Water Freezes?

[soapy]

I got to the wash around 8 am this morning with the temp. at a balmy -10 degrees F. I see a car pull into A SS bay as I am leaving to check another wash. About 20 minutes later I get a call telling me that he had a problem at the wash. He explained to me that after washing his car the water froze on the car. He said why don't you use hot water so this does not happen. I explained to him that we do use hot water but that water freezes at 32 and when it is 42 degrees colder than that it freezes even faster. He says " Oh that is the problem", how do I get my refund? I said I did not really have any control over the outside air temperature. He still wanted his money back. 2 levels of stupid involved here, 1. that he did not water freezes and 2. that he is stupid enough to call and admit it.

 

[DiamondWash]

Tell him to put his tounge on a flagpole and see if it freezes to it.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

Just make sure you remember these people are driving out on the
roads and reproducing --so be careful ---there will be more of them.

 

[pitzerwm]

They also tend to vote democratic

 

[Randy]

Sometimes you just can’t help STUPID!!! I can’t believe he’d actually wash his car at -10 deg. in an open bay and then call to request a refund.

 

[MudMoney]

Oh yeah,on my shampooers I put the hose under the unit and tie it down with a nylon tie out of sight and have a small sign below the switch that has been removed stating its too cold to shampoo.About once a week tie has been cut and shampooer hose is on the ground and a out of order note in my box stating I owe them money.I call to remind them foam freezes at 32 degrees.Some don't get it either!

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Why don't you use the winter type shampoo? It may not cover the coldest of temps there, but probably as cold as anyone may want to shampoo.

 

[MEP001]

Why don't you use the winter type shampoo?

Ditto; when we're expecting freezing weather I take the shampoo jugs out and put those pickup tubes in with the spot-remover which is supposed to be good to 0°.

 

[JeffM]

A solid LOL for that customer... reminds me of my customers who call and say their doors are frozen and they can't get out of their vehicle. I nicely ask them to turn their heat on high and drive back to the wash to come see me. It never ceases to amaze me how many people pull up, open their door, get out, and walk inside and ask for me. Problem solved, but still a problem..

 

[MEP001]

It never ceases to amaze me how many people pull up, open their door, get out, and walk inside and ask for me.

How far do they get before they realize they got out of their car to tell you they can't get out of their car?

 

[MudMoney]

Interestingly enough, there are folks that come to my carwash at -20 below zero and use the vacuum even when the wash is closed. These folks will inevitably try to shampoo. It is in the customer's and my best interest to disengage the shampoo option during winter weather (November thru May). I have found that winter shampoo formulas don't work when the temps are under 25 degrees.

 

[JeffM]

How far do they get before they realize they got out of their car to tell you they can't get out of their car?

Usually it is right when they say "I called you about not being able to get out of my car..." is when it hits them. Happens at least once during a deep cold snap.

 

[soapy]

It was a -20 today when I came to work. I am currently watching a guy wash his car with my weep water and using the foam brush dry.

 

[DiamondWash]

It's odd that I have more customers who will wash when it's freezing cold out -5 degrees today then when it was 40-50 degrees the other day and then I had one bay freeze up because some dummy left my north door open and people are so amazed that water can freeze at that temp then they get mad about it.

 

[pgrzes]

I decided a few years back to just close down the bays when we have a cold snap. Nothing good can come from the 1 or 2 washers that might come in to the wash. My facility is 45 years old, no usable floor heat, no doors. As I replace bays I am adding pex to them, but even with the heat I still will not open!! Cost to heat vs income at extreme cold just does not make any cents !!!

 

[Reds]

The colder, snowier, and nastier the weather, the busier my wash is. SS and IBA.

 

[DiamondWash]

I see this company that has a unique system to open and close the doors from your smartphone http://baywatchdoors.com/

 

[Waxman]

It's funny to me that customers who normally neglect their car will wash when it's well-below freezing then complain the car is icing up, not coming clean, etc.

Just this weekend a woman complained. I went out into the bay to help her and she's in a white Hummer that hasn't seen soapy water in 6 mos.+. Grease, brake dust, grit, you name it.

She acted all surprised the water was freezing. I explained that water freezes at 32 F and it was well-below that.