Backroom Best Practices Tips, Tricks and Trends in Carwash Backroom Design
By John Pinson
Go behind the suds of the average carwash and you’ll find a backroom that’s woefully inadequate in form and function. Too few operators understand the risks they face or costs they incur from poorly set-up backrooms. Likewise, even savvy owners often don’t know that technology exists to turn their backroom into carwash command central – an epicenter of control and profitability.
Far beyond the basics of soap and water, backrooms are a microcosm of the health of a carwash business. Want a better performing carwash, safer employees, happier customers and a more profitable business? Follow these guidelines to buff up your backroom and transform your carwash operation.
Efficient Setup of Essential Components
Most equipment is located in or controlled from the backroom – the nerve center of the carwash. This includes water equipment, chemical storage, dilution and dispensing, and power units for all machinery. Proper set-up of modern carwashes involves organizing backroom components such as reverse osmosis (RO) systems (filtration), reclaim units (water recycling), solution control centers (dilution and dispensing), pumping stations, chemical and water tanks and lines, and water and power supply.
It might be a stretch to call it “feng shui,” but the arrangement and flow of backrooms is an art, one that benefits from professional expertise. It helps to think of it the way a chef might organize a kitchen: everything should be placed strategically to ensure flow and accessibility, allowing for economy of movement and minimal interference.
Key Setup Considerations:
- Strategic Placement: Moving heavy equipment or trying to work around it is not only frustrating but costly. Install equipment like RO systems, water softeners, and solution control centers in accessible areas to facilitate maintenance and avoid blockages.
- Smart Storage Solutions: Utilize vertical space for chemical storage with wall-mounted shelves and consider compact solutions like ultra concentrated chemicals that require less storage footprint but deliver the same cleaning power.
- Efficient Water and Power Flow: Arrange your water delivery systems and electrical panels to prevent leakages and ensure they are not in areas prone to freezing.
- Foot Traffic: Consider anticipated movement through the space. Insufficient space to move safely between storage containers or equipment is irritating and also a major liability for tripping over objects, causing accidents and injuries.
Avoiding Common Setup Mistakes
Many backroom issues stem from poor initial design and planning. Here are common pitfalls and how to avoid them:
- Inaccessible Equipment: Never block access to essential panels and controls. Easy access is crucial for quick repairs and adjustments. Don’t block one type of equipment with another or with storage containers that are difficult to move.
- Poor Climate Control: Implement proper insulation and heating solutions to protect equipment from cold and damp conditions that can lead to costly damages. Ensure manufacturer instructions are followed for optimal operating temperatures. Don’t skimp on heat or AC to save a few bucks in the short term – it could cost you later.
- Professional Installation: Relying on expert installers can prevent many operational headaches down the line. Proper installation ensures that all systems communicate well, function efficiently, and are organized for easy access and flow.
Safety and Organization
Safety should always be a priority in the design of any carwash backroom. “Yeah, right, like we’re really gonna do that” is not an acceptable attitude. Set protocols and follow them, tracking them and reinforcing them with all employees at all times.
- Clear Signage and Safety Stations: Implement lock-out/tag-out systems for electrical safety, eye wash stations near chemical storage, and adequate personal protective equipment. MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheets) documents should be near any chemicals in case of spills.
- Effective Organization Tools: Use maintenance planners and organizational systems to keep track of equipment servicing and ensure everything is in its place, reducing potential hazards.
Best Practices for Lighting and General Maintenance
- Lighting: Ensure the backroom is well-lit with LED lights and consider motion sensors to reduce energy consumption without compromising safety.
- Regular Maintenance Checks: Implement a routine backroom maintenance schedule and use modern platforms that provide reminders and maintenance logs to keep everything running smoothly. A dusty old binder with wrinkled, rarely-updated pages is a sign that better maintenance tracking is needed.
Customizing for a Full Service Wash
If your business incorporates a full serve carwash, your backroom demands are likely greater, especially for storage space. Design accordingly.
Incorporate ample storage for customer service items like towels and cleaning agents, and ensure there are facilities like washers and dryers. Don’t treat backroom equipment as shelving. Install proper cabinets, shelves and organizers for all goods.
Avoid the temptation to let your backroom become a catch-all or general storage. Designate closets or break areas for lunch items, drinks, backpacks, uniforms or other personal items.
Innovations Shaping the Future of Backrooms
Recent technological advancements have revolutionized how carwash backrooms can be managed. Here are a few innovations making significant impacts:
- Remote Monitoring and Control: Modern carwash systems can integrate sensors, cloud-based software and a wireless backroom hub to allow operators to monitor and control equipment remotely via smartphones or tablets.
- Predictive Maintenance and Downtime Reduction: Real-time alerts allow for immediate trouble-shooting. Sophisticated tools detect backroom equipment wear or malfunction ahead of time, ensuring quick resolution and maximum uptime.
- Precision Chemical Dosing: New surgical grade dosing technology cuts chemical waste, saves costs and ensures a consistent, high-quality “clean, dry and shiny.”
In the Forefront of Success
The key takeaway is that your carwash backroom should be front and center in your business. An efficiently designed carwash backroom not only streamlines operations but also impacts the bottom line. By following best practices, avoiding common pitfalls, planning carefully and leveraging new technologies, operators can ensure their carwash business thrives in a competitive market.
John Pinson is manager connected services at National Carwash Solutions. John can be reached at jpinson@ncswash.com with any questions.
