We often hear from sports turf professionals that they don’t ever seem to get the life out of their turf spray equipment that they would like. Common concerns: equipment wears out too soon, employees invent new and ever more creative ways to destroy equipment, equipment is down waiting for repairs, etc.
We have found that turf departments using fertilizer and weed control spray rigs can reduce problems significantly with a few easy steps. We have assembled our list of the Top 10 Spray Equipment Productivity Tips.
1. Check & Clean Your Filter
Design good filtration to prevent debris from getting into your system. Debris will clog or damage pump, plumbing, fittings, hose and spray guns. It will cost you money, reduce productivity through downtime and create expensive repair bills.
Design your filtration based on your water source, type of application, sensitivity of your pump, technician skill. For example, impure water may require more than one strainer. Place filtration so it is easily accessible for technicians to check and clean. If it isn’t easy, they won’t check it and it will cost you dearly.
The biggest secret in spray equipment is “check your filter.” There is nothing you can do with your spray equipment that will save you more money than this simple activity. We repair and replace more fertilizer and weed control spray equipment because of clogged filters than for any other reason. Conduct spot checks to ensure spray techs are cleaning filters.
2. Release the pressure
Take the pressure off. When you are done spraying, release the pressure. Squeeze the handle of your spray equipment so that the system is not under pressure. If you don’t want to waste the material, spray it back into the tank. Your equipment will have fewer breakdowns and will last longer if you remove the stress of constant pressure from the spray components. Never store equipment overnight under pressure.
3. Don’t use higher pressure than needed for the job
Don’t push your equipment to its limits. Our experience is that techs run power spray rigs at high speeds to get their jobs done quickly. This will reduce sprayer life. Your power spray rig can run at extremes for short periods but it is not designed to be run full out all the time. Running “in the red” for extended periods will shorten engine and pump life. Make sure your techs know proper operating ranges. This same holds true for backpacks. Technicians often overpressure backpacks, causing damage and downtime.
4. Clean it out
Rinse your system with clean water periodically to remove old chemical buildup, debris, etc. Chemical buildup & debris can clog your filter, starve your pump, damage spray tips, and play havoc with other components as well. All of these items fall into the category of “not good.” When in doubt, rinse it out. Be sure to follow herbicide labels and laws when cleaning out spray tanks.
5. Don’t wait for failure—Perform Preventative Maintenance
PM will save you time, money, equipment breakdowns, unhappy customers, etc. You are running your equipment hard and pumping strong chemicals through it. It will need service. This service will be much cheaper and less painful if you do it before you need it. Read manufacturer’s recommendations then customize for your use and application. Develop a good relationship with your spray equipment provider and ask for their help.
A good preventative maintenance program is your best friend for reducing equipment down time and improving productivity. A perfect example of this is the diaphragm pumps used by many turf professionals. Many departments wait for the diaphragms to fail before replacing them. Don’t wait. Replace diaphragms at the end of your busy season so you won’t have problems the following year.
6. Don’t ignore problems.
We are constantly amazed at the equipment problems employees will tolerate. They will continue to use leaking pumps, hose, backpacks, etc. Ignoring these problems inevitably leads to higher repair expenses and increased down time. Employees know the equipment better than you. Be sure they know to look, listen and report things that don’t seem right. Encourage your employees to report problems so that you can take the appropriate action before a small problem becomes a big (i.e., expensive) problem.
7. Emergency repair kit
A $2 o-ring can cause hours of downtime. Many simple repairs can be performed by technicians in the field. Field repairs can allow the technician to finish their work before heading to the service site for more thorough repairs. You’ll want to assess technicians’ skill and training to determine which parts you are comfortable with technicians changing in the field. An easy example is to provide the technician with an extra o-ring for the filter.
8. Preflight Checklist
Every pilot has a checklist and goes through a pre-flight routine BEFORE taking his or her plane into the air. Spray techs should do the same thing. A few minutes spent checking equipment at the start of the day can save time and money, as well as preventing downtime that hinders your ability to provide timely service. Here’s the key point. If you are going to have an equipment problem, find it early, at your shop, where it is easier and cheaper to fix. Spray equipment problems get worse and more expensive. Find them sooner rather than later. Technicians should report any problems or exceptions to their supervisor.
9. Training & Retraining
Ensure any technician using a sprayer, power or manual, thoroughly understands how to use it. Supervisors should observe the technician’s operating procedures and check equipment operating pressures, filters, etc. Provide periodic retraining. Train operators to listen and observe sprayers so they can identify problems. Remember, just because you showed him (or her) how to do it on day one, doesn’t mean they are still doing it the way you want.
10. Avoid Freeze Damage
Never expose sprayers to freezing temperatures. Water freezing in sprayers will burst pumps, filters, valves, fittings, spray guns, etc. Take appropriate action BEFORE the freeze. Never run frozen equipment. Let it thaw out. Often times no other repairs are required.
Andrew Greess is President of Quality Equipment & Spray, www.qspray.com, which builds custom landscape, fertilizer & weed spray equipment, designed for safety, reliability, ease of maintenance and productivity. Please share questions and equipment nightmares with Greess at Andrew@qspray.com. If you have comments or more suggestions, please visit our blog, www.SprayEquipmentBlog.com.