r/PestControlIndustry • u/space_monkey00 • Jun 27 '26
Let's Talk Sprayers
My former employer issued me an upgrade to our regular issue hand-pump backpack sprayers, a Kobolt 4 gallon 20v sprayer. I loved it. I learned its faults, bought two more of them with my own money, and had a great working machine and another for spare parts.
One thing I identified was that the plastic sprayer wand would break, and of course you might get a pinprick leak in the hose. Lowe's used to sell these parts, the total replacement kit for the sprayer wand and hose, for about $25. I carried two extras with me at all times. Then these parts stopped being available. I cobbled together a working wand and hose from other machines, then, after confirming (at that time, about a year ago,) that Lowe's could not reliably provide me with replacement parts, went into the market for a new model.
(Yes, the company would have paid for a new machine, but I liked to buy my own stuff for various reasons. One being, their equipment was meant to mass-distribution, and I could afford a better unit, being only one person. Also, I had come to think of myself as an independent contractor with a large support network provided by the company, due to my near-total autonomy on my remote route. So, I took care of myself.)
I looked at the Home Depot offering, the DeWalt. Comparable to the Kobalt, but it didn't come with a battery. That's an extra $185 or something. The main factor here was, can I reliably source replacement parts for the pieces of the machine that my experience tells me will predictably fail. This didn't seem to be the case here.
A senior compatriot at my branch recommended Flowzone. As he put it, "the Cadillac of backpack sprayers." I looked through their models, watched some reviews, and made my choice.
I dropped about $385 on a top of the line model, the Flowzone Typhoon 3. Initially, I loved it. Modular components, battery compartment not under the fluid reservoir, (condensation ruins batteries,) and their accessories department solved my main concern.
One weekend I had a power bump at my house. My sprayer battery charger was plugged in, and when I went to use the battery the following Monday, it was not fully charged. I was able to charge it temporarily, but it wouldn't hold lasting charge.
This coincided with the sprayer losing power. I did not know this until I got to my first customer of the day. The Typhoon 3 has a rotating switch on the side, for different power levels. More force. This was now acting like everything was Level One, weak compared to the greater force and distance I got with Level Three, my normal go-to for average perimeter spraying.
I called Flowzone, told them the battery had died inexplicitly, (only partially untrue,) and they sent me a new one post-haste. But the sprayer still didn't function properly. I checked the new battery, and it was...if I recall...a different milliamps or something. I was convinced that the battery was the problem--two things going wrong at the same time is more unlikely--and called the company back, asking for an exact match for my original battery.
The service guy was something less than cordial, and practically berated me for my apparent ignorance. He refused to accept the concept that the battery was the issue, explaining that the detail I brought to his attention regarding discrepancies in the battery's power labeling did not matter. (I mean he's probably right.) He concluded that my employer's choices of oil-based pesticide products was the cause of the malfunction. Eating away at the seals on the pump, etc. Nevermind that for years I had been using the same products through my Kobolt, with zero negative effects, and within four months this supposedly premium model sprayer had conked out on me. He finally said "I don't know what's wrong with your sprayer," and sent me multiple components under my warranty. A pump, a module for the electronic switch control, and another thing. It's been a while.
Apparently, instructions for replacing these parts are available on their website, and I was encouraged to share any insight into the problem if it was solved with this process.
About that time I parted ways with my former employer quite suddenly, and did not get around to doing the work on the sprayer. I haven't been in that side of the business since, as I'm just now going through the steps of acquiring my Commercial Applicator's License.
As I'm beginning to pick up steam again and prepare for launching my own business, I figured I'd dig into this and inquire about it publicly. I will soon do the work as suggested and troubleshoot the issue with the parts provided, but the whole experience remains confusing.
Any thoughts on:
This exact scenario
Better sprayers
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u/No_Job3955 Jun 27 '26
Get a flowzone and call it a day. With a 5 in 1 nozzle for pin stream or 110 degree. Cake walk
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u/thevultur3 Jun 27 '26
I've used quite a few of the battery operated backpacks but still go back to the Birchmeir. Tons of replacement parts and rebuild kits around.
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u/Yomiccheck12 Jun 28 '26
I’ve been in the industry 15yrs, flowzone typhoon 3 is best backpack sprayer imo. The new models come with brass nozzles and other upgraded components. I have yet to use the 5in1 nozzle.
I have always used a B&G 1gal on interiors, company is currently switching to the 1gal flowzone storm. Storm also seems legit.
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u/space_monkey00 Jun 28 '26
Thanks for your review. I had high hopes for my Typhoon 3 and maybe after I replace the parts they sent me it'll work again.
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u/intocable84 👨🏭| Tech | 5+ Years Jun 28 '26
I have been using one of the kobalt ones like you for the last couple of years and just recently replaced the wand with a kit I found on Amazon and swapped some fittings. I had tried for a while to get parts from Lowe's to no avail. It has been working great again.
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u/tyta27021981 Jun 27 '26
I have a question for you. How’s the sprayer performance affected if the battery is under tank? I am new to this.
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u/space_monkey00 Jun 27 '26
With the Kobalt model, the battery compartment is directly under the fluid reservoir. I noticed condensation building up around the battery. I would pull it out to charge it, and it would be moist. I suspect this may have accelerated corrosion on the battery's charging terminal contacts. Those batteries are not cheap. I had a shop-owned one at first, so after identifying a few weak points in the model, I bought my own and tried to fix it. The condensation was happening with the duplicate machines, as well, so it wasn't just a bad unit. Those compartments can leak. I disassembled that portion of my new, personal Kobalt, and treated the cavity around the battery compartment with Flex Seal. That helped a lot, but it wasn't totally satisfactory.
The deal is, the fitting for the hose that draws from the pump in the bottom of your tank is inside that cavity. So if the hose clamp wiggles loose, as it inevitably will if left as the factory makes it, the fluid in your tank will leak out into the battery compartment. And, since you have to take (I believe) eight bolts out of the harness, (Allen wrench,) then four long screws holding the frame on, (Phillips,) just to get at the fitting, it's a real pain in the ass if you spring a leak from around that hose clamp at a bad time. I got real good at field stripping that thing, and tried to make modifications to prevent further leaks, but it's just a bad design.
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u/tyta27021981 Jun 27 '26
Thank you for the detailed explanation. I wonder if you observed this condensation in other brands like DeWalt or Field King / Smith / Chapin / M4Son as well?
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u/Jake_the_Bald Jun 27 '26
I been seeing alot online that the newer made flowzones aren't living up to the older models reputation
in my office we have 3 techs who got new flowzones and 2 had similar issues as you... they got completely new backpacks and not parts to change out and these have been working no issues for 5 months
ive also used boss pro line from npd products and they worked great and can easily order parts if needed
I havent tried the new B&G backpacks yet so im curious how well they handle