically try to give our website visitors a helpful tip to assist in their everyday car wash operations. This tip may be too little too late, but proper maintenance of the weep system and other freeze protection systems is paramount. The biggest problem that I saw was inadequate flow from the weep. If a Weepmizer is not utilized, then the amount of weep must be regulated according to temperature. A little weep is good for the normal cold nights and warmer days, but more weep is needed for temperatures in the lower 20’s and below. The amount of weep we set when we are adjusting them is just not enough for frigid weather. Also on a graduated scale is the amount of recirculating required for the automatic soaps. Again, it should be heavier than normal when temperatures drop.
Aside from the excitement the cold weather brought, the revenue generated by the snow was outstanding. Our wash had the best week we have seen since 2007! I hope this is indicative of times to come. Sometimes the weather works for us, but for the last year it has been very discouraging to have rain on what seems like every weekend. I like to think that the car wash industry is somewhat recession proof since there are lots of people who will not drive a dirty car. I just wish we could make it weatherproof!
Good washing.
Mitch
Carwash Specialists, Inc. is about to wrap up our second year in our reorganization. We have spent most of the year refurbishing and upgrading existing washes, although we have had some new equipment sales. The industry as a whole continues to experience hard times and there is not much new construction going on (which is good for you guys already in the business).
We have added several accounts from owners who have bought existing washes. These guys know who they are, and they would not mind me saying that the washes were ROUGH! They only had “stragglers” for clientele and short receipts. But, all of them have turned around and are doing a satisfactory amount of business and generating revenue with relatively modest renovations. One of them says he is constantly thanked for getting the soap to come out of the wand. His biggest problem was soap concentration and/or bad soap. We find it hard to work there now because customers are constantly pulling in wanting to wash.
It is sad to think that someone was so burned out (or something) with the car wash business that they would let things get that way and miss out on the potential that the site had. I guess that this should be a lesson for us that if we get burned out or have had it up to our necks with these Mudders (yes, deer season is here, if you haven’t noticed!).
We are still in the business of offering a service to the public and we owe it to them and ourselves to keep our systems working properly. Sure, new paint would be nice, but sometimes even a total facelift will not make up for that one bad experience when a customer could not get soap out of the wand or the brush would not foam. Also, keeping a run down car wash invites a new investor to consider putting a new wash in your market. Point is, don’t let the slow times get you down and loose control of your wash. Little problems can pile up and more than once I have seen a wash get so far down that it is not financially feasible to start it up again. Or, the owner has gotten so frustrated that he threw in the towel and filled his pits with concrete.
Times are tough for a lot of us, but most people are chugging along and making it. We continue to offer full support of washes of all types, and we are in most areas of the state weekly. Magic Wand is developing a soft cloth wash and is introducing its new transformer tunnel system in a couple of months. They have taken the slow time to focus on research and development, and we should see the results in trade magazines at the beginning of the year.
Thanks, Mitch
What better thing to do this month then to Thank our Veterans, Military personnel, and their families for the Support and Protection that they provide for all of us. Their willingness to get in harm’s way for Our Way of Life and Freedom in these United States of America.
We also want to take this time to Thank all of our present and future customers for all the support that they have given to us for their patronage and friendship.
The Pilgrims had the right idea, to stop and Thank the Lord Our God for the bounty that they found in friends and food after such a long time of starvation and privation. We should all remember to Thank God for this Nation and the many freedoms that we have. Freedom is not Free, but has been paid for with Blood, Sweat, and Tears. It is our responsibility as a Nation to Remember and to Honor our Heroes and especially God our Father for the Blessings that He has so graciously bestowed on us. Would any of us really like to be without His Blessings??????
Our Nation was built on God’s foundation and should be continued. I cringe to think what each of us would do, if God decided to withdraw all His Blessings from this Nation. Please remind your Legislatures that we Need to Keep God in Our Nation.
First we have the hot days of August – now the rainy days of September for most of the USA with the exception of the west coast, and possibly HI and AK. There is a prediction of snow possibly in the Northwest, but here in Georgia just rain is predicted. Most of Georgia is drowning in water. This time last year it was drying up. You never know what “Mother Nature” may throw at you, but you do know that if you are in the carwash business, all preparations have to be made for the slow times. Rainy weather is unfortunately a “Slow” time. Business was beginning to pick up when the school season started and most everyone was home from their vacations.
Take heart usually October is a great month for the car wash business. We hope that October is a great, great month for you!
Since we have our own self service car wash business, we know what our retail business customers are facing. We are there with you in the slow times and the good times. We know what it is to have bad weather conditions and bad economy times. We believe that relief is in the air for all of us.
Give us an opportunity to help you make your decisions about any changes you need to make at your shop or supply your daily needs. We sell almost everything that a car wash business may need. We service all of Georgia and some parts of the neighboring states. We have associates that service the other areas. email us at info@carwashspecialists.com
OOH!!!!! THOSE HOT DAYS OF SUMMER!
It seems no matter where you are in the USA, the temperatures have been soaring. Whether you are in the Northeast or the Southeast, or in the Northwest or the Southwest, and even in between.
Heat is really tough on your car wash equipment, as well as, your customers. Saddle that with the TOUGH economy and we have Rough economic woes for the car wash industry.
What do you do during slow times? Keep up your maintenance, try to find ways to cool your equipment through ventilation or even occasionally installing a fan or cooling system. Your electronics in your changers, auto cashiers, or equipment are just like any other electronics and need to be kept from getting too hot.
With school starting back a good advertisement would be to have your local school cheerleaders or athletes come and have a fund raiser at your car wash. Set up a time where they would get all the profit during a specific time. You would take out your cost and let them have the difference. A Saturday morning for 3-4 hours would be a good time to schedule it. Let the school do all the advertising. This would be an opportunity to give something back to the community and in return we are sure they would give back to you in their future business.
Have a Great Rest of the Summer!
Everything we can do to reduce heat in the pump room is important.
Thermostats and weep systems:
For the hot summer either turn the applicable thermostat all the way up or unplug the Weep miser. Then turn the water off that goes to the weep systems. The idea is to allow the weep valve or valves (solenoids) to be off. This saves them, saves heat, and often saves noise.
If you want to use your Weep miser as a convenient thermometer – as I like to do – simply leave it plugged in and reprogram “cut-in” degrees for say 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, if the temperature doesn’t go above 100 degrees, you’re okay.
This is likely good until October? Then reverse order for “Ole Man Winter”.
If you have any questions, call us.
Charlie
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With the pollen season nearly over and summer just around the corner, customers will be planning vacations. This is a great time for you the car wash operator to have “Customer Appreciation Days” when you can get a little extra help from students on summer vacation. Recommendations would be to have your washes at half price, have giveaways (free sodas, popcorn, balloons, etc.) Advertise it in your local medias (newspapers, radio, signs, etc.) These are great advertisements, as well as, a way to let your customers know that you really appreciate them.
off your 1st online order with us.Click the above 10% off icon for more details. If you would like some assistance just give us a call.
Often when your tire cleaner or pre-spray is drooling out the wand on a hand held bay, the problem can be fairly easily rectified.
Frequently the problem is simply trash in the solenoid. most solenoids can be disassembled. This is usually quite easy and is done without removing the solenoid. Carefully remove the “guts” of the solenoid. Be very careful not to lose a spring or other small parts. Find the plunger seat and remove the fleck of contamination from it. Then reassemble. The tools, time and expertise required will vary. But many times all that is needed is a pair of pliers or end wrench, and a few minutes.This would normally apply to any of the low pressure functions.
Call for more details.
Charlie
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