Spray Equipment Blog

Weed Control Sprayers - More Problems to Avoid

Weed Control Sprayers - don't make this mistake when buying your sprayer.

The manufacturer of this 12 volt electric spray rig used a cheap plastic fitting at the suction point of the tank.  They did not use a shut off valve.  If (when) the fitting breaks after exposure to extreme temperatures, temperatures variations, bumpy road conditions, etc., the entire tank contents will dump.  There is no way to shut it off.

Here is the right way to do it with metal fittings and a shut off valve.                   

 

 

But wait, there's more!  Look how the tank is secured:

Look how tight the securing steel cable is to the tank.  After a several months of bumps & vibrations, the cable is going to wear through the tank.  Result:  chemical spill.

 

Here is a better picture of the problem mentioned in my prior post.  Too much weight hanging on your hose reel swivel will reduce the life of the orings and cause the swivel to leak much sooner than normal.

 

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how do you like your spray rig?

Pest Control Sprayers - Problems to Avoid When Buying

Pest control sprayers - here are several problems we saw on a rig brought in for service.  Be sure to look for these types of issues BEFORE buying your pest control spray rig.

 

Some of the spray equipment problems we found (click photo to enlarge):

1a.  Pumps mounted upside down.  When the pumps began to leak, the water continually dripped on the motors, burning out both motors.  Total loss.

2a.  Whoever built this rig installed 2 pumps, with the goal of boosting sprayer performance.  It might work if both pumps had the same inputs and could hold the same output pressure.  The pump on the right has an easier suction path so this pump most likely got more use.  Further, these pumps have output pressure switches that turn off the pump when the desired pressure is reached.  What probably happenned is that after a little use the pressure settings varied.  The pump with the lower setting would turn off first.  My guess is that only one of these pumps usually was operating at a time.

2.  Cheap plastic fittings can't hold up in extreme temperatures.  Spend a little more and put good quality fittings on the sprayer.

3.  All this plumbing is hanging off the hose reel swivel.   All this weight reduces the life of the o-rings in the hose reel swivel. This means the swivel will leak a lot sooner than if this weight were not hanging on the swivel. 

There were other problems on this sprayer.  More goodies to come. 

 

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Quality Equipment & Spray spurred by growth acquires a new building.

Quality Equipment & Spray spurred by growth acquires a new building.

Phoenix Company doubles space to meet demand of Pest and Weed Control companies.

 

For Immediate Release: Phoenix spray equipment manufacturer Quality Equipment & Spray has completed the acquisition of a 11,000 square foot commercial building in Phoenix, AZ.  The new space doubles the Company’s current manufacturing and warehouse capacity.   The expansion is needed to meet growth in sales of custom pest control spray rigs and weed spray rigs. 

Quality Equipment & Spray President Andrew Greess stated, “the dramatic growth in sales of our custom spray rigs is being driven by Pest Control business owners who realize that paying a little more for the right sprayer up front saves money through improved technician productivity and reduced downtime”.

The space will also be used for the company’s growth in Internet sales of hard to find pest & weed control equipment from the Company’s website, www.qspray.com.    Quality Equipment & Spray will continue to operate in its existing location at 2016 W. North Lane, Phoenix AZ, 85021.

About: Quality Equipment & Spray is a leading manufacturer of high quality, custom pest control spray rigs & weed control power sprayers.  For more information, contact Andrew Greess at 602.371.1993 or info@qspray.com.

 

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Spray Equipment - Preventing Problems is Key

Pest control spray equipment & weed control spray rig problems happen every day. Many of these problems are completely preventable. If they weren't I wouldn't have anything to blog about.

What can you do to prevent problems?

 

Here is a photo of a recent weed spray rig we built for a large Western US landscaper.   The spray head is removable so the client can spray either side of the vehicle.  The spray head is attached with a pin that locks with a cotter pin.  Both pin and cotter pin are chained to the truck so they cannot be lost. 

Take a close look at your spray equipment vehicles and equipment to identify opportunities to prevent problems.

Weed control spray rig - 5 problems to avoid when purchasing

This weed control sprayer was brought in by a new client who complained the spray never worked the way she needed it to work.  She bought a low cost power sprayer to save money and it shows.

When buying a pest control sprayer or weed control rig it is critical that you know what you are getting.  When looking at this sprayer from a distance it may look ok. But close up or in the field, here are some problems to avoid:

1.  Cheap plastic fittings won't hold up to temperature extremes and variations.  A cheap fitting can cause downtime or worse, chemical spills.  (See the black plastic fittings on the right side of the photo).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  The ball valve in the following photo is supposed to be used to shut off flow to filter so the filter can be checked and cleaned.  The valve is so difficult to reach, the owner rarely checks it.  This will lead to downtime and probably pump problems.  Note also the cheap plastic fittings at the bottom of the tank.  One turn on the ball valve can break a fitting and cause the tank to empty.

 

 

 

3.  In the following photo the line from the tank to the filter is way too tight against the tank.  The hose will vibrate.  Which will leak first: the hose or the tank?  Only time will tell.  It is also more difficult for a technician to service without adequate slack or room to work.  

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Engine.  This is a consumer grade engine, not a commercial grade engine.  For professionals, use the Honda GX commercial series of engines to stand up to the hard use.  Also, engine is mounted too close to the side of the vehicle.  Operator skins her knuckles every time she starts the engine.  On a GX series engine, the recoil could have been rotated 90 degrees to mitigate this problem somewhat.   

 

 

 

5.  Client complained that she couldn't agitate and spray the trees she needed to spray at the same time.  The pump is too small to do both operations.   When buying a power sprayer, be sure to take the time to explain to your equipment vendor how you will be using the sprayer so the correct spray pump can be installed.

 

Comments?

What is the best Pest Control Equipment Storage Method?

Pest Control equipment Storage is a function of vehicle, pest control methodology, tools, employee training (e.g., specialized vs. universal technician, etc.).  There may be a best solution for a particular company, but I don’t believe there is a best solution for the industry.

That said, here are a couple of considerations:

Put the most commonly used items pest control equipment and supplies in the easiest access locations.

Ensure heavy items are located near the side or rear of the truck to prevent back injuries from awkward lifting.

Ensure baits, glue boards, respirators, etc. are stored separately from pesticides so odors are not transferred.

Ensure all equipment is secured, even if it is not in a toolbox.  If not secured, equipment such as B&G Sprayers, backpack sprayers, ladders, etc. can be damaged or become airborne in the event of an accident.

Toolboxes: 

-           Consider drilling holes in the bottom of the box to allow the box to be cleaned out with water

-          Inspect the connection points of the toolbox to ensure the box is securely fashioned to the vehicle

Standardize equipment, storage methods  and locations wherever possible. Standardization makes everything easier, for example training, service, spare parts, repairs, inspections, etc.

Get ideas from others:

Ask employees what they like/dislike

Ask equipment suppliers for advice

At industry  trade shows and conferences, spend time walking the parking lot to see the solutions that others have identified.

 

What ideas do you have?

Thanks to http://alchemypestcontrol.com for suggesting this topic.

Power Spray Equipment - don't live with 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.

 

 

Pest control spray equipment – how to know what you are getting

A new customer brought his Pest Control Sprayer in and told us his Shurflo pump needed service.   He had bought his rig sight unseen and wasn’t familiar with it.  The pump was fine; there were lots of other problems. 

 

1.  His friend had done the wiring.  There was no fuse in the line.  Customer was lucky the pump was not fried.  A section of wiring was bad and this caused the pump issue.                    

2.  This photo shows the filter.  The manufacturer used a plastic fitting in front of the ball valve.  A little exposure to the AZ sun and this fitting would have cracked when the valve was turned.  Possible outcome – 50 gallon chemical spill.

3. The reel was not properly plumbed.  Cox hose reels require some slack in the line feeding the reel so the hose reel swivel can properly  swivel.  Without slack, the o-rings in the swivel will wear out much more quickly, causing a leak and downtime.

4. The lack of slack in the input to the reel will put torque on the elbow fitting coming out of the pump.  This fitting could crack, creating a spill and downtime.

5.  Whoever built this sprayer, hard plumbed the fittings into the pump.  We use special Shurflo wingnut fittings going into and out of the pump.  They cost a little more but because they can be hand turned on and off they make maintenance much easier and quicker compared to this example.

 

Bottom line:  when purchasing pest control spray equipment, know what you are getting or at least who you are dealing with.  Only let friends do work if they are qualified to do it properly and safely.

 

 

Actisol Machines - Great Pest Control Equipment - with Proper Maintenance

Actisol machines are a great pest control tool, if properly mainained.

 

Here are some tips:

- Don't mix oil-based and water-based products in the Actisol.  They can form a gummy residue that clogs hoses, tips, etc.  If you want to switch from one to the other, thoroughly clean the system first.

- If you use the unit infrequently, only mix what you need. Do not store chemical in the tank.

- You can clean water based products out with water.  Oil based products can be cleaned with mineral spirits or a mix of ammonia and water.

- A good operating setting is 12-15 PSI.

- When using oil-based products, it is a good idea to backflush the chemical line after every use.  Here is the procedure:

    1.  while the unit is running, turn the Pressure Regulator off (counter clockwise all the way)

    2.  Push the Pressure Relief button to let the pressure out of the tank

    3.  Unscrew the lid

    4.  Use your index finger (with proper PPE) to block the end of the tip.

    5.  Squeeze the trigger.  This will force air back into the chemical line and push all the chemical back into the tank.

 

Share Actisol tips you have developed.  We now sell Actisol Machines & Actisol Repair Parts.

 

 

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Pest Control Sprayers - Lift Weights at Gym; Not at Work!

Pest Control Sprayer requested by customer was not a good idea in my mind. 

Customer requested VALVED QUICK DISCONNECTS on hose end.  Quick disconnects are a great idea.  They allow technician to quickly change tools for different jobs and to remove tools for repair, maintenance and storage, and allow the gun to spin preventing hose twisting.  In this photo, customer requested the valved style of QD.  

 

Valved QDs allow you to remove the tool without any spillage or leaks, even if the pump is still pumping.  This sounds good but in reality there are 3 problems:

1.  They are heavy

2.  They are expensive

3.  Because they keep the line under pressure, it can be very difficult to remove the gun.

For these reasons, we prefer the unvalved QD with a ball valve shut off.  It is less weight, less cost and easier to remove the gun.   Here is a photo of how we prefer to do it:    

What are your thoughts on QD's?

 

 

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