Repair, Replace, Maintain

Well-maintained equipment saves time and money, keeps pest control professionals on the job, and helps ensure that their work meets the highest standards of quality possible. Equipment maintenance should be viewed as a long-term investment, not as a short-term cost.

"You’re only as good as your equipment.” That’s something almost any professional would agree on, whether you’re a professional golfer, surgeon or pest control operator.

Every shot, each procedure and every application requires a specific piece of equipment…a putter, a scalpel or maybe a slab injector. If that equipment isn’t in tip-top shape, you may not be able to “pull the shot off,” you could make a deadly mistake, or you could run the risk of an incomplete application.

The bottom line is, to reduce the chance of an incomplete application, PCOs and technicians must take every precaution they can to avoid misapplications and incomplete treatments. Besides selecting a proven, high-performance product that works, following its label to the letter and conducting a thorough inspection of the structure or property, pest control operators and technicians must also dedicate time and thought to regular maintenance of their equipment.

MAKE TIME FOR MAINTENANCE. Another thing most professionals are sure to agree on is that there isn’t enough time in the day. For most technicians, the day starts with picking up a job order for the day, stocking the truck with needed product and equipment and setting off for a long day of pest control. Unfortunately, for some, equipment maintenance sometimes gets put on the back burner.

If this becomes a pattern, it could start costing you. Unattended equipment could result in faulty, leaky, corroded and clogged equipment that can lead to a variety of problems.

Michael Chapman, technical director for Western Exterminator Company in Irvine, Calif., says that while the expense of product and labor greatly outweigh the initial investment of standard equipment, ignoring your equipment could be quite costly.

“Typically, pest control equipment has a long life but it can become costly to the operation if it is not well maintained,” says Chapman. “It’s not worth all the risks to overlook such easy repairs and maintenance.” The risks and costs Chapman is referring to include down time, callbacks, image problems and customer relations problems.

Applicators that have to delay a treatment because they must tend to their equipment and repair it while in the field lose time. Lost time equals lost profits, which over time ultimately affects an operation’s bottom line.

Another cost PCOs encounter because of poorly maintained equipment is expensive callbacks. Callbacks occur for many reasons. If a treatment is applied with faulty equipment, an incomplete application could result. If your equipment does not deliver product completely or effectively because a gasket is worn or a filter is corroded, you could have a retreat on your hands. More importantly, you could also have an angry or disappointed customer.

Eric Snell, vice president of professional products for B&G Equipment Company, Plumsteadville, Pa., echoes those same concerns regarding poor maintenance procedures. Snell, who has been with B&G Equipment Company for 10 years, says there’s an even greater risk that should warrant attention. The risk he’s referring to is the loss of reputation and integrity.

“Callbacks don’t just threaten your bottom line,” says Snell. “They can also harm your reputation as a professional service provider.” Unfortunately, retreats often result from shoddy and poorly maintained equipment. Yet, if you make an investment in time and training for maintenance, you can help safeguard your profits and your reputation.

“Maintenance problems can cost you,” says Snell. “You can make up for lost time and labor, it’ll cost you, but you can do it. But what you can’t make up is a lost customer.” Snell adds that new pest control equipment should pay for itself within the first three jobs. If it doesn’t, operators should make maintenance and upgrades a top priority.

Chapman and Snell agree that simple maintenance procedures like rinsing tanks out at the end of each business day can ensure longer equipment life.

VIEW MAINTENANCE AS AN INVESTMENT. There’s no doubt about it, equipment upkeep and maintenance is time consuming but in the long run it’s well worth the time, effort and investment.

Really Nolen, president of Really Innovations, Cocoa Beach, Fla., adds that performing minor repairs and investing in inexpensive replacement parts such as a $10 filter, which is the heart of the service pump, can be a smart move. In many cases, these efforts can end up saving an operator the entire investment of the pump and can help protect against the high cost of potential callbacks.

Nolen adds that some products on the market are more forgiving and cause less wear and havoc on equipment if maintenance slips. He adds that if equipment such as in-line injectors or hand sprayers become clogged and corroded, the accuracy of chemical placement decreases drastically. Nolen says that an application at full label rate with a product such as Premise Insecticide from Bayer Corporation, is much more forgiving. Snell adds that suspension concentrates (SC) have the added benefit of being kinder to application equipment. A suspension-concentrate such as new Tempo SC Ultra Insecticide from Bayer Corporation is ideal for sprayer, tank and rig application equipment because chemical build-up is reduced, and the product packs the power of a powder in a liquid formulation.

CARING FOR YOUR EQUIPMENT. Every pest control operation should have an equipment maintenance regimen in place with each technician following it methodically. The equipment specialists cited in this article suggest the following be done regularly to avoid costly problems due to maintenance neglect:

• Implement maintenance training and on-the-job training for technicians about the application equipment available and how to care for and maintain it.
  
  
• Keep filters and gaskets clean from product build-up and corrosion. Replace at the first sign of deterioration. This small investment now could save you in the long run.
  
  
• Rinse tanks nightly, or at a minimum once a week, with clean, warm water and a detergent to avoid product build-up. Build-up can result in many problems including clogging and corrosion.
  
  
• Avoid algae build-up. This recurring problem can destroy filters, reducing the equipment’s effectiveness and can cause odor problems. Odor build-up can lead to staining and discoloration of newly applied product to structures.
  
  
• Rinsing tanks and flushing out hoses are extremely important rituals especially if you use more than one product. It’s best if only one product per tank be used to avoid build-up problems.
  
  
• Overhaul all equipment on an annual basis. The off-season is an ideal time to perform such activities and ensure a thorough overhaul because time may be on your side.
  
  
• Consider using a high-performance product such as Premise Insecticide, which tends to be more forgiving and may safeguard against incomplete applications if equipment is not up to par. Well maintained equipment and applications with Premise will reduce the chance of termite retreats and callbacks, according to the manufacturer.
  
  
• Keep new tips on spray rods for an effective and thorough spray pattern.
  
  
• Perform regular calibration tests to make sure calibration and metered equipment is running properly and that the label rate of product is being applied. Errors in calibration can be costly. Product is one of your biggest investments, so use it wisely. Use too much product and you could be throwing away your profits. Use too little and a callback could result because of an incomplete application. This could ultimately hinder your company’s reputation.
  
  
• To extend the life of your hoses, roll them up while they are pressurized. Once rolled, turn pressure off. Pressurized hoses are easier to roll and allow for less product build-up.
  
  
• Overhaul trucks and rigs on a regular basis. Check the oil in company vehicles once a week and change accordingly. Give the same attention to spark plugs and other easy to replace and inexpensive parts.

Susan Donovan is a freelance writer based in Kansas City, Mo. Article courtesy of Bayer Garden & Professional Care, Kansas City, Mo.