The 5 Top Commercial Pest Control Sprayers for Your Pest Control Business
The commercial pest control sprayers you choose for your business play a major role in your success. Use the checklist in this post to select the right pest control sprayer for your company’s needs.
Staff Contributor
Choosing the right equipment is crucial for the success of any pest control business. Whether you’re a seasoned pest control technician or a new business owner, the tools you deploy can make a significant difference in your efficiency and effectiveness on the job.
Among these tools, commercial pest control sprayers stand out as essential for a variety of applications, from residential to large-scale commercial spaces.
In this article, we’ll delve into the benefits of commercial pest control sprayers and provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to choose the right one for your needs.
We will also highlight the top five commercial pest control sprayers currently available on the market, ensuring you have all the information needed to make an informed decision.
Let’s get started!
The Benefits of Commercial Pest Control Sprayers
Commercial pest control sprayers are quite different from those made for residential use. This is because pest control professionals use their sprayers all day, every day, not just a few hours here and there.
If you own a pest control business, having the right sprayer is essential. You may also need a pesticide sprayer if you work as a landscaper or cleaning contractor.
The best sprayer for your unique needs will give you greater efficiency on every job. This translates to more revenue because you can fit more jobs into each day.
For example, a commercial sprayer with a broad application nozzle allows you to cover more area with each pass. If you have a large property to cover, you’ll be able to finish in less time with the wider nozzle.
Having the right tools also improves customer satisfaction. First, you get each job done faster, which clients appreciate.
Second, you can home in on the specific pest problem for each customer. One client may need a broad application of repellent sprayed across a long hedge row to keep deer away.
Another may need insecticide targeted at a precise area under the home to kill a fire ant queen and get rid of an infestation. Commercial pest control sprayers are designed with features in mind to give you these desired results.
They are also made to stand up to the rigors of professional use. The right sprayer will be reliable for multiple years, so you get a good return on your investment.
Finally, the best commercial pest control sprayers are made with workers in mind. They’re comfortable to hold for long periods. And they’re efficient to deploy and put away quickly on every job.
Some sprayers are made to be mounted on your truck permanently. Others can be worn like a backpack for the ultimate in portability.
You may need only one type of sprayer, or you might want several kinds. This depends on the type of work you do and how many employees you have.
How to Choose the Right Pest Control Sprayer
Before we provide a checklist for selecting the right sprayer, it’s important to understand how commercial sprayers work.
There are two basic types of commercial pest control sprayers:
- Hydraulic: spray a higher volume of product faster, usually through a mist or fog application for broad and uniform distribution
- Low volume: lighter spray but may be more concentrated and may require manual operation vs. a motor or battery power
Sprayers are constructed of different parts with their own functions:
- Tank: holds the pesticide being applied
- Pump: propels pesticide out of the tank
- Hose: carries pesticide from the tank to the nozzle
- Pressure regulator: manages pressure in a motorized sprayer
- Engine: powers the pump in a motorized sprayer
- Nozzle: applies the pesticide where needed
As mentioned above, some commercial sprayers are very portable. Canisters with handles and backpack-style sprayers fall into this category.
Other sprayers are meant to be mounted on the back of a pickup or utility truck. The tank stays in place, and the pesticide is delivered via a long hose on a reel that resembles a traditional garden hose.
The largest sprayers are skid mounted. This means they go on a trailer or attachment to be pulled behind an ATV or tractor. They have extra-large capacity tanks that can hold hundreds of gallons of pesticide. These are best for big jobs over broad areas, like golf courses, farms, parks, and sports facilities.
How do you select the best commercial pest control sprayer for your business? Ask yourself the questions below to narrow down your search and choose the right model(s) for your needs.
What Is Your Budget?
What you can spend on a sprayer will limit your choices to some degree. You must look at how many sprayers you need in total and divide your total budget by that number. That tells you roughly how much you can spend on each sprayer.
However, you may decide you want one truck-mounted sprayer for big jobs and several small sprayers for smaller ones. You may also need different types of sprayers for various kinds of work.
For instance, you may want one sprayer for yard and landscaping applications. You may choose another for applying pesticide inside a customer’s home in a very precise way.
What Type of Pest Control Does Your Company Do?
Next, you need to consider the type of work your business does for clients. Do you work mostly inside apartment buildings and dormitories? Or do you serve customers in a rural area with large yards that need wide-scale pesticide application?
If you fit the former category, you may only need small handheld sprayers that work in close quarters. Long nozzles that focus the pesticide in one spot will work well under sinks for cockroaches, for instance.
But if you need to do outside work, you may want a truck-mounted or backpack model. You’ll also probably want a fog sprayer or wide nozzle to cover large swaths of ground quickly and efficiently.
What kinds of pests are you controlling for clients? This will depend on both your geography and customer demographics.
Do you eradicate ants or prevent rodent intrusions? You will need sprayers designed specifically for these types of work.
Or perhaps you do a little of everything? You likely need a few different kinds of commercial sprayers.
Do You Have a Dedicated Truck or Fleet of Trucks?
If you operate out of a car or certain vans, you may not want pest control sprayer models that need to be permanently mounted. You’ll need portable versions like canisters or backpacks.
But if you use trucks, have you thought about the efficiency of truck-mounted models? You won’t have to refill the tanks nearly as often. And your workers can park in one place and unwind the hose to cover the ground they need to.
What Kinds of Chemicals Do You Work With?
There are thousands of pesticides on the market today, from natural solutions to more toxic compounds. And they all have different chemical makeups.
Sprayer tanks are designed to be used with specific chemical classes. For example, more acidic pesticides require tanks that won’t erode from the acid.
Check with the container requirements for the pesticides you use in your projects. They should tell you if you need a certain type of plastic or metal for safety and durability.
Which Sprayer Features Would Help with Work Efficiency?
As mentioned above, you want commercial pest control sprayers that make your work more efficient. This will give you good results for positive reviews. And it will let you squeeze more clients into every week to maximize income.
Look at the features that come with any sprayer you’re considering for purchase. You don’t want to pay for bells and whistles you don’t need. But some features, like the ones listed below, will come in handy:
- Interchangeable nozzle spray tips or guns
- Lighter-weight engines on backpack models
- Easy-to-read pressure regulators
- Brass pumps that last the longest
- Clear tanks to see the volume of pesticide
- Lids that allow for easy refills and cleaning
- Hoses that resist abrasion and punctures
- Rechargeable battery power for handheld models
- Designs that minimize wastage or environmental damage
What Are Your Storage Needs?
Many pest control professionals use different types of equipment by the season. You may be fighting ants for your customers in springtime, gnats in summer, and spiders in fall. So, you could be storing unneeded equipment when it’s not in use.
Be sure that any sprayers you purchase can be stored in the space you have available. This includes on your truck, in a shed, or in a garage. Sprayers that come apart and easily reassemble will make storage easier.
Have Your Technicians Expressed a Preference for Certain Types of Applicators?
It’s smart to ask your employees what kinds of commercial sprayers would work best for them. Are they experiencing any of these problems with existing sprayers?
- Clogging or malfunctioning
- Constant tank refilling
- Difficulty cleaning or switching products
- Time-consuming assembly and disassembly
- Poor ergonomics causing pain or strain
The more you include users in your selection process, the more you’ll increase productivity. Better productivity leads to higher profits.
And you can improve employee job satisfaction and retention. You’ll also potentially reduce sick days or even workers’ compensation claims due to fewer repetitive use injuries.
This is worth pondering—in just one quarter of 2021, nearly one-tenth of all American adults suffered a repetitive strain injury. Almost half of those individuals limited their activity for at least 24 hours following the injury. This includes taking days off work.
What Are Your Expectations for Durability and Reliability?
Some commercial pest control sprayers may cost more, but they’re made to last for years. Ideally, you don’t want to buy less expensive models that wear out quickly. This takes time away from work and slows down employees who have to get up to speed with new sprayers.
Plus, you don’t want a sprayer breaking down in the middle of a job. That could leave your workers high and dry and affect your income.
And it won’t make your clients happy either. You might not be able to finish a job and have to come back later. Or the results could be subpar. Unhappy clients tend to leave damaging negative reviews online.
Therefore, read commercial pesticide sprayer reviews carefully. Look for high ratings for longevity and ease of use. Also, responsive customer service is a boon. If you have a problem with a product, you want it resolved quickly to minimize downtime that affects revenue.
The 5 Top Commercial Pest Control Sprayers for Your Pest Control Business
The following are expert recommendations for top commercial pest control sprayers. You’ll find a variety of models to meet the various needs described above.
Chapin 20000 1-Gallon Lawn and Garden Poly Tank Sprayer
For outdoor use with lawns, gardens, and home perimeters, this Chapin model definitely deserves a look. Users rate it highly for the in-tank anti-clog filter. The translucent tank lets you see exactly how much fluid you have left.
A funnel design at the neck reduces splashing on refills—a nice safety feature. The pump handle makes for easy carrying.
With a 34-inch PVC hose and 12-inch wand, users won’t have any trouble with reach. Choose from a stream or shower with the adjustable nozzle. Users report getting up to 20 feet of spray.
Reviewers tout this sprayer for its durability at a reasonable cost. This is a model that small pest control businesses could buy in multiples without breaking the bank.
IK Multi Pro 12+ Sprayer
IK makes a great line of sprayer products that are perfect for smaller pest control jobs. The Pro 12+ is a solid option if you want both versatility and strength.
In addition to pest control, it works for cleaning and disinfecting, too. And it’s resistant to acids and many aggressive chemicals.
Check out these additional features that might make it a good choice for you:
- Easy to use
- Ergonomic design
- Adjustable conical nozzle
- Over 2-gallon capacity
If this particular model isn’t right for your business, be sure to explore others in the IK line. There are both larger and smaller models and some that are resistant to different types of chemicals.
Tomahawk 3.7-Gallon Turbo Boosted Backpack Mosquito Fogger
For landscape professionals who also do pest control, this Tomahawk fogger may be a nice option. It doubles as a leaf blower, so you get two tools for the price of one.
But even if you’re just buying it as a fogger, it has multiple appealing features:
- With 40 feet of reach, spray an acre of land in under half an hour.
- The turbo boost pump gives users at least 25 feet of vertical use.
- The backpack design makes this unit portable for ease of use.
- Padding in the backpack reduces vibration and operator fatigue.
- The volume can be lowered for use around homes and structures.
- It works on mosquitoes, ticks, flying insects, and more.
This fogger features a powerful two-stroke engine. It meets the top emissions standards everywhere in the US.
The Tomahawk is a step up from smaller sprayers at $400. However, it may be an excellent investment for pest control and yard maintenance professionals who work on large yards.
Gregson-Clark 12-Volt PCO Sprayer
Looking for a sprayer to mount in a smaller pickup truck or van? This Gregson-Clark sprayer is the answer. Its compact and low-profile design allows it to fit in smaller spaces than other models.
The reel holds up to 200 feet of 3/8-inch hose. A Green Garde GES spray gun is included as standard. But other gun options are available if you prefer a different gun.
It’s important to note that this model isn’t recommended by the manufacturer for continuous use all day. But it’s a terrific entry into the world of mounted sprayers to see how they work for your business. If you find your company needs mounted pest control sprayers to meet more heavy-duty use, Gregson-Clark has plenty of options.
QSpray 200 Gallon Single Axle Trailer Sprayer
Do you provide pest control services for large properties where you really need to cover a lot of ground quickly? Do you have an ATV or tractor? This trailer sprayer is the next best thing to a dedicated sprayer truck.
Features to appreciate include:
- A steel construction heavy-duty single-axle trailer
- A poly tank that holds 200 gallons of liquid
- A 5.5 horsepower commercial-grade engine
- 180 degrees of swivel in the reel assembly
- Can be used for both pest and weed control
QSpray carries a host of other spraying equipment and parts for pest control professionals. This makes for easy one-stop shopping. They have a sales and support phone line, so you can get your questions answered easily too.
How to Get Started Selecting a Commercial Pest Control Sprayer Right Now
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Check product descriptions carefully. Some sprayers come with necessary accessories. Others sell them separately, which can jack up the price.
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There are multiple ways you can save money to maximize your budget. First, look for sale items, especially in the offseason. Second, consider buying used sprayers in excellent condition. You may find them for sale from other companies upgrading their equipment. Third, see if buying in bulk gets you a discount.
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What are your top competitors using? If they are dominating the field, it may be that their equipment is a step above. You might be able to tell from their trucks or from customer reviews what models they’re using. Or the information could even be on their website.
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Do you belong to any pest management professional organizations? They might help you get a discount on spraying merchandise. And they may have recommendations for the best quality equipment.
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Where do you expect your pest control business to be in a year or two? You may wish to buy extra equipment now if it saves you money in the long term. Plus, it will light a fire under you to stick to your growth goals. You’ll have an incentive to take on more clients or hire more technicians.
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Once you purchase equipment, how do you manage your inventory and maintenance? Try pest control business software. This way, you can keep track of cleaning, repairs, and warranty information to get the most from your investment.
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