Your Power Sprayer Tank is NOT a Trash Can

The tank on your power sprayer is not a trash can.  This may sound obvious, but our spray equipment repair experience proves it is not uncommon for spray techs to use their spray tank as a trash can.

Here is a great example.  Client brought their weed sprayer in for service, reporting pump not functioning properly.  We found the power sprayer filter clogged with disposable rubber gloves.  The white stuff is dried herbicide.  The tech assumed that since there is a hole in the top of the tank, it must be for trash.

This spray equipment problem is common.  Some of the stuff we have found in tanks (power sprayer and manual sprayers): beer cans, soda cans, food wrappers, rocks, men's underwear, Honda pull cord.  The most common foreign object found in spray tanks: labels from pesticide & herbicide labels.  Often the debris gets caught in the filter.   Sometimes debris can clog the output line starving the pump.  This is particularly a problem with top pickup, which uses a pickup tube to suck material to the top of the tank.   Heavy stuff like rocks usually sits in the bottom of the tank.

Here are some key points:
1.  instruct techs that nothing goes in the tank except water and chemical
2.  techs don't listen, so
3.  re-instruct techs that nothing goes in the tank except water and chemical.
4.  spot check filters regularly to find/remove any debris
5.  periodically completely clean out spray tank. For manual sprayers, clean out monthly; power sprayers  clean out quarterly.
6.  run clean water through the entire system to help prevent chemical buildup. Consider using a tank cleaner product to increase effectiveness of cleanout.

Read more: http://www.qspray.com/blog/#ixzz2LN7RIgO1

Power Sprayer Debris - What's That Turd Doing in There?

What is this junk and how did it get into the power sprayer? 

Technician brought his power sprayer in last week and said it wouldn't spray.  Our power sprayer experts checked all the usually suspects when someone brings in a weed sprayer or pest sprayer with a problem:
- Clogged filter
- Clogged tip
- Air leak, etc.
Couldn't find a problem.  Then they started blowing out hoses to attempt to find a clog.  None of the hoses were overly clogged.
Eventually they determined that the hose reel hub was almost completely clogged with a soft sludge.  They pulled the input hose off the reel and blew out the brown green crap you see above (George Washington wasn't clogging the reel, he is provided for size comparison).
Think of how hard the pump had to work to push water through or against this stuff.  The pump life was definately shortened because of it.
 It is critcal to clean out your power sprayer periodically.  Run clean water throught the system.  Once a month would be great, though most people don't even do it once per year.
If it has been a while since you cleaned our your sprayer, you probably need to check the hoses and fittings as well.  Use a compressor to blow air through each hose.  Be sure to blow the debris out of the system, not deeper into it.

If fittings are getting clogged, replace them.  It is faster to replace them then to try to clean them out.
Here is a earlier post detailed power sprayer tank clean out.

Power Sprayers with Multiple Tanks - Possibilities

There are a million ways to configure Power Sprayers with multiple tanks.  I will share some combinations of power sprayer in this blog post and will expand on pros & cons in future posts.
Multiple tanks on your power spray equipment can help boost productivity and improve results by ensuring you have the product you need at a given job.  There are other considerations of course: cost, space and cross contamination to name a few.  Because multi-tank sprayers are more complicated, employee skill level & training can be an important factor.

Dual tank power sprayer trailer with single pump.  This gives you two products (e.g., pre & post emergent or pest & termite) on your job site.  The downside is product cross contamination.  The line is contaminated from where the lines from the tank come together all the way through the entire system to the spray gun.





Power spray rig with single tank, but 2 hose reels.  Allows 2 technicians to apply product at the same time to get the job done faster.   It is important to select a pump that can drive both reels at the same time.






Dual tank power sprayer with dual hose reels.  This boosts productivity and can reduce the volume of cross contamination if one tank is always used with one hose reel.  If using both reels for one tank, the amount of contamination is increased.






Power sprayer with complete redundancy.  2 separate power sprayer systems, each with tank, pump, motor & reel.  Zero contamination. 
Downside - costs more, takes more space.

When buying a complex power spray rig with dual components, it is critical to spend time up front thinking about EXACTLY how spray techs will be using the system. Get input from colleagues and technicians.  Select a power sprayer vendor you trust who can help you understand all the decisions that must be made and the impact of each on your business.

Pest Control Sprayer Filter - Tips to Eliminate Downtime

Pest control sprayers need love too. The best thing you can do to reduce pest sprayer downtime is pay attention to your filter. Would you like to boost productivity, improve service and reduce repair expenses? When it comes to pest industry spray equipment, the single most effective means of achieving these results is proper filtration. Filtration is the removal of suspended foreign material from water. Foreign material can be dirt, sand, rocks, trash or anything else that makes its way into your spray tank, other than the chemical you've added. clean your pest control sprayer filter Filtration is critical to pest management professionals because debris will wreak havoc: damage pumps; clog hoses, guns and tips and starve pumps of water, causing extensive damage. Our service facility estimates that almost 50 percent of sprayer repairs are avoidable if proper filtration design and operation is implemented. While I'm focusing on power sprayers in this column, much of the information also applies to B&G sprayers and Birchmeier backpacks. POWER SPRAYER FILTRATION DESIGN Design includes equipment selection, placement and access. Selection should be based on material being applied, quality of water, technician compliance and the type of pump. Most PMPs can get by with one line strainer between the tank and pump. Note that a line strainer refers to the complete unit, which contains a metal filter. However, the mesh of the filter is important: Too fine, and it will clog quickly; too coarse, and small debris will get through. If your water source is poor, use additional filtration. For example, many termite pretreaters in new home developments rely on water lines filled with debris. For some clients, we've added a line strainer on the hydrant fill line, a filter basket in the tank fillwell and/or two line strainers between the tank and pump. In the last situation, the first filter is coarse and the second is fine — a combination that works well to eliminate most debris. Some pumps require more filtration than others. Roller pumps, for example, are sensitive to debris and require better filtration than diaphragm pumps. It's critical that the filtration device be located for easy technician access. This includes being able to easily reach and check the filter, as well as ensuring the system is plumbed so the filter can be checked without causing a spill. If the tank is bottom-plumbed and the strainer is below the water level in the tank, be sure to install a shut-off valve so the filter can be checked even when the tank is full. Whatever filtration system you and your equipment provider design, try to standardize it across all your vehicles. POWER SPRAYER FILTRATION OPERATION Checking and cleaning the filter is the single most valuable preventative maintenance task you can perform. It's also the easiest. For new equipment, check the filter daily. If there's consistently no debris, consider reducing the frequency. When you determine the appropriate frequency, make it a company policy. Too often is better then too seldom. Reinforce the importance of checking and cleaning the filter. POWER SPRAYER FILTRATION MAINTENANCE Eventually the filter will become too dirty to clean. Replace it. Chemicals will eventually swell the gasket in the line strainer, making it impossible to create an airtight seal and causing the pump to suck air. Replace the gasket. Equip each vehicle with an extra filter and gasket so the technician can perform this repair in the field. If you've standardized your filtration, this is easy. Eventually the line strainer body may crack, causing an air leak. This requires replacement of the entire unit. These steps, if followed, will boost productivity, allow you to provide better service to your customers and reduce repair expenses. Read more: http://www.qspray.com/blog#ixzz2Dv04NwzS

My Electric Power Spray Rig Won’t Pump

Electric Power Spray Rig used for weeds was brought in.  Client reports Shurflo pump won’t spray.  We took the pump apart and decided that was not the problem.                

Photo shows the blue sludge that found at the bottom of the tank, clogging everything.
Some chemicals, in this case herbicides, don’t combine well.  Potential problems: down time, missed appointments, repair expense, over time, wasted gas returning to the job site, etc.

This problem can be easily avoided.  It is critical that you periodically clean out your power sprayer tank to prevent this type of thing from happening. 

Read my post in Spray Equipment Tank Cleanout.

Pest Control Spray Rigs - See Problems Before You Buy

Pest control spray rig brought in for service.  We noticed some obvious problems:

1.  Hose into pest control sprayer filter is kinked.  This restricts flow to the pump, which will eventually cause problems.

2.  Fittings are plastic.  Plastic fittings don't hold up to heat, cold or time.  This is particularly a problem on the input and output of the filter.  The technician will (or should be) checking the filter frequently.  Opening and closing the filter will torque the plastic fittings which will eventually break, causing downtime and possible chemical spills.

3.  There is no shut off valve before the filter (you can't see it in this photo, but take my word for it). 
Because this tank is plumbed from the bottom, this means you can't check the filter when there is water in the tank.  Filters should be checked frequently, not just if the tank happens to be empty.  This is a problem waiting to happen.

Be sure to check your power spray equipment for design problems such as these.  These problems are very inexpensive to fix.  A few dollars spent on improvements will prevent much more expensive downtime, repairs, and chemical spills.

Pest Control Sprayers - PPE Required

When using pest control spray equipment or weed control sprayers to apply chemicals, the law says you must use personal protective equipment. I believe most spray techs use PPE when spraying.

The issue I see is all the other time. Anytime you are in contact with your sprayer equipment, you should be using PPE. I don't think this is what is actually happening out there.

Some examples:

1. Spray Tech brings his leaking gun into our shop for repairs. He is NOT wearing PPE.
2. Spray Tech shows us a leak in his spray hose. While unwinding the hose to find the leak, he is NOT wearing PPE.
3. Spray tech needs a replacement part. He does not know the name of the part so he sends us this photo. He is NOT wearing PPE.                

Everyone we talk to says they use PPE all the time.  Our own eyes tell us that is not the case.

Pest control & weed control technicians - you only have 1 body and 1 life.  Don't risk it.  Use your PPE anytime you are touching your power spray equipment.

Power Spray Equipment Problems

Power sprayer users sometimes put up with problems that ought to be repaired.  Here are some truisms when it comes to pest control sprayers & weed control spray rigs:
1.  Spray equipment problems always get worse
2.  The longer you wait to fix a spray equipment problem the more money & time it will cost
3.  Water anywhere it is not supposed to be is a problem
4.  Spray equipment problems will not go away by themselves.

Here is a photo of a power sprayer reel that was recently brought to our shop.  This was so great, I had to share it.

When you have a leak, tend to it promptly.  If you don't, it will get worse and cause problems like downtime, chemical spills, missed appointments, etc.

Do you similar stories or photos?  Please share.

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:

Arizona Spray Equipment – Don’t Create Problems for Yourself

Keeping your power spray equipment in great running condition is tough enough without creating your own problems.
A technician came in recently for some service. When we went out to service his truck mount sprayer, we saw the following condition (photo).
The technician had carelessly leaned his inspection ladder on top of his spray pump. While we didn’t notice any damage, we pointed out that a good jolt could result in an expensive repair bill if the ladder were to hit the pump.
We recommend that spray technicians do a quick check of their equipment to be sure everything is secure. We recommend owners and managers perform periodic truck inspections to identify hazardous and potentially expensive conditions like this one.
Please share your comments.