How to Clean and Maintain your Spray Foam Equipment

by Kristen White Blogger

Spray foam insulation equipment is a big expense. However, with proper maintenance and service, it will serve you for a long time in return for your investment. Ensuring your rigs are correctly cleaned, maintained, and stored will save you time and money and ensure your projects run more smoothly.

Part of maintaining your spray foam rig is cleaning it regularly. Not cleaning and maintaining a rig can result in inoperable equipment, costly repairs, and even injury. In some cases, lack of proper maintenance can lead to having to replace your spray foam equipment more frequently. These are some tips on how to clean and maintain your spray rig foam equipment.

Prepare the machine for cleaning
Initial preparation is necessary before cleaning your spray foam gun. To prepare your machine, follow the pressure relief and flush coating procedures. Only after you have released the pressure and prepared the machine for cleaning can you clean the pump.

Clean the pump
To clean the pump, move the gun to the flushing bucket and engage the trigger. Turn on the machine and cycle the pump until the flushing fluid appears clear. When it does, turn off the machine and release the trigger.

Clean the hose

When you are finished cleaning the pump, the next step is to clean the hose. It is best to place the gun in the flushing bucket and purge the hose. Rinse it off until the fluid that is draining from it is clear. Then adjust the pressure control to the lowest setting, disconnect the power and remove the filters from the sprayer and gun.

Clean the filters
Once you remove the filters from the hose, you should clean them together with the guard using a soft bristle and flushing liquid. If you happen to flush your spray with water, you should use a pump armor or mineral spirits to protect your machine from corrosion or freezing. Then wipe the sprayer gun and hose with a rag soaked in mineral spirits or water.

Weekly maintenance checks
Parts of your spray rig can become clogged. So, check your filters every week to ensure nothing is blocking them and to be sure the throat seal liquid moves through the wet cup and back to the reservoir correctly.

Check the O-Rings
Do not forget to check and change the O-rings that seal the fluid-handling parts of the gun. O-rings are prone to wear and tear and can damage easily, leading to a range of issues that can cause a shutdown.

Cleaning and maintaining your spray foam equipment is the best way to prevent expensive repairs and replacement fees. Following these tips will help you ensure your spray foam guns and machines serve you well for many years.