Gas station canopies aren’t just aesthetic structures, they play a crucial role in providing shelter for customers, protecting fuel dispensers, and ensuring overall safety at the station. Proper canopy maintenance is essential to extend its lifespan and guarantee a safe environment for customers and employees. Continue reading this blog to learn more about canopy maintenance.

Regular Inspection and Cleaning: The Foundation of Canopy Care

Undoubtedly, gas station canopies are exposed to various elements, including weather, dust, and pollution. Over time, these factors can lead to corrosion, discoloration, and structural issues. This is why a scheduled inspection routine is necessary.

You can start by visually inspecting the canopy for any signs of damage or wear. Look for rust, dents, or any structural problems. Pay close attention to the joints and connections, as they are susceptible to wear and tear. Inspect the drainage system to ensure proper water runoff.

Regularly clean the canopy using mild detergents and a soft brush. It not only enhances its visual appeal but also prevents the buildup of grime and pollutants that can accelerate corrosion. Bird droppings should be quickly cleaned as they contain acidic substances that can damage the canopy’s surface.

Paint and Coating Maintenance: Shielding Against the Elements

Protective coatings and paint play a crucial role in protecting the canopy. Your canopy can degrade because of exposure to sunlight, rain, and other elements, which is why you must monitor the condition of the paint and coatings regularly.

If you notice peeling or fading, it’s time for a fresh coat. Repainting the canopy not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also provides an additional layer of protection against rust. When choosing paint, opt for high-quality, weather-resistant options designed for outdoor structures. Consider applying protective coatings as they can extend the lifespan of the canopy by creating a barrier against moisture and environmental pollutants.

Lighting and Electrical System Maintenance: Ensuring Safety After Sunset

Many gas station canopies are equipped with lighting to ensure visibility and safety. Regular maintenance of the lighting and electrical systems is crucial for preventing accidents. You must inspect the wiring and other electrical components frequently.

Faulty wiring can pose a fire hazard, so addressing issues promptly is essential. Clean light fixtures regularly to remove dust and debris that can reduce illumination. Consider upgrading to energy-efficient LED lighting, which not only reduces energy costs but also provides better illumination. LED lights have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance compared to conventional lighting options.

Invest In A Brand-New Gas Station Canopy

If your gas station’s canopy is beyond repair, we recommend installing a new canopy as soon as possible. You can visit the online platform created by the John W. Kennedy Company to explore the wide range of canopies and kiosks we offer. Apart from gas station canopies, here’s a list of some of the petroleum equipment supply we deliver:

• Fuel nozzles
• POS systems
• Fuel dispensers
• LED lights

You can reach out to our team for more information.

If you have ever wondered how all those fuel nozzles at your gas station actually work…

…then you have come to the right place.

It’s a simple, yet complex, arrangement of mechanical components—linkages, valves, springs, diaphragms, seals—that work together to make these fascinating contraptions function.

Please explain…

How Gas Station Nozzles Work?

Let’s have a quick review of couple of concepts that we established in our physics classes, the understanding of which would be required to fully grasp the mechanics behind the functioning of a gas station nozzle.

• We know that a fluid flows from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area.
• We know that the pressure in vacuum is less than the atmospheric pressure.

Now that we have reviewed the essential concepts, we can press the lever on the fuel nozzle to see how the whole thing works.

As you press the lever, it opens the main poppet valve

This poppet valve allows the gasoline to flow through the body of the fuel nozzle. However, this flow only lasts for a short term. To continue to draw more gasoline through the nozzle, the contraption has to pull-in additional force to assist the gasoline flow.  That is where the design of the device helps itself.

The initial flow of gasoline causes an anti-drain valve to move downwards

The downward movement of the valve, creates a low-pressure area within the fuel nozzle. This low-pressure area is connected to the spout of the gas pump nozzle via a tube—the point of insertion being a small hole present at the bottom of spout. This hole is exposed to the external environment, allowing air to enter.

When the vacuum is created, the resulting pressure drop causes air to flow from the small hole, all the way through the tube and into the vacuum space. There it mixes with gasoline, and the flow of air causes gasoline to maintain its own flow.

This flow continues until the gasoline level in the fuel tank reaches a certain point

At this point, the filled gasoline covers the small hole through which the air has been entering. When the hole is covered, instead of air, gasoline starts flowing through it and all the way up to the vacuum space.

Since gasoline is denser than air, the pressure changes in the vacuum space. This pressure change causes a diaphragm to be sucked, which then shuts off the main poppet valve. Consequently, the gasoline supply from the mains is cut off.

And this is how the fuel nozzles at your gas station works.

Want to Buy a New Fuel Nozzle for Your Gas Station?

We stock high quality branded fuel nozzles. All our products come with manufacturer’s warranty and along with fuel nozzles, we also provide other petroleum equipment supplies for your gas station. Check out our expansive inventory of products.