It’s no secret that carwash business is booming. But, the key to continued business growth is to stay up-to-date on equipment that enhances the customer experience — even the types of equipment that customers may simply take for granted.

For instance, at self-serve carwashes, booms are an integral component of a bay, but they’re not going to be something a customer takes note of until he or she starts using them. After all, different styles and configurations provide varying flexibility and ease-of-use for customers. 

Another type of boom in the carwash industry is the vacuum boom, which continues to grow in popularity. These booms not only provide a stylish vacuum plaza and site exterior, but they also serve a practical purpose. 

This article will take a look at recent updates in the carwash boom market.

Self-serves not going kaboom

The cost difference between starting a self-serve wash and a tunnel wash is significant, and as such, the self-serve format remains an attractive option for new investors. At the same time, today’s emphasis on the express exterior carwash model has given rise to the belief that the self-serve model is old-fashioned and falling by the wayside. 

However, this is a false supposition, and going into a new carwash business with this mindset is dangerous, because you’re setting yourself up for failure from the start. The truth is, self-serve washes still have core customers that remain committed to washing their cars with their own hands, and if you can provide a facility with both value and quality, you will then be setting yourself up for success with this base.

Jaimie Sokolski, sales manager at Mosmatic Corp., asserts, “Many people overlook the advancements made in self-serve washes as they start to see them as an antiquated way of doing things. If you look at self-serve as a dying, antiquated business model, you will design around that, not giving it the design style or equipment this business deserves. Look further at the offerings and changing demographics. People want glitz, choices and value for their dollar. Give people quality and a value for their dollar, and not only will you see a return on your investment, but you will also see customers showing more care for the quality products they are using. Ease of operation and quality products give that sense of value. Low-end products in customers’ hands with a struggling operation does not give off that feeling of value.” 

One such high-quality product that you can install is the humble boom.

Updates for self-serve booms

One of the critical, but perhaps most subtle, pieces of equipment in a self-serve carwash is the boom. Did you know origins of the carwash boom can be traced back to 1948?

According to Peter Zierden, president of Zierden Co., the first low-pressure boom was introduced to the market at this time. Back then, the boom was a swivel that relied on city water pressure and an attached garden hose to wash cars. The high-pressure booms we are familiar with today were not introduced until 1963, Zierden says.

Today, there are two main types of booms: 360-degree rotation ceiling or center booms and 180-degree rotation wall booms.

“Center mounts are generally for the high-pressure wash along with other products that pass through, such as wax, spot-free rinse and other products. Wall-mounted booms are generally for the foaming brush applications,” Zierden explains.

However, ceiling booms are offered in a variety of styles and configurations, such as inline and Z-style booms. An inline boom is the classic, straight model that was originally introduced to the market in the 1960s. The Z-style, on the other hand, has a Z-like bend in its shape, allowing you to install multiple ceiling booms in the bay, especially if you are restricted on space. In fact, when looking to add multiple options, operators also have the opportunity to purchase dual- and triple-stack ceiling booms, Sokolski adds.

Since every carwash is different and must balance the unique needs and desires of the customers and the owners, there is no hard-and-fast rule for which boom is best to use in a carwash. “However, in today’s market of choice and convenience, I feel that the [Z-style] booms are the way to go for style and setup,” Sokolski notes. “This design allows for easy use of the minimum two booms with the ability to add as many as you have options available.”

Furthermore, booms have made several developments in recent years, according to Sokolski, including:

• All stainless steel designs, which both provide an attractive appearance and also resistance to the harsh environment of a carwash
• Bearing designs that offer effortless rotation as well as easy maintenance needs
• Integrated power rings that allow the use of LED lighting as both an additional lighting/safety feature and an eye-catching display.
• The next innovation to hit the market, Sokolski adds, will be a heated boom to eliminate freeze-ups and water waste from using a weep system.

An explosion on the market

Booms aren’t only to be found in self-serve bays, however. Today, vacuum booms have become so popular, they’re almost expected at new carwash builds. What has driven this popularity?

“Booms, also called vacuum delivery arches or simply arches, are the ideal combination of form and function when it comes to carwash vacuums,” Steve Lieneman, vice president of sales and marketing for Vacutech, states.

With a traditional vacuum setup, where hoses were looped on the sides of vacuums, customers struggled with moving hoses around their cars, and the hoses in turn were often damaged from being dragged around and run over. Furthermore, they were very difficult to put back in a tidy manner.

With the development of vacuum booms, manufacturers sought to remedy these problems. Hence, vacuum booms were developed to act as structures that keep hoses neatly stored and suspended off the ground, both preventing damage and providing convenience and easy access for customers on both sides of their vehicles.

Of course, this popularity has also had other effects on the market.

“Vacuum arches are often associated with ‘free vacuum,’ which also brings many customers to a carwash,” notes Wes Taggart, CEO and principle of
AutoVac. “The consumer has now become accustomed — ‘trained,’ if you will — to identify vacuum arches not only with free vacuums but also associated with quality carwash sites.”

Updates for vacuum booms

Vacuum booms can be engineered to work with self-serve canister vacuums or central vacuum systems. There are a variety of styles and configurations on the market to suit your wash, and much of it can be customized. Whether you’re looking for single-vacuum booms, dual-vacuum booms, booms with extended reach or more, there are options available. 

“One of the most significant updates has been keying into how an arch’s design improves the vacuum user’s ergonomics,” Lieneman explains. “Tweaks to arch design mean vacuuming today is much more comfortable — vacuum hoses and tools are easier to reach, less bending, etc. Wash operators have found ergonomically designed vacuums often translate to faster, more efficient vacuuming sessions. And, moving customers through faster improves revenue stream potential.”

In addition, vacuum booms are modular, meaning that you can add arches on as your business grows (assuming, of course, that you have the room to expand and have ensured that your vacuum power equipment can accommodate these additions or that it has been upgraded to handle extra arches). Furthermore, all piping, airlines and electrical can be concealed in the post, and a discreet flush mount allows for routine maintenance. 

However, even for customers not trained to associate booms with free vacuums, the booms themselves provide a more attractive structure than the traditional vacuum canister. In fact, the variety of accessories you can purchase to modify the booms helps both in terms of curb appeal and practicality.

For instance, you can have the booms painted in a custom color or color scheme to match your branding. You can also integrate canopies, LED lights and advertising displays.

Jennifer Wall, sales and marketing manager at J.E. Adams, cannot state enough the importance of adding LEDs to carwash vacuum booms nowadays.

“It keeps the site attracting customers 24/7 and helps customers feel safe, especially in the winter months when daylight is limited,” Wall notes. 

Other accessories you can add for more customer convenience include:

• Trash cans and recycling bins
• Mat holders
• Air lines for blowing out debris
• Vacuum drops (single or double)
• Micro towel bucket dispensers
• Tools, such as crevice, duck claw and express vacuum nozzles.

These accessories are just for the customers’ convenience. However, there are other accessories you, as the operator, can add for your own benefit, such as:

• Meters. “Today’s technology in the post separator can provide metered vacuums. Carwash owners can decide how long each customer vacuums for free. Suction is activated by coin/token, keypad or ground loop sensors. The suction automatically shuts off when the time is up. Of course, more time can be available for purchase,” Taggart notes.
• Slide gate valves.
• Underground or aboveground installations. Piping from the vacuum producer and between the booms can run overhead or it can run underground.
• Quick disconnects. These allow hoses to be taken down quickly during closed hours for carwashes in high-theft areas.

While our experts agree that the configuration of these booms largely depends on each site, it’s a best practice to make vacuum stalls 12- to 14-feet wide (carwashes that see more trucks and SUVs may want to consider 14 feet) to allow for the doors on each side of the vehicle to be open without hitting anything. 

Easy maintenance tips

Maintaining these booms is fairly simple. For instance, you will need to empty out the debris buckets daily and periodically look for leaks or worn tools. Depending on your traffic count, a semi-annual or annual cleaning of the arch or manifold may be warranted to prevent clogging.

Taggart also suggests, “Once every couple of months, take a small handful of pea rock (about the size of a Tic Tac mint) to each hose and clean out, and vacuum it up. This introduction of pea rock into the vacuum manifold will assist in breaking down any buildup and discourage clogs. Just note, ‘more’ is not necessarily better with this simple maintenance tip.” 

In terms of maintenance, Wall notes one very important point: “Replacing claws — these are a very inexpensive part that can make your customers’ experience better when they are in good condition and not duct-taped to the hose.”

In fact, whether it is for leaks or attaching claws, the experts we interviewed agree that duct tape has no place being on a hose. Rather, you need to replace what is broken. After all, the maintenance of your carwash and its vacuums reflects back on you, and your customers will associate any unmaintained parts of the wash as a downgrade in overall quality.

“People often underestimate the importance of vacuums when they begin planning a new carwash,” Lieneman concludes. “The right vacuum system (one that looks good, is powerful and performs reliably) will drive repeat business and build customer loyalty. Regardless of which arch style you select, always work with a vacuum system vendor that is reputable, provides services ranging from design and installation to maintenance, and offers an industry-leading warranty.”

Meagan Kusek is the assistant editor of Professional Carwashing & Detailing.