Are the brushes in your bays producing foam that is watered down instead of being thick and rich? Rich foam adheres to surfaces better which increases dwell time allowing the product to work its magic. Plus, it increases the lubricity of the bristles, to lessen the likelihood of adding scratches to the paint of a vehicle. In this foam brush troubleshooting guide, we will help you get your brush back to producing the level of suds your customers love!
Inspect the Airlines
First, you will want to check the airflow into the system for leaks. If air is leaking, the soap will not be agitated enough to produce the amount of foam that you typically see. Either patch the leak or replace the tubing the air flows through, and you should see the foam level return to normal.
Clean Out the Holding Tank
Once the airflow is back to normal, if the foam has not increased, you should inspect the tank that holds the soap supplied to your foam brush system. If there is a buildup of slime or any other residue, clean out the tank. When finished, check the foam level. It should be back to normal. If there is no improvement, try the next fix.
Check Filters
The next step in foam brush troubleshooting is to inspect your inline and tank filters. If they are clogged or extremely dirty, clean or replace them, especially if there are any holes. Once this is complete, flow to the brush should improve and fix the issue.
Replace the Hydrominder Diaphragm
If cleaning the filters still has not fixed the foam problem, you might want to inspect the diaphragm on your Hydrominder. You should replace the diaphragm if there appears to be any damage or if it looks worn out. That could impact the many aspects of the flow of soap supplied to your system.
Clean Hydrominder Water Inlet Screen
Once you have replaced the diaphragm, check the water inlet screen to see if the foam level has returned to normal. If not, there might be something obstructing the supply of water to the Hydrominder. Remove the obstruction or clean the mesh screen if it is dirty. If you discover holes, replace the screen.
Open the Inlet Valve
Another thing to check is the inlet valve. Make sure it is open all the way. If not, the amount of fluid that enters your Hydrominder will decrease, and the system that generates the foam won’t have enough water and soap to work with.
Check the Suction and Discharge Tube Seal
When foam brush troubleshooting, the next step is to check the suction and discharge lines of the Hydrominder. Make sure there is a strong seal on both ends and the educator. If the seal is weak, it could impact the amount of fluid drawn by the Hydrominder.
Inspect the Foot Valve
Once you have ensured a proper seal on the suction and discharge line is present, check the foot valve. The valve could be stuck open or closed. Additionally, the foot valve could also be clogged or dirty. Make sure to clean those if they need it. Both instances can impact the amount of fluid drawn by the Hydrominder and affect the amount of foam the system can generate.
Inspect the Foam Generator for Clogs
An additional thing to check is the foam generator. Are there any clogs in the system? If there are clogs, remove any dirt blocking the fluid from flowing through the generator. Now, the foam generator should draw enough liquid to operate effectively.
Test for Hard Water
Hard water will kill the ability of the soap to produce suds when agitated by the foam generator. Test the water to find out if you are working with hard water. If the water is hard, you will need to fix it. Check out our blog about water treatment for some tips and fixes.
Check for Chemical Separation
If soap sits in the holding tank for long periods, it can begin to separate depending on the ingredients used in formulating the product or from various other causes. To address this issue, you need to identify the cause and the solution. Once you have fixed the cause of chemical separation, there is one last thing to check.
Were Hoses Changed Recently?
The last thing to check is whether you have changed your hoses recently. That can impact foam generation in a few ways. If you pick a hose with a smaller diameter, it won’t allow as much product to move through the system. Another way this could affect the amount of suds is if there are leaks in the hose. That would prevent soap from reaching the brush, impacting the perceived amount of foam being generated by your system even though everything is working. If the hose has leaks, replace it.
Now that you know the steps to foam brush troubleshooting, you should be able to get your foam level back to normal in no time. A high-performing foam brush produces clean cars and happy customers who will frequent your wash and recommend you to their friends and family!
