With all of the rain, wind, and snow during the winter months, it’s likely you will have some drive-thru maintenance to do when the sun peeks through. Use the checklist below to ensure your drive-thru equipment is performing at its best all year round.

Drive-Thru Speaker Post: Check the vents in the speaker post to make sure they aren’t clogged by leaves, mud, or any other debris that could have become wedged during a storm or high winds.

Drive-Thru Lane: When there is a lot of snow or rain it can cause cracks and potholes in your drive-thru. So check your drive-thru lane for any cracks, especially near your order point and also at your cash and pick-up windows. If moisture gets down into the concrete it can disrupt the underground loops that detect your vehicles. 

Menu Board: Check your menu board during the day and also at night. You want to make sure that all of your electrical components are working correctly and that your menu board is free of any debris. Replace any lights that have shorted or burned out. This is also a great opportunity to check that your menu board is current. Look over the menu items as well as the prices to ensure you aren’t misleading customers.   

Drive-Thru Headset System: Test all drive-thru headsets and batteries. If you come across any that aren’t working, call CE’s technical support at 877-731-0334. If the problem cannot be solved over the phone you can use the free shipping label located on the website to send in your drive-thru headset repairs. If you need a new drive-thru battery, you can also purchase it on CE’s website.

Drive-Thru Timer: Compare your reports from the past few weeks. If you see something that looks out of the ordinary, pay close attention to your remote display. Is it detecting every car? If it only detects some and not others, or doesn’t detect any at all, contact CE’s technical support. They will help you troubleshoot the problem and recommend the next steps to take.

With your post-winter checklist completed, you will have the confidence that your drive-thru is in optimal condition. Sit back and watch your sales spring ahead.