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Exit Tunnel Drying system

washregal

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I am new to the tunnel business but looking to get it - are there recommendations for both Heat / and Drying systems for the exit of a tunnel .. will add spot free - to insure cars are clean shiny and dry every time ? I am looking to eliminate towel dryers at the exit of a bay - with a tunnel that is running off of well water - Open to any and all suggestions based on solid past product experiences.
 

washnshine

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I am new to the tunnel business but looking to get it - are there recommendations for both Heat / and Drying systems for the exit of a tunnel .. will add spot free - to insure cars are clean shiny and dry every time ? I am looking to eliminate towel dryers at the exit of a bay - with a tunnel that is running off of well water - Open to any and all suggestions based on solid past product experiences.
Make sure the surface of the vehicle is neutral pH or slightly lower by the time it reaches your last mitter. Then, use a high quality drying agent followed by a spot free rinse rain arch. A flash dry immediately after the spot free flood gets a lot of water off quickly while it is still in motion and helps for the subsequent producers to get the car as dry as possible. In warmer temperatures - cars will dry much easier than in colder temperature. Relative humidity and dew point also play a role in how easily a car dries. The use of natural gas heaters and vinyl doors will help to contain and maintain warmth at the exit end of the tunnel in the really cold temperatures. Cars that get ceramic and/or higher end rain repellent applications will be more hydrophobic by nature and dry more easily than car that do not. There are ceramic based drying agents that will help to get the best possible water repellency even on lower end washes. Conveyor speed also plays a significant role.
 

CAR WASH GUY

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I agree, but the Buff n Dry system by Sonny's does help at my locations
 

washnshine

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And of course you need room for that. Most places I have seen use it as an extra service and if you want every car drier- weather they get the buff n dry or not, you need to do that with chemistry, horsepower and physics.
 

CAR WASH GUY

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And of course you need room for that. Most places I have seen use it as an extra service and if you want every car drier- weather they get the buff n dry or not, you need to do that with chemistry, horsepower and physics.
Of course you need the room for that, and chemistry, horsepower, and physics do play a role in how dry a car will be, but I originally did not have buff n dry and it did not dry as well. But I do only have buff n dry in my top two packages, i did not skimp on the dryers and even without the buff n dry the cars still looked great. Also the Graphene helped the shine on the car
 

liftheavy

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i will definitely say from operator standpoint buff and dry is more hassle to maintain and doesnt add or shouldn't add to the drying process. proper ph, water beading, drip space, and proper dryer placement should be all you need to produce a dry car.

if you have a set budget, i would focus on those items before shelling out $40-50K for a brand new buff and dry.

with that being said, from the customer's standpoint the perception that they are getting something extra produces a good ROI that pays for itself in couple years.... which is the only reason i have it in my sites.

sonny's dryer system is preferred by many due to their nozzle variety. ncs-macneil and idc's dryer system black widow has crazy high air CFM/MPH. the most reliable ones ive ever had were coleman-hannah dryers that lasted 15 years.
 

CAR WASH GUY

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While that is true, (the Buff n Dry is expensive) I do prefer Sonny's dryers becuase of their nozzles, and their vast selection of them. I think the Buff n Dry adds value to the wash packages, I have increased each ticket (with Buff n Dry) By about $1, now that does not sound like much but it does pile up to a pretty big amount. So the Buff n Dry pays for itself!
 

CAR WASH GUY

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I don't know about Tommy's heat dryers but I would presume that they help dry the car better due to making the water droplets evaporate.
 
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