Garden sprayer maintenance

[Snagglefoot]

My Chapin brand garden sprayer wouldn’t hold pressure after attempting to pressurize it. After checking the net, the trick was to unscrew the pump unit,find the two tabs at the top of the pump unit, depress the tabs and pull the piston unit out.

Some crud had made its way to the O ring and possibly the foot valve. You can pry out the rubber foot valve at the bottom of the unit with a flat blade screwdriver. The crud must have originated from letting the garden hose hit the ground I guess.

Anyway, after cleaning the O ring, the grove it sits in and the rubber foot valve I put some clear grease on the O ring and reassembled it. It works good as new. ( the “clear” grease was some dielectric grease I had but I’ll bet Vaseline would be fine). The first pic is a closeup of one of the tabs.The third shot has the O ring at lower left and the rubber foot valve at lower right. Enjoy.

 

[PontiacHO]

I buy the least expensive sprayers made. A garden sprayer is an annual replacement item in my opinion. Too many other things that I expend my energy on that actually yields decent results.

 

[Donald]

Do people clean them or leave them as is after spraying?

I have one that is made for bleach for deck cleaner and a few other. And a 4 gallon backpack.

I admit I mostly do not clean them after use.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Do people clean them or leave them as is after spraying?

I have one that is made for bleach for deck cleaner and a few other. And a 4 gallon backpack.

I admit I mostly do not clean them after use.

I don't clean unless there are issues. I have one sprayer for Killex brand 2-4-D and for one Round Up with Glyphosate. I try not to use Round Up but Killex is my go-to for broad leaf weeds.