B&G Termite Rods

B&G termite rods are the industry standard termite injection tools. These tools are not cheap. Here are 5 tips to ensure you continue getting your money’s worth.
                     
1. Clean threads on tip and rod to remove grit and extend tool life
2. Hand tighten tip before putting tip in the ground. This will ensure you don’t leave the tip stuck in the ground
3. Periodically tighten sprayer valve nuts and screws to prevent loss
4. Flush tools with clean water to help reduce residue buildup in tools
5. Periodically take valve apart and clean seat and other key parts

Visit our website for parts breakdowns on these termite treatment tools.

Birchmeier Backpack Maintenance

Birchmeier Backpack is the best backpack sprayer you can buy, IF you take care of it. If you don't take care of it, it is a waste of money and you should buy a cheapo at the home store.

Some Birchmeier care reminders:
 
1.  Don't overpressurize
2.  Release the pressure after each stop
3.  Keep it well lubricated
4.  Clean it out periodically
5.  Do preventative maintenance.
Quite a few of the Birchmeier backpacks that are brought to us are for very simple repairs that could have been performed by the technician.  Here are a few key parts that are worth stocking so you can perform minor repairs yourself to save time and save money. 
- Lid gasket
- Check valve
- O-ring kit
- Replacement tip
- Hose connector (barb)
- Extra strap. 

All these items are available on our Birchmeier Parts page of our website.

Comments?

Spray Equipment - Small Problems Are Expensive

Many of the pest control spray rigs and weed sprayers problems we see in our repair shop are minor issues that only take a few minutes to resolve. In fact, quite a few of these power sprayer problems could have been fixed in the field if the proper part had been available.  I am struck by the amount of time spent driving from the job site to the repair site and back, just to make a small repair.  The downtime, gas, cancelled appointments, etc. are significant costs.

We encourage our clients to keep spray equipment emergency repair kits on their trucks.  There are quite a fe minor repairs that can be effected easily  in the field with a minimum of parts and tools.   Some easy fixes:

- Filter screens & gaskets
- B&G and backpack o-rings, gaskets, tips
- Spray tips
- hose clamps/hose repair kits (see photo on right)
- belts
- spray gun o-rings
Some caveats:
You should assess your equipment to determine what parts are easy to fix and what parts are worth carrying on the truck?
You should assess your (or your tech's) skill.  What repairs can you (or tech) effectively complete?

Comments? 

Spray Equipment - Even the Little Stuff Can Bite You in the ...

When it comes to power spray equipment, everyone looks at the big stuff: engine, pump, reel, etc.  Very few buyers look at the little stuff, likes hoses, fittings & clamps.  If you don't pay attention to the little stuff, it will cost you.  Check out our post at: http://blog.qspray.com/

 

Power Sprayers - Problems are expensive

For weed spraying equipment & pest control sprayers, you have to pay attention to everything, not just the big stuff.  When buying a sprayer, the little things matter too.    Take a look at this photo:

This is at the bottom of a 50 gallon poly tank.  The tank fitting, elbow fitting, hose and clamp are all JUNK!  These fittings are low quality and will not stand up to heat, cold, bumps, chemicals, hard use, etc.  The way this power spray rig is plumbed means that if any problem occurs in any of these parts, the tank will drain.  There is no way to shut off the flow and you now have a 50 gallon chemical spill on your hands.

Interestingly, I was giving a presentation on spray equipment safety and showed this photo.  A spray technician raised his hand and said that exact thing happened to him.  He had a brand new weed sprayer.  As he was leaving the lot, he hit a bump and an elbow fitting (like the one in the photo) broke and he spilled 100 gallons of herbicide.  Fortunately, he was still on his lot and was able to hit it with lots of soak up.

Examine your power sprayers for weak links like this.  When buying a new sprayer, make sure you know who you are dealing with and what you are getting.  Don't create problems for yourself.

Comments?  If you think we know what we're talking about, Please:

Spray Equipment - Purchase Price is just the Tip of the Iceberg

When buying weed control sprayer or pest control sprayer it is important to know who you are dealing with and what you are getting.   Customer solicited several bids and appears to have selected the low bid for 4 gator spray rigs  (we were not the low bidder).  All 4 sprayers were different & all 4 had problems that the client brought us to address.


In the first photo, the power supply wires for the 12 volt pump were run through the tailgate, crushing the wire (see insert, click on photo to enlarge).  This damaged the wire and will eventually result in downtime.  We replaced the wire, drilled a hole in the bed and ran the wire through a grommet in the hole.


On this sprayer, the power supply wire was run over the side of the vehicle bed.  This is a bad idea - the wire will snag on trees, techs, equipment, etc.  Again, this creates a risk of downtime and lost productivity.  Solution was the same, reroute the wire through the gator bed.

Puchase price is just the tip of the iceberg.  Client did not save money buying on purchase price alone.
Comments?

Termite Control Equipment is expensive.  Here is a quick & easy video tip for saving money on your termite equipment http://blog.qspray.com/

Termite Equipment - Save Money

Termite equipment is expensive. Don't waste money. Here is an easy way to avoid an expensive problem
with your termite rods.

Great article by US Medal of Honor winner's return to Vietnam 40 years later.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43142267/ns/nightly_news/

Weed Control Spray Equipment - Problems to Avoid

Weed Control Sprayer brought in by client with numerous problems.  Some problems were big some problems were small.  When it comes to power sprayers, even the small stuff matters. 

As you can see in this photo, the transfer hose used has already split on this sprayer, after only a few month's use.  The plastic fittings are cheap and will not hold up in the AZ sun (notice the fitting holding the pressure gauge). 
The company that built this rig skimped on hoses and fittings (among other things) to cut costs.  Over time, the client did not save any money because these components had to be replaced. 

It is important when buying spray equipment that you know what you are getting.  Comments?

Congrats Probest Pest Mgt & Keith Birkemeyer achieved EPA Gold Status for outstanding environmental stewardship http://callprobest.com/blog/

 

Equipment Standardizaton - It Works for SW Airlines, It Will Work for You -  published in Pest Management Magazine http://bit.ly/iZr41h

Tree Sprayers

A landscaper called off our website and asked for a quote for a weed control sprayer / tree sprayer.  He said he wanted a 30 gallon tank with spray boom.  I asked him how he was going to use the sprayer.  He said he was going to spray weeds with the boom and spray 40-50’ tall trees with the hose & spray gun.

I pointed out that spraying 50’ trees required a high pressure pump that did somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 gallons per minute.  At 15 gpm, he could spray 2 minutes then his tank would be empty.   With a 30 gallon tank he would need to fill up a couple of times for each tree he wanted to spray.  I think he thought I was trying to upsell him stuff he didn't want.


He said he understood and said to quote the sprayer without the 50’ requirement.  I sent him a quote for a 30 gallon tank with a 12 volt pump & motor that will do a good job on weeds and low trees but wouldn’t spray 50’.

I don’t think I will ever hear from him.  Do you think someone elsPublish Poste will sell him the power sprayer he is asking for?  Comments?

Pest Control Sprayers - Prevent Problems

Pest control sprayers  require care and attention to run productivity day after day.  Spray technicians must identify and report spray equipment problems rather than living with them.  This photo shows how technicians have ignored an obvious problem.   The spray hose was allowed to rub against the side rail (in this case a camper shell).   In addition to damaging the vehicle, the hose is significantly worn.  Eventually this hose will leak causing a chemical spill, downtime and unnecessary expenses. 

Technicians need to identify and report spray equipment problems such as this. Supervisors and managers should perform truck equipment inspections and provide regular, continuing education to ensure technicians understand, identify and report problems before the problems hurt the business.

B&G Sprayers - Clean That Filter!

B&G Sprayers are standard issue pest control equipment. B&G 1 Gallon Sprayers can provide years of reliable service if properly serviced and maintained. Like all spray equipment, you must clean the filter. This photo shows a badly clogged B&G Sprayer filter. 

This debris prevented the tech from completing his route. 

It is, or should be, the technician's job to maintain his or her B&G in good working order.  This includes regular cleaning of filter and other maintenance.

Pest Control Supervisors, Managers and Owners should do a periodic check of technician B&Gs to ensure compliance with proper maintenance policies.
Cleanring the filter on all pest control sprayers will prevent avoidable downtime and missed appointments.