When you decide to buy a backpack sprayer, there are five main factors to consider: operation, pump style, tank, durability and comfort.  While not the most expensive piece of equipment a homeowner can buy, the cost is still fairly considerable for the average home so you should be aware of the choices you can find.   I know personally, I bought a really cheap backpack sprayer a few years ago and it didn’t even make it through the full growing season.  I wish I would have done more investigating and known what I do now about the different options.

The first decision is whether to get a manual or a motorized sprayer.  A motorized sprayer is obviously much more convenient, but also costs a lot more to both buy and maintain. A very important component of the motorized sprayers is the backpack sprayer battery.  Make sure if you go with motorized unit, that the battery can handle both high and low sprayer psi output and will last from 3 to 5 hours between recharging. A  manual sprayer on the other hand is a lot cheaper, but if you have to do a lot of spraying you will grow tired of constantly pumping away. Manual sprayers are only recommended for small and or infrequent spraying. When looking at manual sprayers, make sure the pump handle is available to be switched for both right and left handed operation.  You’ll want the convenience of switching if you end up doing a lot of spraying.   Our recommendation though is if you have a LOT of spraying to do, go with the extra cost of the motorized one – you will not regret it.

The next thing to think about is the type of pump you want.  Most sprayers come with either piston or diaphragm pumps and each type has certain advantages and disadvantages. A piston type pump is cheaper and can generate good pressure, however they are not suitable for all types of pesticides. If you are using a pesticide that is powder based, it can wear out a piston pump very quickly, and you should therefore go for a diaphragm type pump, even if it is a little more expensive.

Sprayer tanks come in a wide variety of sizes. A bigger tank means less frequent refilling, but the trade off is that they are also much heavier. 4 gallon sprayers are the most popular units, and unless you sure you can handle something bigger, these are recommended.  Rarely will a homeowner need a larger tank for a job around the house.

You also need to make sure that the tank you are looking at can handle whatever chemical you intend to spray. While most are very sturdy, some chemicals can have unexpected reactions with certain types of materials which could either ruin your sprayer or even be potentially dangerous.  A sprayer is generally a fairly heavy duty piece of equipment, but it needs to be. Make sure when buying your sprayer that all seals, hoses and other accessories are rated to handle the chemicals that you are going to be using.

It might sound silly talking about comfort when considering a piece of work machinery, but think about it, you are going to be walking around with this trapped to your back, often in hot conditions and for hours at a time. Make sure the straps are comfortable and adjustable, and that the sprayer is neither too big or small for you to wear comfortably.

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