Pest Control Sprayer Problem #1 – Thinking You Know Everything

Pest control sprayer problems cost you money.

If you have been bored enough to actually read my stuff, you have heard me say over and over again, clean your pest control spray rig filter. Cleaning your filter prevents all kinds of equipment problems: pump damage, clogged spray tips, etc. I used to think this was the most important thing a pest control professional could do to reduce problems with their pest control sprayers.

I’ve changed my mind.

This is a photo of a filter (line strainer) from a pest control power spray rig. As you can see it is filthy. This filter hasn’t been cleaned weeks, or perhaps months.

Here’s the kicker: this filter is from a pest control truck from a very large pest control company. I have offered to do training, FOR FREE, many times for this company. Any time one of their managers comes into our shop, I explain that their techs are not finding obvious issues and these issues are causing downtime and unnecessary expense.

I have offered to do equipment training for the pest control technicians to identify problems and prevent downtime. Each time I have been told no. One manager told me, “we have the best training program in the industry”. He didn’t say it, but I imagine the rest of his thought was “so why would we need training from you, you are only an equipment guy”.

For this reason I am modifying my position. The most important thing a pest control professional can do to prevent equipment problems is DON’T ASSUME YOU KNOW EVERYTHING.

I have seen this many times, particularly in the big pest control companies. I know we can save these companies money and we have offered to do it at no charge. Too many people think they can't learn anything new.

Assuming you know everything is dangerous and expensive. Learn all you can. Learn from everyone.

Here is a great quote:

“…every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

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