Running a car wash facility can be costly, especially when a breakdown occurs. Performing proactive car wash maintenance can minimize downtime by identifying potential issues before they become major problems. Infrared scanning for equipment maintenance is a useful technology for this purpose. Utilizing a thermal scanner can have major benefits if implemented properly.

Get Precise Readings

Like many types of commercial equipment, professional car wash equipment can heat up from repeated use. While some machines come with a thermometer or temperature readout, these devices are not always effective at gauging temperatures in every part of the machine.

By including infrared scanning that uses thermal imaging as a part of your car wash maintenance service plan, you can scan individual areas on machines to get the most accurate temperature readings. When a temperature reading for a particular area runs abnormally hot, it can indicate a potential problem that may eventually require a repair.

Problems Scanning Can Identify

Unusual temperature outputs are often the first sign of damage or malfunction in many machines. Using infrared scanning, you can keep a closer eye on equipment and note any concerning fluctuations. Infrared scanning can identify concerning fluctuations by:

• Monitoring bearing temperatures in large motors
• Identifying "hot spots" in electronic equipment
• Identifying leaks in sealed vessels
• Finding faulty insulation or terminations
• Locating overloaded circuit breakers
• Identifying fuses at or near their current rated capacity
• Identifying problems in electrical switchgear
• Capturing process temperature readings

As employees conduct car wash maintenance based on infrared scan results, they can use the address areas that require special attention, handling the issues before they cause a breakdown.

Cost Factors and Benefits

While thermal imagers are popular for predictive equipment maintenance, smaller facilities might hesitate to buy them outright and incorporate them into their car wash maintenance plan. Like any hi-tech tool, the initial cost can be high. You also have to consider time spent training staff.

However, once the initial investment is made, many facilities see a savings of 30-40%, according to the Federal Energy Management Program, as maintenance costs and breakdowns are minimized. With that said, for facilities that don’t have the budget to acquire infrared scanners, infrared scanning can be performed as a third-party maintenance service for a reasonable fee per scanning session.

Conclusion

The best car wash maintenance services focus on preventative instead of reactive maintenance. When you focus on being proactive rather than reactive with equipment needs, you can see big savings, as breakdowns are minimized.

Whether you decide to use your own scanner or receive scanning from a third party, incorporating infrared scanning into your car wash maintenance can help locate problematic issues before they become severe. Even though N/S Wash does not currently perform infrared scanning, we recommend considering implementing it in your equipment maintenance plan.