Commercial Paint Sprayer Maintenance: Tips to Extend Equipment Life

Commercial Spray Equipment of any kind is typically a solid but relatively expensive investment for a spray painting or commercial coating business owner. Just like anything in life, if you take care of it through proper maintenance and repair, your equipment can go along with you for the long haul, ultimately keeping your business costs down, profit margins high, and your customer pricing at its best. At the other end, failure to maintain said equipment can lead to poor customer satisfaction, expensive re-dos, lost time, and reduced profits. Join us as we take you through the easy but recommended steps to properly clean, store, and maintain your commercial spray gun and equipment so that you can save time, money, and protect your investment.

Commercial Spray Gun Maintenance Best Practices

1. Daily Filter Clean - Remove and scrub both the manifold and gun filters daily. Clogged filters will slow down your paint flow and cause the pump to be overworked, leading to less-than-desired finishes and costly, premature equipment failures and repairs. 
2. Maintain the Throat Seal Liquid (TSL) - Check your pumps' wet-cup daily to ensure an ample supply of TSL. TSL, or Throat Seal Liquid, is what keeps your spray guns' pistons lubricated and prevents dried paint from scoring the cylinder while in use. 
3. Replace Worn Spray Tips - Spray tips wear out after running about 20 to 40 gallons of latex paint. Worn tips can cause feathering, overwork your machine, and potentially waste over 20% of your coating. Again, this is an easy fix to prevent frustrating re-dos, unnecessary equipment repairs, and additional materials. 
4. Protect the Pump for Storage - Never, ever store a commercial spray gun pump with just water inside. This can cause rust to form on the inside as well as damage from potentially freezing up in cold weather. Before storing your spray gun and pump, make sure to flush your system with a manufacturer-approved protective fluid like Graco's Pump Armor. 

Paint Sprayer Manifold and Gun Filter Maintenance

• Manifold Filter Maintenance - The Manifold sits at the base of the pump, catching larger chunks of debris before they can enter the high-pressure hose. You should be cleaning your manifold filter after every use or whenever you are switching paint colors. Leaving paint to dry in the filter can restrict fluid pressure, cause uneven coverage, and put unnecessary wear and tear on your pump.

1. Remove- Place a rag or waste bucket beneath the manifold filter bowl to catch any drips. Unscrew the filter housing and carefully remove the filter and internal spring (do not lose the spring!)
2. Clean - Submerge the filter in your flushing fluid. This could be warm, soapy water for latex paint or mineral spirits for oil-based paints. Use a soft-bristle brush like a toothbrush to gently scrub away any paint residue from the mesh and threads. 
3. Inspect - Look closely at the mesh for any tears or collapsed areas. Replace this filter if there is any noticeable damage.
4. Reassemble - Insert the spring back into the housing first, followed by the filter. Hand-tighten the housing securely to prevent any leaks. 

• Gun Filter Maintenance - Gun Filters are designed to catch any residual material right before the paint passes through the spray tip. This not only protects your equipment but also supports the tip for a longer lifespan and ensures that the paint comes out evenly, promoting a good, even coat.

1. Remove - Unscrew the trigger guard or gun handle from the gun body. Carefully slide the filter down, out of the housing chamber. Again, be mindful of that spring!
2. Clean - Soak the filter in flushing fluid and brush away all accumulated pigment. Ensure that the inside of the cylinder is completely clear of debris. 
3. Reassemble - Reinsert the spring into the gun handle, drop the now cleaned filter back inside, and screw the handle firmly onto the gun. 

Cleaning a Commercial Paint Sprayer

Cleaning a commercial paint sprayer involves several easy steps. Proper clean-up prevents clogs and expensive pump corrosion. Let's get into a step-by-step breakdown of how to clean your commercial spraying unit.

1. Purge the System - Set your prime valve to "prime" (or open) and turn the pressure to the lowest possible setting. Place the fluid intake and prime tube into your waste bucket. Turn the sprayer on to push out any residual paint.
2. Flush the Hose - Turn the prime valve to "spray" (or closed). Aim your spray gun into the paint bucket and pull the trigger. Turn on the sprayer and increase pressure until the fluid turns clear or visibly thin before switching over to your waste bucket. Continue to flush until the liquid runs completely clear. 
3. Clean Filters and Tips - Relieve the pressure by turning the prime valve down, engage your trigger lock, and disconnect all power. Unscrew the spray gun and remove the filter, spray tip, and guard. Soak and scrub them using a soft-bristle brush and your required flushing fluid. This is where you would also remove your manifold or intake filter to clean as well. 
4. Final Flush and Storage - Reassemble the unit without the filters attached. Place the intake line into a clean bucket and run the sprayer until the system is fully flushed. For long-term storage or when flushing with water, run a storage fluid like Pump Armor or mineral spirits through the pump post clean to prevent corrosion and freezing.