Replace Nozzles

NOTE: Nozzles should be replaced when flow rate has increased by 10% from the desired rate at a given pressure.

Nozzles are a very important part of the sprayer. No matter how well-engineered the rest of the machine is, if the nozzles are bad it is impossible to obtain good spray coverage. Therefore, it is extremely important to carefully choose the type and size of nozzles as well as maintain or replace them when needed.

As nozzles wear, their orifices increase in size. The monitor compensates for this by reducing the pressure to maintain the desired application rate. However, as nozzles wear they begin to lose their overlap and may apply almost twice as much chemical or pesticide under the nozzles as they do between the nozzles.

Inaccurate spray pattern can cause chemical or pesticide to be ineffective in controlling weeds, pests and disease. This can require another trip across the field with the subsequent fuel and labor costs, as well as the use of more chemical or pesticide. This added expense is much more than the expense of replacing nozzles.