Daimer Industries, 16 Tower Office Park, Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 USA. Phone: 781.393.4900. Fax: 781.932.1960
Copyright 2011 Daimer. All rights reserved
1. All-Electric Vapor Steam Cleaners & Their Shortcomings
*Inappropriate Steam Cleaners for
Exterior Steam Car Washing
The most important thing to keep in mind is Daimer® offers the most powerful "dry" vapor steam cleaners (pressure levels up to 150 psi and temperatures up to 386°F) in the industry, and is a leading expert in steam cleaners backed by 37 years of engineering expertise. Keep in mind 110-120 volt or 230v, single phase machines are incapable of generating pressure levels over 125 psi. If you notice
anyone offering higher pressure levels, then we encourage you to call us and ask to speak with a Product Specialist to learn about reality vs. fantasy.
Our unsurpassed client list includes some of the largest domestic and multi-national customers in the world. We offer the most diversified "dry" vapor steam cleaners and steam vacuum cleaners. In fact, we were the original suppliers of commercial and industrial steam cleaners and steam vacuum cleaners in North America.
However, we have never and would never market our all-electric, boiler-based KleenJet® machines as steam car washes. Unfortunately, some vapor steam cleaner providers attempting to capitalize and profit by the steam car wash "craze" are unsuccessfully attempting to promote their systems to unsuspecting car wash/detail professionals.
Also, "dry" steam cleaners are incapable of deep cleaning car fabric upholstery and carpeting like powerful carpet/upholstery steam cleaners. See powerful systems professional auto detailing and car dealer customers use and buy - Professional Car Carpet/Upholstery Cleaning Machines.
Here is the major problem: It is an absolute fact that all-electric, 110-120 volt or 220-240 volt, single phase systems using boilers with no propane or oil heating method ... with even 3000 watts of power (higher than those 110-120 volt vapor steam cleaners currently advertised) are unable to generate enough steam density, power, and steam longevity to successfully professionally clean the exterior of cars. Imagine systems under 2000 watts!
Do you notice any videos you may have seen fail to show a dirty car being cleaned by one of these? Do you also notice the person in the video is constantly wiping with a towel?! It seems to be a matter of "smoke and mirrors" with little visible cleaning of extra dirty cars.
The reality is "dry" steam containing about 5% water in the vapor is much too dry and the vapor pressure, which is much too weak for the application, drops too quickly to be effective. Boiler-based systems have trouble maintaining their pressure if used continuously even for 10 or 15 minutes before the vapor pressure falls off.
The user must stop spraying the steam to allow the system to regain its pressure again. The operator must stop and start frequently, a major problem that adds up to this: poor cleaning power and a dramatic loss of productivity resulting in wasted time and lost revenue, period!
2. Propane and Diesel Oil Heated "Dry" Steam Car Wash Equipment
Several Chinese, Korean, and European manufacturers are offering drier steam systems whereby the system is powered by electricity and steam is generated by propane or diesel. This method is promoted to those auto detailing or car washing professionals who are either unable to unwilling to allow water to flow along with vapor.
These machines are especially inappropriate for those who suffer from winter weather. The drawback is the "dry" steam produced by the technology if still not powerful enough to clean cars without constant towel wiping. In addition, "dry" steam, as much as these vendors would like you to believe, are still not effective for the most efficient and productive removal of hardened mud, ice/snow, and other more troublesome substances. Towel wiping of areas with unnoticed dirt or
mud can result in paint scratches.
Videos on the web show systems attempting to clean mud, etc., but the obvious result is ineffective cleaning. Another drawback is constant towel wiping is very tiring, especially if the user is cleaning a number of cars per day.
3. Powerful Wet Steam Car Wash Systems
Examples of Industrial Steam Car Wash Systems
with the Most Powerful Cleaning Action Available
Industrial grade steam car wash systems with pressure levels up to 1500 psi are absolutely and undeniably the best machines to effectively and quickly remove substances from car exteriors during the winter and summer months. These systems, which do not contain an internal water tank and need an external water tank or direct connection to a water supply, emit temperatures that are enough to clean the cars without chemicals and the constant towel wiping required by "dry" propane or
diesel heated steam car wash equipment, but these temperatures are not high enough to hurt the paint. In addition, the user has complete control over the distance between the nozzle and the car surface.
Similar to Korean, Chinese, or European "dry" steam car wash machines, this steam car wash equipment technology must be powered and heated separately. Users can select among systems that are powered by electricity or natural gas for those who use natural gas and seek a system for installation within their facility. 60Hz systems are available for North America and countries that use 60Hz power. In addition, models are available for those countries that require 50 Hz power.
Propane, butane, and diesel oil are the most popular heating methods selected by users.
Conclusion
100% electric powered and heated machines, such as the Kleenjet® steam cleaners or other similar "dry" vapor steam cleaner machines on the market are completely useless for steam car wash applications.
Steam car washing requires the use of technology that will allow auto detailers, car dealers, or car washing professionals to clean as quickly and effectively as possible. Time is money and a loss of productivity by using the wrong systems will result in lost profits for those who charge for washing or detailing cars.
Powerful steam car wash machines with pressure levels of 1000 PSI or higher are certainly the best machines to do the job correctly and in a timely fashion. These are also the best to clean in both winter and summer conditions.
"Dry" propane and steam machines are inappropriate for winter conditions. Constant towel wiping is very tedious and is more likely to create paint scratches and damage than high pressure wet steam car wash equipment, which cleans without requiring the same constant wiping.