Manifold Issues in Pet Wash using Kleen-Rite Soap?

[Bubbles Galore]

Has anyone had any issues with their solenoids sticking and/or staying open from soap buildup? I am having some serious issues properly adjusting my injector to get a good soap mix and still have clear rinse water...what am I missing? Any suggestions? It's gotten so bad that I am not going to open the dog wash tomorrow until I get this issue resolved.

 

[mjwalsh]

I hope this helps

Has anyone had any issues with their solenoids sticking and/or staying open from soap buildup? I am having some serious issues properly adjusting my injector to get a good soap mix and still have clear rinse water...what am I missing? Any suggestions? It's gotten so bad that I am not going to open the dog wash tomorrow until I get this issue resolved.

Bubbles,

We observed from the beginning of our pet wash set up that --- with our soft water --- the transition from shampoo to rinse bubbled too much & took longer than we wanted to clear. On our signage we suggest --- the customer use conditioner for several seconds to get rid of the suds quicker.

Other than that ---- maybe the height or distance of --- from the fluid to the manifold block solenoids might be a factor. What brand of solenoid block are you using? We are using the Kip.

Without sounding like a smart aleck ---- maybe it has something to do that "lets see now" 25 dog a day average you have been doing. OK ---- I admit I am just guessing about your average --- before I set off a rush of "there is gold in those hills wave".

Not to change the subject & focus of your post too much, I don't believe we have made it to 10 dogs in a single day quite yet. We are banking on the fact that everyone who has used it --- really likes it ---- & our repeat business is extremely good. I have been scolding some of them for keeping our place too much of a secret --- not letting word of mouth to kick in enough. We refuse to run any more print ads until we get our website done enough for the first publish --- hopefully the website with its "show & tell" when it is up & going --- will have a bearing with potential customers --- who still need to be convinced to at least try it. We do not have the extra large population base that "Big Leo" & others have to work with & the groomers & their mindset of the "wash dog market" are pretty entrenched in our community.

MJ

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Ok, here is the issue that I am currently seeing. 2 of my 5 solenoid valve areas near the seats have pitted really bad. I have no idea why. This is a brand new Dema manifold with Dema solenoids. I disassembled the entire manifold today and cleaned every nook and cranny and reassembled everything. I backed off both the bypass screw and the metering screw from the Dema 203 B injector and followed the directions explicitly. Regardless of the injection rate, I can't get clear rinse water and good soap...ideas?

 

[mjwalsh]

Hope you get it resolved as quickly as possible

Ok, here is the issue that I am currently seeing. 2 of my 5 solenoid valve areas near the seats have pitted really bad. I have no idea why. This is a brand new Dema manifold with Dema solenoids. I disassembled the entire manifold today and cleaned every nook and cranny and reassembled everything. I backed off both the bypass screw and the metering screw from the Dema 203 B injector and followed the directions explicitly. Regardless of the injection rate, I can't get clear rinse water and good soap...ideas?

Bubbles -John,

I am not sure of how non stop your business has been since opening but I did double check & we have two 6 port Kip block manifolds which is the KleenRite part # SK2X911VM6 in operation & another one reserved as a spare backup. We can't afford to have our new dog wash not functioning as perfect as possible as I am sure you feel the same way. We are using KleenRite Tearless, Oatmeal, Deskunk, Flea n Tic (Vet grade shampoo), Conditioner, but have been testing other companies as well including Nat'l Pride. We have not experienced the pitting you suggest that you are having with your Dema Block. We did run a GC block for a short time with no problems we could see. We would have left the GC in for one of the 2 stalls that we have ---- except the Kip arranged & fitted itself better for accessibility etc in our console between the 2 tub areas spaces.

Based on experience, I would recommend getting & going to the Kip manifold block ASAP to see if it corrects your issue.

MJ - Mike Walsh

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I'm thinking that may be the solution...not really what I want to do, but I am out of solutions...anyone else care to chime in with some input? I think MJ has it nailed but I'm still open to suggestions...

 

[MEP001]

I would think that if the solenoid seats are pitted, there will be some chemical leak-by issues. If I remember correctly you shared a setup with someone where the manifold is plumbed backwards. In that case, you're relying on the spring pressure alone to close the solenoids, and the slightest loss of seal will make any leak-by worse. If it were mine to do, I'd order individual Kip stainless solenoids and do it "right".

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I see what you are saying, but am I not following the industry standard in my setup? I agree that it makes more sense to do it with the directional individual solenoids, but I don't believe that I have done anything that is outside the norm from the KR or National Pride setup. I have repair kits coming in from KR with new valve seats to at least see if that resolves the issue...I can't argue with the logic, I just have to get the place back open, I am missing out on too much revenue.

 

[mjwalsh]

I would think that if the solenoid seats are pitted, there will be some chemical leak-by issues. If I remember correctly you shared a setup with someone where the manifold is plumbed backwards. In that case, you're relying on the spring pressure alone to close the solenoids, and the slightest loss of seal will make any leak-by worse. If it were mine to do, I'd order individual Kip stainless solenoids and do it "right".

Mep & Bubbles,

In our situation we wanted to avoid having to have a pump instead of relying just on regulated city water pressure to propel the mixed liquid to our handle & spray attachment. Who ever discovered that fact that a pump or dosatrons could be avoided deserves credit. It seems to have proven itself. We are using Flowjet pumps with our tire motor, presoak, & foam brush car wash set up so we think we are familiar with what Mep suggests.

We did invest a bunch of time in experimenting with separate injectors & there again the only real way to make that "additional possibility" to work was to add a pump instead of the more simplified city water pressure.

MJ

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Mep, correct me if I'm wrong, but you were not referencing the use of a pump were you. I am assuming that the stand alone KIP solenoids have a better spring force to allow them to stay shut while still using the DEMA injector. Is that a fair statement?

 

[bigleo48]

I have the Kips also and don't have these problems. We have 80psi soft water pressure at about 90F and mostly using KR soaps. After 5 years we replaced on block because I wanted a spare after rebuilding one (I like having spares).

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Looks like a Kip manifold it is...Thanks for the input guys. I will try and take some close ups of the DEMA valve seats to show how corroded they are after less than 6 months.

 

[Randy]

Well John,
Did you get it up and running?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I did get it back up and running. I ended up going with a non-metering KIP block that I had lying around since I was sent the incorrect product from Kleen Rite. It's not the final fix, but it is working right now, I just need to get the proper parts on order.

It's just my opinion, but I do not recommend the DEMA solenoid manifolds for a pet wash installation. The seat literally corroded away and was non-functioning within 4 months of install.