BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In the article “Protecting the final touch,” featured in the February issue of Professional Carwashing & Detailing, Group Editorial Director/Editor in Chief Rich DiPaolo discusses why it is important to take care of carwash dryers.

“In most cases, a carwash’s dryers play an important role in providing the final touch to a professional carwash,” says DiPaolo in the article. “In addition to water streaks and spots, moisture left on surfaces can attract soiling, resulting in unsatisfied customers. As a result, special care and consideration should be given when installing and servicing dryers.”

To ensure dryers are operating as efficiently as possible, proper cleaning and care are essential. In the article, Christopher McElroy, president of Proto-Vest Inc., shares a cleaning and inspection checklist, which is part of a 360-degree approach to safeguarding dryers:

• Create a maintenance schedule and checklist to help address all potential issues.
• After cleaning customers’ cars, the equipment in your carwash should be cleaned, too.
• Keep the tunnel, floors, pit, walls and all other exposed surfaces and equipment clean.
• While cleaning floors, inspect the dryer’s mounting components. Many carwash floors slope toward the pit drains so most equipment has to be leveled when installed. Inspect the mounting plates, shims, bolts and nuts for dirt and corrosion, and tighten bolts to factory specifications.
• Inspect welds and seams in the dryer’s air handling components for cracks. Sometimes dark streaks will appear on the metal if air is leaking from a cracked weld or loosened component.
• Inspect the air intake routes. With electrical power disconnected, inlet screens should be removed and any debris carefully cleaned out. Inspect impellors for missing balance weights, damage to the blades, corrosion, debris and grime buildup.

“If your tunnel and equipment are dirty, the air being drawn into your drying system will be dirty as well,” adds McElroy in the article. “Clean equipment in good repair is the key to avoiding costly downtime.”

Learn more about the crucial role of dryers at the carwash, and how to properly maintain this equipment, here.