Why do you need to keep cleaning sprayer nozzles?

Here at EnviroPro, we deeply empathize with the frustrations of a sprayer not working due to nozzle clogs. Electrostatic sprayers are powerful, technologically sophisticated machines. Why can’t they simply … not clog? Why is cleaning sprayer nozzles so important?

The troublesome reality is that nearly any type of fluid can cause build-up in a nozzle over time. The smaller the opening, the faster a clog will form. The opening must be restricted in electrostatic sprayers in order to produce a very fine mist.

Below, we’ll explain more about why clogs build up in the first place. Even better, we’ll tell you why NozzleClear is a premier solution for killing clogs and preventing them from ever coming back.

The cause of clogs

Dissolved fillers, minerals and other suspended particles in your spraying solution are what lead to clogging.

The everyday example most folks are familiar with is limescale, AKA the crusty whiteish stuff that tends to build up around faucets and kettles. Water generally has some amount of calcium dissolved in it. Over time, as the water evaporates off a surface, it gradually leaves that calcium behind as a rock-hard solid. Other minerals, such as iron and magnesium, can deposit and build up in the same fashion.

Depending on the disinfectant, deodorizer, herbicide, etc., that you’re using in your electrostatic sprayer, it will have different minerals and compounds present. But the process by which a blockage is established remains very similar across all types of solutions.

Is it possible to prevent nozzle clogging?

Yes! Here are a few easy strategies to help prevent nozzles from clogging in the first place.

Always read the label

This first step should be a no-brainer. Before spraying ANYTHING through an electrostatic or conventional sprayer, read the chemical label in its entirety. If you’re working with a concentrate, the label should provide a ‘use by’ window for after the concentrate is mixed up.

If a mixture is allowed to sit for longer than what the label recommends, settling and evaporation can cause a much higher risk of clogging the nozzle. Not to mention the solution’s effectiveness will likely become compromised.

Mind your mixture

Another vital piece of label information is the appropriate ratio of concentrate to water. Some chemicals, such as quaternary ammonium and sodium hypochlorite, are prized for their non-corrosivity. However, this only applies when the concentrations follow label recommendations. Extremely high concentrations can cause the stainless steel tip of a nozzle to break down. Once the nozzle tip begins to corrode, future clogs can be unfixable.

Rinse after use

Finally, the best way to prevent a clogged sprayer nozzle is to regularly flush the system. One option for cleaning sprayer nozzles is to rinse with water only. While this is better than no rinsing at all, the limescale mentioned at the top of the blog will eventually create a blockage. To completely prevent clogs, EnviroPro Solutions created NozzleClear.

With NozzleClear, even the problem of limescale is eliminated. Simply dilute the concentrate (according to the label’s instructions) and run through your sprayer for one minute after every use. Then say goodbye to mineral build-up once and for all.

NozzleClear even works if your nozzle is already blocked. Simply submerge the affected nozzle in undiluted NozzleClear for 1 hour to return it to perfect working order.