Efficient Drainage Sets Your Car Wash Apart From the Competition
Car washes do not fail because they are bad, they fail because they are average. Carwash drainage is a key element to elevating your customer experience. Consumers vote with their wallets and the most enticing, most efficient car washes are going to come out on top as the most profitable. There are an estimated 60,000 car washes in the U.S. today and that number is expected to double by 2030.
This means a competitive and evolving landscape for car wash owners. One where standing still leads to falling behind. We have seen the technology involved in both tunnel style and self-serve car washes increase exponentially over the last decade. From cameras and sensors to water purification and reclamation units.
But have you considered the importance of car wash drainage systems? Have your drains evolved along with the rest of your operation? If you are functioning on old grated trench style drains with large pits you could be missing out on multiple fronts. Large grated trench drains and pits can be ugly and hazardous to customers (if they become damaged). They can also be hard to clean which can lead to greater stresses on employees and water reclamation systems.
Slot Drain Systems are designed for looks, hygiene, and durability. They are rapidly becoming the standard in the evolving market of car washes. Read on to find out how you can incorporate these drains into your car wash either as part of a new build or a retrofit operation to boost your wow factor as well as your operational efficiency.
Drains for conveyor car washes
Conveyor car washes make up nearly 50% of the market. Increasingly these car washes deliver an experience to drivers and their families. Slot Drain Systems extend that refined and fun experience from ceiling to drain. With stainless steel openings of up to 1 ¼” Slot Drains blend seamlessly in the floor of your tunnel wash. Providing the illusion that waste water magically disappears from view. Make you carwash social media ready with a sleek and simple Slot Drain System.
Drains for Self-Serve car washes
Self-Serve car washes have found a niche among drivers who realize they are easier and more efficient than washing their cars at home. However, having customers exit their vehicles in your car wash comes with its own challenges and liabilities. Slot Drain Systems can keep your floors safe and dry. They are also ADA compliant and integrate seamlessly with the floor leaving no exposed edges or tripping hazards for your customers.
Drainage Systems Engineered to Withstand Vehicle Traffic
Your car wash needs drains that are engineered to stand up to heavy loads and to last a lifetime. Whether in a tunnel wash or a self-serve, owners need to plan for not only repeated traffic from cars and trucks, but also the possibility of impacts to the drain. What is the heaviest car or truck that could end up impacting your drain in an accident? How would your drain hold up to this impact?
Slot Drain Systems are made from T304 and T316 Stainless steel, which provides them with long life, structural stability, and corrosion resistance. All Slot Drain systems are engineered and certified to comply with ASME Load Classes. Giving them the ability to support a wide variety of loads from light vehicles all the way to airport traffic. Please consult our load class chart and drain specification documents for ratings on specific products.
Easy to Clean and Maintain
Slot Drain Systems come with a number of tools to help ensure the water and other fluids in the system flow smoothly. All Slot Drain Systems terminate in a catch basin. The catch basin provides a break between your Slot Drain and your underground plumbing. The catch basin combined with our customized cleaning paddles and brushes make it easy to clear debris like leaves and mud from the system. It can also catch dropped customer items like rings or toys before they clog your underground piping or enter your holding tanks.
Slot Drain Systems are also offered with optional accessories including our clean-in-place and flush-flow systems. Clean-in-place allows you to seal the drain so that it can be filled with a cleaning agent and left to soak, removing built up debris and grime from the inside of the system. Our flush flow system integrates a fill spout into the drain so that all you have to do is flip a switch to fill your drain with a cleaning solution. These accessories are extra tools that help ensure your drains stay clean and free-flowing.
Contact Slot Drain Today to Learn More About Drainage Solutions for Car Washes
Our people are our number one resource. Our team of sales representatives, product development experts, engineers, and metal workers have between them, the combined experience of thousands of drain installations.
We can help you avoid pitfalls and plan for a seamless experience installing new drains, whether in a new facility or an existing facility. Our team can guide you through ordering, shopping, and receiving and provide real-time information to your contractors on the ground to ensure that your Slot Drains are installed to the highest standard, ensuring their continued performance for decades to come.
