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Hot Water for Presoak?

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AMWeber

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The hot water tank in my ss wash was bypassed long ago and the Presoak wasn’t functioning. I’m working to get it functioning again and replaced the heater in the Hydrominder tank. How important is hot water in Presoak? This is only a two bay in a small town so there Is never a line of cars. Can I get by with just this heater? And what temp should it be set at?
 

washnshine

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The hot water tank in my ss wash was bypassed long ago and the Presoak wasn’t functioning. I’m working to get it functioning again and replaced the heater in the Hydrominder tank. How important is hot water in Presoak? This is only a two bay in a small town so there Is never a line of cars. Can I get by with just this heater? And what temp should it be set at?
With self serve presoaks generally being much weaker than IBA presoaks, all the more reason to get as much punch out of them by using hot water. A hot rinse is not necessary, but you will want hot cleaning chemicals.
 

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So if the heater in the Hydrominder tank is set right can I get by with that for now? That tank holds about 4-5 gallons. I guess I’m thinking that it will not drain and have time to reheat before the next wash. The next question is do I replace the 100 gallon water heater or go to an instant on demand? The system is setup that the only hot water used would be for Presoak.
 

MEP001

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The heater in the presoak tank is mainly there to maintain heat, not heat it for use. It's probably too small to heat your presoak if it gets really busy.
 

CarWashBoy

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With self serve presoaks generally being much weaker than IBA presoaks, all the more reason to get as much punch out of them by using hot water. A hot rinse is not necessary, but you will want hot cleaning chemicals.
Why do you think hot rinse is not necessary? Do you Rinse with Cold Water when you take a Shower? :) You probably don't think it is not necessary because it will cost you money, when it actually makes you money, take it form me.. just my 2 cents.
 
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Blanco

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Why do you think hot rinse is not necessary? Do you Rinse with Cold Water when you take a Shower? :) You probably don't think it is not necessary because it will cost you money, when it actually makes you money, take it form me.. just my 2 cents.
Just curious, can a car feel if your cleaning it with hot or cold water? Asking for a friend!
 

Dan kamsickas

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VERY,VERY and VERY! at least 100-120 degrees..
No. Not even remotely correct. In fact, if you exceed 120 degrees you are going to kill your hydrominders and flojets and drastically shorten the life span of a lot of other parts. If you are using the proper chemicals at the proper dilution you can(and many operators do) operate the whole wash on cold water and turn out clean cars and happy customers.
 

washnshine

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Why do you think hot rinse is not necessary? Do you Rinse with Cold Water when you take a Shower? :) You probably don't think it is not necessary because it will cost you money, when it actually makes you money, take it form me.. just my 2 cents.
The chemical reaction of the hot presoak is what breaks the bond of the soil. The high pressure rinse removes is what it takes to remove the soil from the surface with force.

Yes - I do rinse with warm water in a shower but I certainly am not using 1400psi water and soaps with a pH of 13 and 3!!! I wouldn’t have much skin left to wash - entirely different ballgame! If you want to heat the rinse in the winter to prevent the cars from icing up and the customers hands more comfortable, that is one thing, but our summers are in the 80°s and the rinse temp. does not make a difference if the presoak is hot and properly titrated. That has been our experience over the last 30+ years.

I don’t think there are too many touchless IBA operators rinsing with warm,but they can chime in if they do.
 

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We did a 100 customer survey, and majority liked the Hot Water Rinse, Triple Foam was second... so there you go.
 

CarWashBoy

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2 things you can't fix...stupid and dead. Who gives a shit about a survey when your getting told facts.
The Facts are Customer's Love Hot Water Rinse.. But if you don't want to make more money and make your Customer's Happier, that your LOSS.. I will not post anymore thoughts or ideas on this Forum again.. Too Many Deadbeat Operators that give the SS Car Wash Industry a Bad Reputation... Out of the many SS Washes I visit, 7 out 10 are Garbage.. The Good ones are Good, but far and few between..
 

Damoni88

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The Facts are Customer's Love Hot Water Rinse.. But if you don't want to make more money and make your Customer's Happier, that your LOSS.. I will not post anymore thoughts or ideas on this Forum again.. Too Many Deadbeat Operators that give the SS Car Wash Industry a Bad Reputation... Out of the many SS Washes I visit, 7 out 10 are Garbage.. The Good ones are Good, but far and few between..
Those are opinions of 100 people so you say...LMFAO
 

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