Car wash is a facility where vehicles are washed by conveyor belt or by hand. Some offer extra services like polishing, shampooing, and steaming interiors.
At most modern car wash facilities, including tunnel and in-bay automatic, cleaning solutions are designed to safely loosen and remove dirt. They also use less water than driveway washing (at home).
But when you wash your own vehicle at home, dirty runoff typically goes into storm drains and straight into rivers, streams, and lakes.
Cleanliness
Cars represent a significant financial investment, and owners often associate the appearance of their vehicles with their own personal style and image. Regular cleaning of a vehicle’s exterior and interior helps maintain a clean, shiny ap 운전연수 pearance.
The chemicals and soaps used at most modern car wash facilities, whether tunnel or in-bay automatic, are designed to loosen dirt, making it easier to rinse off the vehicle. These products are formulated to minimize the use of harsh ingredients such as hydrofluoric acid, which is hazardous to the environment. In addition, these facilities often treat and reuse wastewater or are required to maintain wastewater discharge permits.
Keeping the carwash itself clean is also important, both to reduce the risk of contamination and to promote a positive customer experience. Cleaning and disinfecting the hoses, brushes and other equipment regularly is vital to avoiding bacteria buildup. Likewise, litter removal is important to avoid the potential for pests, mold and mildew in and around the bay/tunnel areas of a carwash.
Professionals washing cars by hand typically use top-quality supplies, including sponges and mitts that are periodically washed to remove any abrasives that may have been left behind by previous uses. They may also rinse their sponges and microfiber towels frequently to prevent water spots. Additionally, they may apply a coat of wax to protect the car and prevent the 운전연수 build-up of abrasives.
Safety
The majority of car wash customers have no idea that their favorite automatic or manual washes are hazardous work environments, but they should be aware. Working with motor vehicles, mechanical equipment and chemicals can lead to potential dangers that can open a business to an OSHA inspection and fines.
Chemicals are one of the most critical dangers in a carwash, and the workers who handle them should be wearing proper personal protection, such as safety goggles, masks and gloves. In addition, the chemicals should be stored properly and carefully disposed of. If chemicals spill on someone, they can irritate the skin and cause eye damage.
Another danger is slips and falls. The floors are often covered in different liquids and detergents that create slippery surfaces. Workers should always wear proper footwear and be careful not to fall. In addition, there are electrical hazards that can result in electrocution. Employees should never plug in electrical equipment without a permit and should check all equipment regularly for exposed wires and other electrical dangers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s annual statistics show that car washes are a high risk environment, but the responsible owners of these businesses can make it less of a risk by following strict standards. Those who have been subject to an OSHA inspection can benefit from having a plan in place to address the issues found, especially when it comes to the safety of employees.
Convenience
Modern professional car wash equipment, whether it’s a tunnel or an in-bay automatic, uses chemicals and cleaning solutions to loosen dirt and grime from the vehicle. They then use high-pressure water to rinse the vehicle clean and remove contaminants that scratch the paint or cause damage to the vehicle’s interior. Some modern car washes even use a blower to force dry the exterior of the vehicle after washing.
Depending on the car wash, customers can pay at an automated kiosk or with cash. Many modern car wash systems integrate POS with tunnel operations and human resources to automate and streamline the entire process. This is especially helpful for c-store/gas station owners that are concerned about the risk of fraudulent transactions or reducing operational costs due to employee theft.
The best car wash system can improve efficiency and reduce insurance claims for c-store/gas station owners. For example, new technology like IQ 2.0 can generate flawless profile scans for every vehicle and direct the wash through its cycles to create an utterly unique car wash experience. The result is a faster wash and increased revenue per vehicle while reducing chemical, energy, and water usage.
Car washes have to deal with the same issues as any business, including regulations that protect customers and employees, the environment, and worker safety. It’s important to understand and be up to date on the latest laws and requirements for your state or municipality.
Value
When weighing the value of a car wash, prospective investors should consider ongoing operating costs. Compared to other businesses, car washes have relatively low operating costs and typically experience 30%-35% average operating expenses. Ongoing operating costs include one-time fixed payments for equipment, heavy utility costs from water and power use and staff pay. In addition, many car wash facilities have taken steps to reduce their environmental footprint through technology like water reclamation and energy usage reduction technologies.
Rassamni also advises potential owners to look at the location of a proposed car wash site. He says, “The location is going to have a huge impact on when you start to see a return on your investment.”
In general, he explains, conveyor and full-service car washes tend to be more lucrative due to their higher revenue and lower operating costs. However, he adds that in most cases a well-located express carwash can generate a solid ROI within two months or less.
Whether considering an existing operation or building from the ground up, McKenna recommends seeking out a third-party advisor who is capable and experienced of conducting thorough, comprehensive valuation analyses. He notes that a full valuation analysis is necessary to identify any hidden costs or liabilities and to provide the highest level of transparency during the sales process. Using this methodology will ultimately help you realize the maximum value of your car wash investments.