Have just returned after a day spent in the field with your Cifarelli mist-sprayer; leave the machine on the ground in the store, go out, close the door and… Are you not forgetting something? Go back a moment and look at your mist-sprayer; the liquid tank is very dirty; if you unscrew the cap you can see the residuals of the solution that you used, deposited on the bottom of the tank. Oh well, I have to use it again it in two days… it is normal to get dirty…. All true but, during the two days that the machine “rests”, most of the water left in the tank evaporates, leaving everywhere deposits of pure chemical product. These sedimentary deposits being very much concentrated, as well as to alter the correct ratio of the next dilution of the product (too concentrate or even, if different, mixed with the incrustations of a previous product…), may be very aggressive. In fact, there are commercial products that can be highly corrosive; their prolonged stay in the pure state (undiluted) in the tank, although it doesn’t affect its plastic, could attack some parts inside it, as the transparent pressure pipe; moreover deposits could block the rotation of the white bush under the cap, with the result that the transparent tube twists (see article “the liquid doesn’t come out with the throwing tube in vertical” published on 23/03/2012).
Also the OR gaskets under the two trilobated caps (on the bottom of the tank) could deform, with the possibility of product leakage (is no longer guaranteed the sealing of the gasket); at worst, sometimes there is the breaking of the bush (where is mounted the black cap) due to swelling of the OR ring.
Also the transparent tube that connects the tank to the nozzle, together with the tap mounted on the throwing tube (highlighted in yellow circle), could suffer the action of highly concentrate products.
In case your machine is equipped with a booster and/or a filling pump (PSA, PRA and PSRA models), the pure product deposited inside it could affect the sealing rings; furthermore the sedimentations coagulated block the movement of the pump: in extreme cases, when the encrusted pump is activated, the shaft of the pump may break.
What can you do to avoid all these problems?
Simple ! Each time you return from work, “investe” five minutes of your time to perform the cleaning of liquid tank; it’s a very simple procedure that will ensure a long life for your machine.
- With the liquid tap closed, fill the liquid tank with pure water.
- Open the tap and let flow out the water (it isn’t necessary to start the engine).
To clean the filling pump (if presents) :
- Plunge the suction pipe into a container of clean water.
- Turn on the machine.
- Activate the pump.
In case a booster pump is present:
- Fill the tank with pure water.
- Start the engine.
- Activated the pump for a few seconds.
- Then empty the tank by opening the tap on the throwing tube.
Don’t forget to clean the sieve under the tank cap: pull it out and wash it with water and a brush.
Finally, Remember: don’t waste the water used during washing: it could cause serious damages to the environment. Follow the instructions of chemicals manufacturer for the disposal of unused product.
