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Planting, Seeding & Spraying EquipmentSprayer Tank Cleaning
A poorly cleaned tank can hurt your next crop or contaminate water. Cleaning is routine work that deserves a plan, a place to do it and the label in your hand.
Key points
- Read the label first; the label is the law.
- Clean on level ground far from water sources.
- Rinse several times and clean filters and nozzles.
- Never enter a tank without training and proper procedures.
Why does tank cleaning matter?
Leftover residue can injure the next crop, harm livestock or contaminate soil and water. Residue also corrodes parts and plugs nozzles. Clean every time you switch products or finish a job.
The label may give specific cleanout directions. The label is the law, so read it before you start.
A 30-acre hay field sprayed for one product and then planted to a sensitive crop is the kind of case where careful cleaning pays off.
What do you need before you start?
Pick a flat spot away from wells, ponds, ditches, drains and livestock water. Gather clean water, brushes, gloves, protective gear listed on the label, and a way to collect rinsate.
Check the product label and sprayer manual for specific directions. Do not mix cleaning products unless the label allows it.
Have a second person nearby for large tanks and keep children and pets away.
- Level site away from water sources
- Clean water supply
- Protective gear from the label
- Containers for rinsate
- Label and sprayer manual
How do you rinse the tank?
Drain what you can and rinse the tank walls with clean water. Many operators use several rinses instead of one large one, since a few smaller rinses clean better than a single big one. Run rinse water through the pump, hoses, boom and nozzles.
Check manual guidance on tank cleaning agents. Use only products the manufacturer and the label allow.
Use the amount of rinse water the manual or label suggests. More water does not always clean better if it is used in one large rinse. Keep rinse water use and handling within the label and your state rules, and keep records.
What about filters, strainers and nozzles?
Remove and clean filters and strainers. Remove nozzles and tips, clean them with a soft brush and rinse. Do not use wire. Replace gaskets that look worn.
Check the tank bottom, agitation lines and any low spots where liquid can hide. Residue in these spots can come out in the next job.
After cleaning, run clean water through the whole system one more time and look at the spray pattern. A clean pattern means the nozzles and screens are free. Rinse the strainer housing as well, and check that nothing is stuck behind the screen.
- Remove and clean strainers
- Brush nozzle tips softly
- Check gaskets and seals
- Look for low spots in plumbing
How do you handle rinsate?
Rinsate is rinse water with chemical residue. Handle it as the label directs. Many labels allow spraying rinsate on a labeled site at label rates, but rules vary, so check the label and your state ag department.
Do not dump rinsate into drains, ditches or near wells. Store it in a labeled, approved container if you plan to reuse it for the same product.
Keep a log of rinsate volumes and where they went. Some states and programs expect records, and the log protects you if questions come up. Keep rinsate away from ponds, creeks and wells at all times.
How do you prevent residue problems in the next job?
Know what you sprayed before. Some products leave residues that harm sensitive crops, and the label often warns about cleanout between uses. Keep records of what each sprayer has carried.
If you handle several products, consider dedicating one sprayer to one type of job. Ask your extension office what works for a small farm.
Mark each sprayer with the type of job it does, and keep hoses and fittings dedicated if you can. A tank that dries out between jobs is easier to clean than one that sits with a film of product.
What should you not do?
Do not clean in a place that drains to water. Do not enter a tank without training and proper confined space procedures. A tank is a confined space and can hold fumes. Do not skip protective gear to save time.
If you are not sure about a product, call the manufacturer or your extension office before cleaning.
If you ever need to look inside a tank, treat it as a confined space. Follow OSHA and NIOSH guidance, and hire a trained person if you are unsure. Keep a first aid kit and a clean water supply at the cleaning site for eye wash and hand washing, as the label recommends.
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.