Water pressure

[Noob]

What’s your set water pressure at your wash? If you use a pressure regulator what psi is it set at? I’m having a problem with hp soap not drawing through the minder when my rinse tank is filling. At first I thought I could increase the water pressure and it would draw but it didn’t work. All my other chemicals are ahead of the rinse fill and don’t have a problem. Hp soap is behind the rinse tank and so far I haven’t been able to get it to draw when the rinse tank is filling. Water will flow through the minder but not enough to pull the chemicals. My other chemicals also draw pretty slow when the rinse is filling but they will still draw chemicals. Should I replumb the hp soap so the feed line is ahead of the rinse tank? Anything else I should check that would cause this to happen?

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

60 Psi at pressure reducing valve off main line. 1.5 line. What size is your main water line ?

 

[Noob]

My main is only 1”. It’s a 4 bay ss.

 

[MEP001]

Only the soap Hydrominder? Are there others that are not having the same problem?

 

[Noob]

When the rinse tank is filling the other draw much slower than they do when the tank isn’t filling but they still draw chemical.

 

[soapy]

You can add a booster pump to pull more water in.
check to make sure your lines aren't clogged.

 

[Randy]

What is your incoming water pressure before and after the regulator? The incoming city water pressure at my wash is around 55 – 60psi with a 1” pipe. Are you using galvanized steel pipe? Galvanized steel pipe will corrode on the inside and reduce your water flow drastically. In theory you should be able to get around 47gpm from a 1” pipe at 60psi. Do you have a water softener, that’ll cut down you’re on your flow

 

[Noob]

I do have a water softener. I also have a 1” 5 micron filter. I’ll have to check my pressures tomorrow. I raised my pressure this morning (not sure what the exact psi was) but it was high enough that the flow through the minders seemed very forceful but that could be normal as I haven’t been around the business forever. All the lines supplying the hydrominders are 1/2” and the rinse line is either 3/4 or 1”. Is it possible that when the rinse tank calls for water there’s not enough for the hp soap to function properly or is that flawed thinking? I found it strange that even at higher pressure it wouldn’t draw while the rinse is filling but when it’s not filling it was very forceful (to me).
My city supplied line is pvc I believe. Inside the ER it’s all either copper or pvc.

 

[Noob]

MEP the other lines do draw but they are much slower when the rinse tank it filling. The HP soap minder will have water running through it but it won’t draw chemicals when the rinse is filling.

 

[Randy]

What kind of regulator do you have on your incoming water? Some regulators have screen inside. Have you checked the screens in the hose that supplies water to your Hydrominders? Are your Hydrominders before or after the water softener? It almost sounds like you've got a pretty good restriction somewhere, like in the water softener.

 

[Noob]

I checked the hydrominder screen and it was clean. I soften everything at the wash. Hydrominders are after the softener.

 

[MEP001]

If only that one Hydrominder doesn't draw, it may just need a valve kit or a diaphragm.

 

[Noob]

If it is a valve Or a diaphragm would it still draw at full force?

 

[Earl Weiss]

Should I replumb the hp soap so the feed line is ahead of the rinse tank? Anything else I should check that would cause this to happen?

I. Try to swap hydrominders with one that is working and see if that solves the issue. If it does the solution is obviou .
2. If not re route the hose to the hydrominder so it is with the ones that work.
3. Can you slow the fill rate on the rinse with a valve or re stricter so you still will have enough but it won't adversely affect the others?