Photo Credit: Andrew Greess
When it comes to parks and recreation spray equipment, the single most effective means of boosting productivity, improving service, and reducing repair expenses is proper filtration. While filtration is defined as the removal of suspended foreign material, such as dirt, sand, rocks, or trash, it can also include unusual debris, such as chemical bottle labels, soda cans, rubber gloves, men’s underwear, and fish.
Filters are measured by plumbing size and mesh. Plumbing size (either ¾ of an inch or 1 inch) relates to water flow in gallons per minute, while filter mesh determines the size of the materials that pass through: too fine, and the machine will clog quickly; too coarse, and small debris will get through. A missing filter or a filter with too coarse a mesh will allow debris into the sprayer, where it can damage the pump, clog spray guns and tips, or accumulate in lines where it will eventually cause further damage or downtime. Too fine a filter or a clogged filter will prevent water from reaching the pump. The pump then runs too hot and destroys itself.
Filtration can be divided into three topics: