B&G Sprayer Care Tips for Pest Control Companies: Less Downtime, Longer Life

B&G sprayers are critical to your pest control business. Here are some quick tips to keep your technicians' sprayers working and your repair costs down.

Daily Habits for Technicians

Check it out: Have technicians do a quick check of their equipment before leaving their starting point, whether home or the office. This can be as simple as a visual inspection, then pressurizing the unit and a quick spray to confirm it's working. My philosophy: if you're going to have a problem, have it somewhere you can do something about it, not out in the field.

Take it easy: Make sure technicians aren't over-pressurizing their sprayers. Over-pressurizing causes parts to fail and leads to downtime, missed appointments, and higher repair costs.

Take the pressure off: You'll get longer life and fewer problems from your sprayers if technicians relieve the pressure when they're done.

It's a spray wand, not a crowbar: Our repair shop sees many wands and tips damaged from opening cabinet doors, being dragged on the ground, and other uses they weren't built for.

Tip cleaning: Follow the manufacturer's directions for cleaning tips. This usually means a soft-bristle brush and a mild cleaner. Wire brushes, pins, pocketknives, and similar tools will destroy tips.

Freezing: From our Department of the Totally Obvious: don't expose your B&G sprayer to freezing temperatures. It will cost you money. Pest control operators in moderate climates, where freezing isn't a regular occurrence, need to be especially careful.

Check that filter: Make sure technicians check and clean the filter to prevent clogged tips and debris damage. You'll probably need to show them where the filter is.

Keep it clean: Chemical and debris build up inside sprayers, and eventually that causes problems. Rinse sprayers with clean water, and run clean water through the hose, wand, and tip.

Report it: Make sure technicians are comfortable reporting problems. Too often we see techs working with equipment that needs service. Instead of asking for help, they push it past the breaking point, turning a small repair into a major rebuild.

Be Prepared: Don't Wait for Problems

Preventive maintenance = money in the bank: Don't wait for your equipment to fail and cost you productive time. Perform the required preventive maintenance and keep moving parts properly lubricated. For a step-by-step routine, see our guide on how to clean and maintain a B&G sprayer.

Emergency repair kit: Some parts, such as O-rings, check valves, and gaskets, can be easily replaced in the field. Prepare a small emergency repair kit for each technician so they can make a simple repair and keep running their route. A B&G Sprayer Tune-Up Kit or GD-124 Repair Kit is a good starting point.

Proper storage: Make sure trucks have a secure place for each sprayer. We often see damage from sprayers bouncing around or being stepped on and crushed by other equipment. A B&G Caddy Security Rack keeps sprayers upright and protected.

Tracking: Track equipment failures to see which parts are failing, which replacement parts to stock, and which equipment isn't right for your service program. Track failures by technician to spot training opportunities.

Summary

B&G sprayers are critical to your company's success. Invest the time to train employees and maintain your equipment, then follow up to make sure it gets done. That keeps employees productive and on schedule, customers happy, and repair costs to a minimum. When you need parts, shop our full line of B&G sprayer parts. Orders placed by 2 PM MST ship the same day.