Hydrominder letting water seep back into soap barrel.

[I.B. Washincars]

I'm kind of thinking he's got a bad barrel of soap. Is the soap pretty thin like water or is thick? Has the level in the drum gone down any since you put it on line? A blue tip is a pretty large tip. Have you also used a blue tip on the hydrominder?

Randy, since he is getting water back into the chemical drum it's going to be diluted somewhat. He may be installing bigger tips to compensate. Also, hard water is going to necessitate more chemical as well.

 

[Ghetto Wash]

Drill the hole here:
View attachment 1062

 

[Bethel Car Wash]

I did drill the hole last night and water squirts out under the lid during operation. Now I wait to see if solid soap starts pulling through after a few cycles?

 

[Bethel Car Wash]

I know I haven't replied directly to every comment but I am listening guys! I drilled the hole last evening but haven't had much traffic today do to the weather. The hose is holding prime. I replaced the foot valve with the new one that came with the hydro after I realized the problem was still there. I'm trying to ignore Randy because I don't wanna have to throw out a new barrel of soap. ;o) Just for the record when I pulled the hose from the barrel of soap it is very thick and slimy like concentrated soap would be!

 

[MEP001]

You don't have to throw it out just because it's partially diluted. Just run a larger tip until it runs out, then put the correct tip back in when you install a new drum.

 

[Bethel Car Wash]

Ok, Update and or my results. It's been cold here again so the foam brushes get little use if any. Randy suggested I let the soap get too cold or got a bad barrel of soap. I didn't want to believe him since I just paid about $300.00 for the barrel. I drilled the hole in my hydro tube hoping this would help to no avail. I had a 5 gallon bucket sitting in the equipment room on the concrete floor that I pulled out when the 30 gallon came in. I hooked it up and within a day or two I noticed what I didn't want to see. The hose was pulling a white sediment up through it. So this bucket got too cold or froze from sitting on the concrete floor? I put my hose over in the high pressure soap barrel and in no time at all it was pulling full soap in the brushes and foaming properly again. I thank and apologize to Randy for doubting him. Now how can I still use my soap and get a good foam at the bay? Add the simonize high foam that another member suggested? If so how much should I add to a 30 gallon barrel? When everything works I sleep better at night. When I know quarters are going in and something isn't right I'm uneasy until it's right again. Thanks everyone!

 

[2Biz]

Welcome to the life of owning a carwash! Very little sleep in the beginning and lots of worries!

I had issues with soap thickening in the buckets in the winter...Been years ago....I Had the 5 gal buckets on the concrete floor....Ever since getting them off the floor, I have never had any issues. (Plus I keep the ER @ 60° minimum) I put the full containers of soap on top of other 5 gal buckets....For a small wash like yours, I would never consider getting anything bigger than 5 gal buckets. You've learned a valuable lesson early on...I don't know if you can save that drum of FB soap, maybe some others will chime in. I've never had any soap separate and don't know if it can be stirred and it stay in solution....I only use Warsaw chemicals that are top of the line IMO....And everybody has there own opinion, LOL...Soap quality means everything. Always lots of discussions on here about different soaps and quality...

A suggestion to get you by for now, just use HP soap for your FB soap....There are a lot of guys on here that do it that way....You'll just have two hydrominders with HP soap, one for FB and one for HP....

BTW, a 5 gallon bucket of soap lasts me a very long time....There is magic involved to get soap to come out thick and rich but use very little. Stick around here and read some old posts and you'll figure it out!!!!

 

[I.B. Washincars]

I use FB soap for HP as well. One drum, one Hydrominder, one tank, just a tee at the bottom of the tank.

 

[2Biz]

Good point and something I considered when posting. My suggestion gets him going quicker! No plumbing involved! LOL....

I think this is the best "Saying" of all times when it comes to carwashes:

All car washes are the same, they are all different!

 

[Randy]

I use FB soap for HP as well. One drum, one Hydrominder, one tank, just a tee at the bottom of the tank.

We also use the same soap for both e the High pressure and Foam brush. We like and haven't had any problems with the JBS Fonic wash https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1115-jbs-fonic-wash-power-concentrate-5-gallon.aspx it works well and smells nice.

 

[Earl Weiss]

A suggestion to get you by for now, just use HP soap for your FB soap....There are a lot of guys on here that do it that way....You'll just have two hydrominders with HP soap, one for FB and one for HP....

Some time ago had Jelling issues with a KR Pre Soak so went to the same Low PH Product for Pre Soak and HP soap. I think the FB soap my have a little more foaming element.

 

[Bethel Car Wash]

If I use the hp soap for my fb soap like I am right now anyways. Could I just start adding the bad soap to the hp soap a little at a time so it's being used and not wasted?
I may just keep it like this from now on. The floor space I get back from that other barrel would be great.
Tim

 

[Ghetto Wash]

I use FB soap for HP as well. One drum, one Hydrominder, one tank, just a tee at the bottom of the tank.

What do you do if you need to run the FB or HP stronger or weaker without effecting the other?

 

[I.B. Washincars]

What do you do if you need to run the FB or HP stronger or weaker without effecting the other?

The HP soap is metered at the pump and mixed with water, so the mixture in the tank only matters on FB.

 

[2Biz]

If I use the hp soap for my fb soap like I am right now anyways. Could I just start adding the bad soap to the hp soap a little at a time so it's being used and not wasted?
I may just keep it like this from now on. The floor space I get back from that other barrel would be great.
Tim

If all you use is 30 gallon drums, I don't think I'd chance it? Do you have any empty 5 gallon jugs you can experiment with? How long does a 30 gallon drum of HP soap or FB soap last you?

 

[Bethel Car Wash]

If all you use is 30 gallon drums, I don't think I'd chance it? Do you have any empty 5 gallon jugs you can experiment with? How long does a 30 gallon drum of HP soap or FB soap last you?

I've only had the car wash for about a year and a half. When I purchased it there was a newer 55 gallon drum and the place was considered condemned by most of the towns folk. I was literally getting about $20.00 a week on a good week. When that drum ran out I started using 5 gallon buckets because they took up less space and lasted for a while anyways. I just recently bought the 30 gallon drums because business has improved dramatically over the last year but still not where it needs to be to make money. To answer your question, I don't know how long the 30 gallon drum will last. The mix barrel for the hp has the hydro mounted to it and the soap sits in between it and the mixing tank for the fb. I just took the fb hose and dropped it in the hp soap barrel. I may just leave it this way and start adding a gallon of the "bad soap" about once a week or so until it is gone.
Tim