Are You Regularly Cleaning Out Your Compressed Air Sprayer?

Editor’s note: Andrew Greess, a pest control equipment expert and president of equipment website Qspray.com, submitted this feature on the importance of putting a maintenance plan in place.

© Andrew Greess

Want to reduce problems with your compressed air sprayers and backpack sprayers? One of the best ways to do that it to regularly clean out your sprayer.

Chemical and other detritus can build up in your sprayer tank.  When the debris breaks loose, it will wreak havoc on your sprayer, by clogging hoses and spray tips.  This leads to missed appointments and expensive downtime.

When pest professionals dispose of chemical containers, we use a triple rinse system.  We recommend a similar process for compressed air sprayers.

(1) Visually inspect the inside of the tank.

(2) If you see chemical build up inside the tank, use a long brush to scrub it clean.  

(3) Fill the tank about one-third full with clean water.  Give the sprayer a really good shake to ensure the water reaches the entire inside surface of tank.  Dump the water out.  Remember this rinsate may contain chemical so be sure to dispose of it properly. (NOTE: If the tank is really filthy, consider using adding tank cleaner to the water.  NEVER use bleach or harsh cleaners in your sprayer.  NOTE: A tech once brought a 1-gallon compressed air sprayer into our shop for repair.  He had put bleach in the unit to clean it.  The bleach ate holes in the brass wand.)

(4) Repeat step 3.

(5) Fill the tank about ¼ full.  Put the lid back on.  Pump up the sprayer and run clean water through the entire sprayer for a minute or two.

We recommend performing this cleanout weekly. 

A clean tank is a good tank.  A little effort will be repaid in reduced frustration and downtime as well as fewer, less expensive equipment repairs.  Spend a little time up front to save a lot of time later on.

Andrew Greess is a pest control equipment expert and President of equipment website Qspray.com. Contact him at Andrew@Qspray.com.