Creating a Preventative Maintenance Program For Your Laundromat Business

Preventative maintenance is key to managing your coin laundry. Many laundromat owners choose to start the day with routine maintenance on the inside of the machines and end the day on the outside, or vice versa. Either way, the concept is to keep the machines clean and regularly monitor the condition of their parts and how well they’re running. 

 

Daily Laundromat Maintenance

• Clean tops, fronts, and side panels as well as automatic supply dispenser lids.
• Inspect valves and hoses for leaks.
• Make sure door interlocks work properly; machines should not start with the door open.
• Clean out detergent residue or objects from door gaskets.
• Leave doors open at the end of the day to evaporate moisture and prevent bacteria growth.

• Clear out lint filters. If you have attendants, you will want them to check the lint filters after every load, as customers often forget to do this themselves.
• Remove any flammable materials from the floor around the dryers.
• Inspect cylinders and remove any objects.
• Clean tops, fronts, and side panels.

Weekly Routine Maintenance

• Inspect seals around washer and dryer doors. Remove any buildup to keep seals tight and prevent leaking. Replace dryer door seals if you notice they’re hardened, loosened, damaged, or worn.
• Check inlet and outlet hoses for leaks.
• Check for internal dryer clogs by shining a flashlight in the lint filter duct; vacuum out any obstructions.
• Examine outdoor dryer weather hoods for obstructions to the dampers; remove if necessary.

Monthly Routine Maintenance

• Use compressed air to remove dust and moisture from electrical components.
• Remove lint from dryer vents.
• Check water inlet filter screens; clean out particles and replace as needed.
• Examine belts and hardware; replace worn and cracked belts and tighten any loose nuts, screws, or bolts.

Annual Routine Maintenance

• Vacuum lint from dryer ducts and from the heater box.
• Remove dirt and soap inside the washer drums. You may need to do this more than once a year if you have a lot of traffic.

Benefits of Professional Preventative Maintenance Services

Maximize convenience and minimize unexpected interruptions by supplementing routine upkeep with  a professional laundry maintenance plan. All WSD clients have access to our contracted maintenance services, with basic, premium, and custom plans to meet your desired level of attention. Choosing a contracted maintenance plan offers many benefits for laundromat owners that trickle down to their customers, including:

• Reduced Downtime: Regular maintenance reduces the likelihood of equipment malfunction, so you don’t have to worry about unexpected machine downtime while customers want to use your equipment. And because you can plan for when professional preventative maintenance services will occur, you can potentially schedule them for slow days or even when your laundromat would typically be closed.
• Enhanced Cost Control: When you can plan for the timing of maintenance and know when to expect contracted payments, you can incorporate these expenses into your budget rather than having to dip into savings to make payments for unexpected service or repairs. Better planning leads to greater profitability for your business in the long run. 
• Streamlined Operations: Choosing a contracted professional preventative maintenance plan for your laundry equipment allows you to tackle daily and even weekly upkeep but take the bigger-picture tasks off your plate, freeing up your time and energy for other aspects of running a successful laundromat business. 
• Priority Scheduling: Laundromats that contract for preventative maintenance get priority scheduling for emergency calls, so they experience shorter waits and less downtime when repairs are required.

Routine maintenance also protects your business investment because regular upkeep of your machines maximizes their performance and extends their life. Machines that perform at their best for the long haul lead to more money in your pocket, highly satisfied customers, fewer chances of major technical repairs, and lower utility costs.