As the final leaves of fall blow away with the wind, many people are sad to see the last of their summer tans fade, as well. As we all (should) know, the oxidized melanin (tan) that sun exposure creates on the epidermis of our skin has sloughed off and faded. Soon, tan-seekers will want to recapture that look good/feel good effect and return to your salons … are you ready?
One of the strongest keys to running a successful tanning facility is regular and proper equipment maintenance. To that point, there are certain key but basic maintenance tasks of which all salon operators should be capable. If you have successfully completed our industry-leading Sun is Life® Salon Operator Training and Certification, you know these basics and you’re on your way to ensuring that your salon guests enjoy sessions in equipment at peak performance.
UV-tanning systems need to be routinely cleaned and lamps replaced per manufacturer’s recommendations. Best practices include: monthly removal of top and bottom acrylic shields and wiping accumulated dust off the lamps and underside of the acrylics. On a quarterly basis, remove the lamps from the system and clean the reflective material, wipe down the lamps and underside of the shields. Remember, don’t spray cleaning fluid on the lamps as they lay in their fixtures. Spray a clean towel (microfiber works well) with glass cleaner and thoroughly wipe each lamp before reinstalling it.
The key takeaway? Before doing any maintenance work on a tanning system, turn the circuit-breaker OFF! It seems like just yesterday that I was working on a unit for a customer (okay, it was a while ago) and had to perform some internal adjustments. Unfortunately, we had our wires crossed (pun intended) and he turned off the breaker to the wrong unit. I assumed – my bad – that I was working on a bed with no power and mistakenly touched two 110V positive wires together. Ouch! Scared the heck out of me. Don’t be me. Let’s move on.
Also encouraged in Sun is Life training: keep good maintenance records. Log the dates you buy new lamps, monthly and quarterly wipe-downs and complete change-outs. Quality lamps (100W type) should have about 1,000 hours of useful life. But don’t run them to the bitter end! Replace them before your tanners start complaining about a drop in intensity and tanning results.
Back to logs. Record every cleaning and maintenance procedure you perform on every unit. Now, there are certain essential replacement parts that you should have on hand to prevent that system from being out of commission during peak tanning times. If you don’t have the parts in stock, expect hefty charges for rush shipment. Inevitably, that out-of-service bed or booth is costing you money. Among the suggested parts for your salon survival kit: Acrylic shield(s), a case of lamps per bed type, internal cooling fans, lamp sockets and maybe a circuit board. Another best practice is to consult your service and/or parts provider to help assemble your survival kit and avoid costly system shutdowns.
Another reminder: Sun is Life Training will help you think ahead, work your plan and make maximum profit from your tanning equipment!
