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Time will tell. Is your competitor new to the CW industry? Is there an attendant on-site? I've seen many car washes turn-over around me. New owners excitedly fix them up, install new equipment, hoses, signage, etc, and have lower prices. Place looks good for the first 12-18 months, but...

I've been in the business for 19 years. Spent the past 8 years researching & upgrading everything! Ironical, that at the very time my car wash is BUSIER than ever, and its paid off, that I'm feeling burned out. Its been 13 years since I took a week off & flew to Hawaii before my divorce. I'm...

I appreciate your post, very helpful! I would be nervous too, but its worth it! We work so hard in this business, we deserve to take time off & ENJOY our vacations!! :)

In 19 years, we've closed our car wash at least 10 times, but just for 1-2 days (for new asphalt sealer, backflow device moved & water main plumbing replaced). Although we barricaded the 2 driveways with 2 metal A-frame signs, 10 tall cones & Caution tape, customers will move them & drive into...

Customers putting MORE containers of sweet sodas, fruity drinks & milkshakes in my trash cans, which brings in LOTS of honeybees! More exercise for me as I'll be washing them out EVERY DAY!! ;)

How do you physically close a car wash for 7-10 days? Do you have gates you can close or do you put up cones in the bays? I haven't taken a vacation in 13 years & VERY ENVIOUS!! ;)

I appreciate all the great advice! Very helpful! Just met with Epoxy Coater #2 with 18 experience. He honestly told me it would be a WASTE of my money, as the polyurethane will NOT adhere properly to aggregate concrete. As mentioned here, it would look good for the first 12-18 months but...

Thank you for the compliment! Everything takes $1 tokens only, purchased with paper bills or credit card. Back in 2013-2014 our Hamilton cash machine was being strung. I noticed the numbers were off (the hopper counter didn't match the cash count). This was before we installed 31 HD video...

Thanks for posting Eric! I've been a member of ICA for 19 years, and this is my 1st trip to Tennessee. I'm flying in on 5/8 and leaving late on 5/11. I normally just attend CW Convention when it's in Vegas, since I live in California. I'm excited to venture out a little farther & explore...

They are original Mark VII vacuums, installed when the car wash was built in 1982.

They are original Mark VII vacuums, installed when the car wash was built in 1982.

Lol! Not a Hubbel but here's a photo of my car wash using a drone... It shows the busy corner I'm located on. According to the city, daily traffic count is 102,000. Perfect location for a car wash! :)

LOL! Yes, they are LED wall packs. In 2015, when my monthly electrical bill was reaching $500, I knew it was time to start researching LED lights. In 2016, I had 31 old sodium, metal halide and fluorescent lights replaced with LED lights. I contacted 8 commercial electrical companies but...

Right you are Randy!! :) They are original Mark VII vacuums, installed when the car wash was built in 1982. The cannisters were structurally sound, but had minor chips and cracks in the gel coat. To save money when we remodeled in 2014, I sanded them down and repaired the fiberglass...

Thanks Greg! When we replaced the old metal mansard panels in 2006, it was a NO brainer to replace with blue (think water). The bright yellow complimented the blue, and created a energetic, happy vibe! :) Here's a photo of what my car wash looked like when we bought it in 2003. To save...

Deciding to buy-out my ex-husband 10 years ago. I'm not a plumber, electrician or welder, but I LOVE my car wash, my customers and the industry. Income was flat and we were heavy in debt. Since then, I've been able to fix it up nicely and now it's making 3x gross. I just paid it off this...

I just started researching Polyurethane flooring for my 5-bay SS bay floors. I have a 40-year wash, and the bay floors are aggregate concrete. I'm seeing more rocks popping out, and cracks are getting deeper. I was hoping this option would help preserve the concrete. Another CW owner had a...

I have a very clean, modern, well-maintained 5-bay SS car wash just outside Sacramento CA. In December 2019 AFTER I installed new Air Shammee dryers, bay booms, mat holders & signage, I increased my wash prices from $2 for 3.5 minutes to $3 for 5 minutes. I posted a notice 6 months prior...

Maybe try a little Tri-Flow Teflon lubricant or heat gun? My locksmith recommends Teflon NOT WD-40.

Great job David!! I learned the same thing a couple years ago. Personally, I prefer to use a small piece of a stainless steel scrubber as it doesn't break down like the foam sponge material.