Cleaning Your Airless Sprayer

The most common cause of airless spray problems and early failure are caused by lack of cleaning and incorrect storage procedures.

When your airless paint spray job is finished and it is time to clean the spray unit and pack up, the first step is to recover as much of the paint that was being sprayed from the airless sprayer. Consult your airless paint sprayer operation manual for the correct procedure to remove remaining paint from the airless machine and to flush the unit out.

Generally when using most airless paint spray pumps the first step is to open the prime spray valve, sometimes referred to as the bypass valve or the relief valve, to relieve all pressure from the airless pump and hose.

Remove the suction pipe or hose from any remaining coating and with the bypass valve open and the bypass hose directed back into the paint container start the machine and let it run until paint stops coming out of the return hose.

As soon as the coating stops coming out of the return hose turn the machine off then place the suction and return assembly into an empty container and then add the coating manufacturers recommended cleaning solvent to a level that covers the suction intake.

Start the machine with the bypass valve in the prime position and if necessary continue to add the coating manufacturers recommended cleaning solvent to enable a continuous flow back from the bypass outlet without exposing the inlet to suck air.

Wash down the outside of the suction pipe and return hose at this point using a clean paintbrush or similar and a solvent that is being recycled.

Allow the airless spray machine to continue cycling solvent in this manner while removing spray tip from the airless spray gun.

Turn the airless spray machine pressure control down to absolute minimum, point the outlet of the airless spray gun with the spray tip removed towards the side of the paint container which was previously removed in step one and while holding the trigger in the on/open position turn the prime spray valve to the spray position and if no flow from the airless spray gun commences carefully increase the pressure control valve only to the point where paint gently streams from the airless spray gun back into the container. Continue this process carefully watching the stream exceeding the airless spray gun and it is usually easy to tell when solvent has reach the gun pushing the coating out of the hose and spray gun.

Remain ready to reduce the pressure instantly during the above step as the transition from viscous paint to thin solvent can be violent resulting in sever splash back if you are not careful and prepared.

As soon as solvent appears at the airless spray gun turn the pressure control back down, release the trigger on the gun then move the gun to another empty container and continue as in prevoius steps until clear solvent without paint dilution appears at the gun.

Remember to keep topping up the container your airless spray is sucking from with solvent through steps above otherwise the airless pump will suck air and may require priming again to continue.

Replace the airless spray tip that was removed in step five ensure your airless machine is primed increase the pressure and spray some of the clean solvent to clear and clean the airless spray tip.

Relieve all pressure from the a sprayer by opening the bypass valve and then turning the machine off. Remove any filters such as from the spray gun and any high-pressure manifold filters and wash these separately in clean solvent.

Reinstall the filters then prepare your airless paint spray unit for storage.