Choosing a Deionizer for Your Car Wash
Takeaways
Deionized Water is Crucial
Deionized (DI) water ensures a spotless finish by removing mineral ions that cause water spots and streaks. It is essential for achieving a clean, streak-free result after washing and drying your vehicle.Discussed Deionizer Systems
- CR Spotless DIC-20: High-output system providing up to 300 gallons of purified water, perfect for small to medium-sized car washes.
- On The Go Dual Bed Double Standard Deionizer: Features a dual-tank system for greater efficiency, producing up to twice as much purified water as single-tank systems.
- Big Boi D-IONIZR1SET (2-Stage Filter System): A compact system with carbon and deionized resin filters, offering a TDS meter for precise water quality monitoring. Perfect for light to medium car wash operations.
- Big Boi D-IONIZR2 (3-Stage Filter System): A more advanced filtration system with 3 filtration stages for the best water quality, ideal for high-volume car washes.
Researched Deionizer Brands
These systems are some options on the market for anyone looking to ensure a spotless car wash without water spots:- CR Spotless
- On The Go
- Big Boi
Water Quality Measurement
Using a TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter is essential to monitor the effectiveness of your deionizer and ensure you are using 0 PPM water.Introduction: The Importance of Deionized Water
Regular tap water contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and chloride—elements that, when left behind after a car wash, lead to unsightly water spots and streaks. These deposits can etch into your car’s finish over time, causing long-term damage. By using deionized water, which is free from these minerals, you can ensure that no such spots form, leaving your vehicle with a flawless finish.What is Deionized Water?
Deionized water (DI water) is water that has had its mineral ions (such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and chloride) removed through a process called deionization. The deionization process works via ion exchange, in which the harmful ions in the water are replaced with hydrogen (H+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions, which combine to form pure water (H₂O).Deionization Process Explained
- Cation Exchange: Removes positively charged ions (e.g., calcium, magnesium) and replaces them with hydrogen ions.
- Anion Exchange: Removes negatively charged ions (e.g., chloride, sulfate) and replaces them with hydroxide ions.
- Result: The combination of hydrogen and hydroxide ions results in pure water, which does not leave any mineral deposits behind when it evaporates.
How Deionized Water Prevents Water Spots
When using regular tap water, minerals such as calcium and magnesium remain behind on the surface of your car after it dries, causing water spots and streaks. These deposits can be particularly damaging if left untreated. Deionized water eliminates these minerals, ensuring that your car’s finish stays clean and spot-free after drying.Key contaminants in tap water
- Calcium & Magnesium: Contribute to hard water spots.
- Sodium & Chloride: Can lead to streaks.
- Silica: Often causes stubborn water spots.
Discussed Deionizer Systems
1. CR Spotless DIC-20 (High Output)
The CR Spotless DIC-20 is a portable, high-output deionization system that delivers up to 300 gallons of purified water, depending on your water quality. This system is perfect for small to medium car wash operations that need reliable, high-output deionization.Features:
- Dual-stage filtration:
- Pre-filter to remove particulates.
- Deionization cartridge to reduce total dissolved solids (TDS) to zero.
- Portable: Easily transportable, ideal for mobile car washes or home use.
- Zero PPM water: Produces water that ensures a spotless finish with zero dissolved solids.
2. On The Go Dual Bed Double Standard Deionizer
The On The Go Dual Bed Double Standard Deionizer uses a dual-tank system, with one tank containing cation resin and the other containing anion resin. This increases the water production capacity, making it ideal for those who need a more efficient system.Features:
- Dual tank design for increased efficiency.
- Produces up to twice as much water as single-tank systems.
- Cost-effective: Reduces operating costs by 28% compared to traditional mixed-bed systems.
- TDS meter for accurate monitoring of water quality.
3. Big Boi D-IONIZR1SET (2-Stage Filter System)
The Big Boi D-IONIZR1SET is a compact 2-stage filtration system that combines carbon filtration with deionized resin to produce 0 PPM water. It also features a built-in TDS meter for real-time water quality monitoring.Features:
- Carbon filter removes water hardness, prolonging cartridge life.
- Deionized resin ensures zero PPM for a spotless finish.
- Bypass valve: Allows you to use the system during the final rinse or throughout the whole wash cycle.
- TDS meter to measure incoming and outgoing water quality.
4. Big Boi D-IONIZR2 (3-Stage Filter System)
The Big Boi D-IONIZR2 is an advanced 3-stage filtration system that offers the highest water quality. With two deionization stages, this system is perfect for high-volume car washes.Features:
- 3-stage filtration: Includes carbon and two deionization filters.
- TDS meter: Tracks the effectiveness of the filtration process.
- Bypass valve for flexible use during either the full wash cycle or just the final rinse.
Water Quality Measurement Tools
Water quality measurement tools help you assess the purity of the water used in car washes. The most common tool for this is the TDS meter, which measures the concentration of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water. TDS refers to all dissolved organic and inorganic substances present in water, such as salts, minerals, and metals.Features of the TDS Meter:
- Portable design: Easy to use in various locations.
- Wide measurement range: Can measure TDS from 0 to 9999 ppm.
- Backlit LCD screen: Allows easy reading in any lighting conditions.
Conclusion
When choosing the right deionizer for your car wash, consider the following factors:- System output: Choose a system that matches the volume of your car wash.
- Cost-effectiveness: Evaluate the operating costs, including cartridge lifespan and maintenance.
- Flexibility: Look for systems with features like bypass valves and TDS meters for enhanced performance.
