Article by SE Lighting: The competition in the car washing business is high. You’ll see many cars washing in every city. Customers get many options, and getting their attention is vital. Proper lighting in the car washing areas matters the most. It helps gain the attention of the customers.
Different Washing Areas in a Car Wash
Random light placement is never a good idea. It can do more harm than good by increasing the look and feel of your car washing area. Here are some locations where you can install the lights. They will both decorate the area and help you win more customers.
- Exterior side of your car washing area
- Entrance/Driveway – the passage where cars enter the washing point
- Pre-washing area where soap is applied on vehicles. Lights help keep a check on cleanliness.
- Washing bay – This is the area where machines spray water on the cars to remove the soap and dirt.
- Drying and vacuuming areas – Most car washing centers have employees who manually clean the vehicle.
Different types of lights are available for car washing centers. The section below will discuss some of those lights and their applications. It will tell you which type of lights should be installed in what area of your washing centers.
1- LED Flood Lights
Flood lights are high-intensity lights that offer broader coverage. This means that they can illuminate a wider space. Their beams don’t focus on a tiny place. Instead, their lights spread throughout the entire space. Interestingly, these lights can be used both indoors and outdoors (valid at night).
The primary purpose of these flood lights is to illuminate the place instead of adding any attraction. They use LED bulbs, which are very energy efficient. So, they won’t consume much electricity even if you keep them on for a long time.
These lights are suitable for washing areas. Why? Because you’ll have to spot unclean and dirty areas. Remember, some portions of cars may need more cleaning than others. Such high-intensity lights present in the ceiling help you spot those dirty areas. You can also use them in entrances to give customers a comfortable lighting experience.
2- DMX Flood Lights
The above section mentioned using flood lights in the car wash. However, those lights don’t change colors. Their purpose is to illuminate the washing area for better visibility. The color-changing LED floodlights are unique. They change colors, giving the washing area a modern and vibrant look.
Some of these DMX flood lights come with a control system. You can change their color with remote controls. However, some modern flood lights have the feature of syncing. So, they adjust to the beat of the music and change color with the music. It makes the overall atmosphere fun and pleasurable for both customers and employees.
They are ideal for washing bays. Most of the car wash centers use these color-changing lights in areas where water is poured on the car to clean soap and dirt. These lights look more aesthetic and smooth when they change their color when water comes from the supplier. You can also use color-changing lights at the entrance.
3- LED Wall Washer Lights
Have you ever seen some gentle lights on the walls? Those are these LED wall washer lights. They are generally installed near the walls. Their lights or glow is directed upward. So, you’ll see vertically oriented lights on the walls.
Do you have entrances that consist of some narrow path? If so, you can install these lights on the sides of corridors. They will welcome the customers who enter the car washing center. You can also use them on the side walls of the open waiting area. These RGBW LED bars offer vibrant colors, enhancing the visual appeal of your car wash. They will enhance the aesthetics of the waiting area or lobby.
4- LED Strip and Neon Lights
The above section mentioned more practical lights. Their purpose is to provide lighting for the workings of a car wash. However, these strips and neon lights are used for attractions. Strip lights consist of multiple small LED bulbs. They are mounted on strips and used on corridors and signage.
The LED neon lights smooth glow. These lights glow due to the filling of neon gas. Right? But the modern decorative neon lights don’t have neon gas. Instead, they use a small LED bulb that mimics the neon lights. From a distance, you will feel the same glow that you get with neon lights. Both strip and neon lights fall in the decoration category.
But the question is: where should such strip lights be used? It is recommended that they be used in corridors and entrance points. Moreover, if you have a close pathway to your carwash, use these lights on those pathways. The strip lights can also be used on the exterior door of the car wash. A combination of strip and neon light will enhance aesthetics and vibrancy.
5- LED Tube Lights
Tube lights are cylindrical-shaped long lights. They can be installed in the ceilings. There are two main types of these tube lights available in the market. One of those is fluorescent, and the other is LED-based. Fluorescent lights can consume more light but give off excellent aesthetics.
On the flip side, LED tube lights are suitable for energy efficiency. It is highly recommended that you use these tube lights on the wash bay. They will provide each event and illuminate the whole washing area. However, some tube lights give vibrant color during their operations. Using them will further uplift the charm of the wash bay.
Consider this while buying the lights for your car wash areas:
1—Durability: First, you should never compromise on quality and durability. You might see some stunning but fragile lights. If used consistently for an hour, they can get damaged due to heat. You should avoid such lights. Consider the car wash lights, which are more durable.
2—Waterproofing: Lights in car washes encounter water drops. The lights used in the washing bay face more moisture. So, you should consider waterproofing when choosing a car wash lighting system. Ignoring this can be costly.
3—Energy Efficiency: The car washing centers work day and night. There is no specific time duration, so light will be used continuously for many hours daily. You’re more likely to face high electricity bills if the lighting is not energy efficient. You should buy a car wash lighting setup based on LED.
4—Aesthetics with Practicality: Beautiful car wash lighting attracts more clients and customers. So, it would be best to focus on choosing lights with diverse color-changing features. Moreover, neon strip lights can be used to create a pleasing outlook. But each light should serve a purpose. It should provide proper lighting for better visibility and enhance the beauty of the surroundings. Don’t rely only on attractive lights that don’t properly illuminate the working area.
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