Sprayer cleaning and maintenance: keep your sprayer working

Applies to:

All FGI sprayers (CRAFTSMAN, DEWALT, Smith, HDX, LESCO, Universal). These steps prevent the most common failures and keep your warranty valid.

What causes this:

Most sprayer failures we see come from chemical residue. When chemicals dry inside the pump, hose, or nozzle they crystallize and clog the small passages. That is the number-one reason pumps stop working, nozzles spray weakly, and warranties get voided.

How to fix it:

1. After every use, empty leftover chemical into a labeled container or per the chemical maker's disposal instructions.
2. Rinse the tank with about a gallon of clean water and slosh it to break up residue.
3. Spray clean water through the hose and nozzle for at least 30 seconds to flush the pump, hose, shut-off, and nozzle.
4. For strong chemicals (bleach, acid, oil-based), do a second rinse with warm water and a little mild detergent; let it sit in the pump 15 minutes, then rinse clean.
5. Wipe down the outside, including the trigger, fill cap, and threaded fittings.
6. Loosen the pump cap or release pressure before storing.
7. Store in a dry place between 40 and 104 degrees F. Keep battery sprayers stored with batteries fully charged.
8. Each season, inspect the hose for cracks, the nozzle for clogs, and O-rings and seals for swelling or wear. Replace anything worn before it fails mid-job.