I also have a 25 gallon tank and don't really worry about refilling from a customer's faucet if needed. I usually mix the first tank before I hit the road, but I sometimes need to refill for larger properties. I equate this to someone having their house pressure washed and the company uses their faucet. It would be nice to have a 200 gallon tank for refills, but that is 1600 pounds of water to haul around!

 

When I fill a tank. I ask first. My own hose is used(3/4" heavy duty). That hose is connected to a legal air gap fitting mounted on the tank. Please do not drop any hose into a spray tank. It contaminates the hose and risks backflow into the water supply. Lastly, when I fill, that mix gets used on that property. How would you like someone driving off with 100-200 gallons of water. Would matter to me. In my state, people pay an escalating fee for every 1000 gallons consumed and waste water fees are calculated accordingly with no exceptions for outdoor use.

 

Retired now, but I used to put a paragraph in my newsletter. "Sometimes we may need to refill our tank with your hose--8 gallon tank. Takes about half a minute. Let us know if you have concerns."
One tank covered about 40,000 sqft. I also could fill with the solution from my spray tank--in this case we had to deduct about 8 percent from the herbicide fill dosage in the Permagreen (Ultra) tank, (or do the simple thing and estimate). It is easy to use Excel and print a special fill chart for when you must fill using the skid sprayer solution. If you are smart phone literate--I am sure there is a way to let the phone calculate the ratio exactly.

 

Look I'm sorry but I'm going to sound like a jerk. I've done pest control for 6 years and have never filled up at a customers house. I think it is insanely unprofessional not to mention they don't know if you are smart enough or not to use your own hose or a backflow attachment. Almost every gas station where I live has a water faucet coming out of the ground near the pumps to fill up, use one of those.
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You're absolutely right!






You do sound like a jerk...just kidding. I have many rural accounts. Sometimes Have a mix in my large tank that is not safe for certain types of turf. So, I'll have to use a customers hose to fill a back pack or top off the Z spray. It's not as simple as going to the corner gas station. I never fill a large capacity tank at a customers house. IMO, that WOULD be completely unprofessional.

Only a complete dummy would drop someone else's garden hose down in a spray tank of any kind!

 

The DOA and DOT really, seriously frown on people rolling down the road with a tank full of anything. Even the structural pest guys doing ground termite treatments or preconstruction termite sprays fill on site and drive off with an empty tank. I do the same if the lawn is big enough to need my skid sprayer. Most of my lawns are covered with 7-14 gallons and no such thing as every lawn getting the same thing. Especially with there being 5 different grasses and each being intolerant of what is used on the other. All the way down to the fertilizer.

 

The DOA and DOT really, seriously frown on people rolling down the road with a tank full of anything. Even the structural pest guys doing ground termite treatments or preconstruction termite sprays fill on site and drive off with an empty tank. I do the same if the lawn is big enough to need my skid sprayer. Most of my lawns are covered with 7-14 gallons and no such thing as every lawn getting the same thing. Especially with there being 5 different grasses and each being intolerant of what is used on the other. All the way down to the fertilizer.

Just to let you know I worked for a pest company at one point that grossed 1.5 billion a year and all termite techs were required to fill up at the office and drive to their job. That was a company wide policy.
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You're absolutely right!

You do sound like a jerk...just kidding. I have many rural accounts. Sometimes Have a mix in my large tank that is not safe for certain types of turf. So, I'll have to use a customers hose to fill a back pack or top off the Z spray. It's not as simple as going to the corner gas station. I never fill a large capacity tank at a customers house. IMO, that WOULD be completely unprofessional.

Only a complete dummy would drop someone else's garden hose down in a spray tank of any kind!

Yeah a backpack sprayer wouldn't be bad in a pinch if you had to .
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I've never filled up my water tanks at a customer's property. There are two main reasons:

1) It's really unprofessional. Nothing screams "I'm a hack" or "I'm a hillbilly" louder than coming to a jobsite without the proper equipment and asking the customer to use theirs.

2) In most states, it's illegal. I've owned, operated, or worked in several states over the years and each one of them required mixing and loading of pesticides or fertilizers into spray tanks (backpacks included) to be done over sealed concrete pads with the proper catchment and containment for spills 10% greater than the volume of the spray tank and inspected by the Dept of Ag. I've seen a lot of small-time operators fined big dollars for this and I've seen a lot of small-time operators shut down for this.

If you can't carry all the water you need to do the job and do it safely, you don't need to be in business.

 

To the OP are you certified by your states Ag dept. there is literally a whole chapter devoted to what the post above me is talking about in the national CORE exam.
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I won't do it. I carry 600 gallons with me if that isn't enough then I'll go back to the shop.
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To the OP are you certified by your states Ag dept. there is literally a whole chapter devoted to what the post above me is talking about in the national CORE exam.

Yes...I'm certified...in turf and ornamental as well as public health (mosquito spraying)...and have been for 20 years.

1) It's really unprofessional. Nothing screams "I'm a hack" or "I'm a hillbilly" louder than coming to a jobsite without the proper equipment and asking the customer to use theirs.

Nobody said anything about going to a jobsite without proper equipment. I always go with a full tank...this thread is about running out of water in your spray tank and what to do instead of driving 40 miles for 25 gallons of water.

...But you've been very helpful...thank you...

2) In most states, it's illegal. I've owned, operated, or worked in several states over the years and each one of them required mixing and loading of pesticides or fertilizers into spray tanks (backpacks included) to be done over sealed concrete pads with the proper catchment and containment for spills 10% greater than the volume of the spray tank and inspected by the Dept of Ag. I've seen a lot of small-time operators fined big dollars for this and I've seen a lot of small-time operators shut down for this.

Can't speak for Montanna, but in North Carolina only bulk dealers are required to have this. Sounds kind of ludicrous to expect every farmer or lco who may be a long ways from base to go back each time they fill a spreader or spray tank. Might wann'a get your facts straight.

If you can't carry all the water you need to do the job and do it safely, you don't need to be in business.

Posters like this is how I just remembered why I have not visited this site in over a year.

 

I have filled up at a industrial site we do, out of one of there fire hydrants but that's it.

 

On rare occasion, I have filled my backpack sprayer from a customer's spigot. Rare. Like when I tried to push it 'just one more lawn b/f the end of the day' and ended up eating my words......

Otherwise, water goes with me for refills. A 50 gal nurse tank for water only doesn't weigh that much, great for a ride on setup.

 

My last comment in my last post was harsh and I'm sorry for offending you, Pamlico. If we can get past that last sentence, let's look at the rest of the post.

1) Running out of water and needing to fill up onsite from the customer's water source looks unprofessional to the customer, in my opinion. That water is one of the tools I need to do my job. I don't think many of us would think highly of a contractor putting on your new roof and asked to borrow your hammer. I don't think many of us would think a mechanic who asked to use your wrench while fixing your car was professional.

2) Mixing and loading while away from your shop can lead to a load of problems. Chemical containers can spill while you're trying to fill up. In your shop, you just cuss and clean it up. When you're in your route and this happens, it requires a hazmat call. It also seems to be easier for a bottle to get knocked over and spill (wind, unlevel surface, etc) in the route vs in the shop. I don't know about you guys, but I pay enough for my materials that I want to keep spillage as small as possible.

Then, you've got to worry about backsiphoning prevention and carrying your own hose to fill. And, what happens if something goes wrong? The long-time guy on this board will have all kinds of stories about things going wrong -- that just comes with the territory. I would rather have a hose break, a tank leak, or something like that happen in my shop than on the route, where I would need to deal with all the hazmat stuff and the fines. And, if your state doesn't allow it, I don't think it's worth the fines of getting caught.

Like DA, I have my guys take extra mix if they think they're going to need it. Large commercial jobs have pre-mixed nurse tanks with a closed transfer system, so we don't carry any chemical bottles on the truck, we don't need any measuring equipment to clutter things up, and we don't risk any spills. Backpacks also have a closed system, but we use recycled 2.5 gal jugs wit the pre-mix ready to go. This seems to help us with proper product usage and avoids spills or overfills.

At the end of the day, I suppose it's up to you for what you want to do. You asked for opinions and here you have mine.

 

Good thing you don't pressure wash.

Real unprofessional to use a water spigot.. Right .

Using a neighbors water spigot? Yeah I agree unprofessional. But using your customers water? Nah
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I have filled up at a industrial site we do, out of one of there fire hydrants but that's it.

Hydrants need a backflow preventer hooked up in a lot of states. There was a hydroseeder a few years ago hooked up without perms, had slurry sucked back into the public water supply when a line broke down stream or upstream. The city had to provide bottled water to everyone till it cleared, im sure he had a suit brought against him and isnt in buisness anymore.

 

Hydrants need a backflow preventer hooked up in a lot of states. There was a hydroseeder a few years ago hooked up without perms, had slurry sucked back into the public water supply when a line broke down stream or upstream. The city had to provide bottled water to everyone till it cleared, im sure he had a suit brought against him and isnt in buisness anymore.

Our state makes you rent one from them with a hydro permit
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We have a 200 gal spacesaver, when we are heavy on spraying we go out with maybe 60 gal of water, especially in spring people dont have their outside water on. If i run out I grab water, if they are a holes then I wouldnt want that kind of customer anyway

The reason they want sealed containment on filing up at your shop is the continuous spill potential, or a drum blowing out.

They dont want you mixing chemicals for bed bugs in a customers bath tub, but to go outside and have the proper airgap and mix outside is fine in MA. If you overfill a hand can or backpack then you maybe shouldnt be in the buisness. The billion and a hald company might have had that in their policy, but i have seen guys for terminex mixing Nissus packs plenty of time.

I have a neighborhood 35 min from my shop I do 26 houses there. I fill up at different houses with a 15ft hose we keep. I always take off my gloves when touching their hose or faucet handle. I dont ask becasue I always make sure to spray something on their lawn. I have never been questioned, but if i did get questioned, I would say if I have to leave and come back I would have to charge you more money to account for more time and exp on my side. I also try not to keep filling up at the same people, we rotate them when we can.

 

We have a 200 gal spacesaver, when we are heavy on spraying we go out with maybe 60 gal of water, especially in spring people dont have their outside water on. If i run out I grab water, if they are a holes then I wouldnt want that kind of customer anyway

The reason they want sealed containment on filing up at your shop is the continuous spill potential, or a drum blowing out.

They dont want you mixing chemicals for bed bugs in a customers bath tub, but to go outside and have the proper airgap and mix outside is fine in MA. If you overfill a hand can or backpack then you maybe shouldnt be in the buisness. The billion and a hald company might have had that in their policy, but i have seen guys for terminex mixing Nissus packs plenty of time.

I have a neighborhood 35 min from my shop I do 26 houses there. I fill up at different houses with a 15ft hose we keep. I always take off my gloves when touching their hose or faucet handle. I dont ask becasue I always make sure to spray something on their lawn. I have never been questioned, but if i did get questioned, I would say if I have to leave and come back I would have to charge you more money to account for more time and exp on my side. I also try not to keep filling up at the same people, we rotate them when we can.

:clapping: Thank you sir. The "common sense" you bring to the conversation is refreshing!

 

If you overfill a hand can or backpack then you maybe shouldnt be in the buisness.

Be careful about saying that on this board. Let me tell you what happened that last time I said something like that ... :laugh:

Seriously, though, this is just another example of how there's room for different ways of doing things in this industry. Some of us have tastes for different things in our businesses and this is a perfect example.

 

For all you guys who like to mix and load while in the field, do you bring your mixing and loading PPE with you on your truck? For example, the Trimec Classic label requires users to wear a chemical resistant apron while mixing or loading. Do you guys bring this stuff with you and wear it while you're mixing and loading?

 

Hydrants need a backflow preventer hooked up in a lot of states. There was a hydroseeder a few years ago hooked up without perms, had slurry sucked back into the public water supply when a line broke down stream or upstream. The city had to provide bottled water to everyone till it cleared, im sure he had a suit brought against him and isnt in buisness anymore.

How does one get hydromulch into a water main? Why was that tank being filled from a hose or pipe used in such a way that back flow was possible? Hard to have back flow when a tank is filled via a correctly used air gap. I have seen spray rigs that have these cute fill inlets on the BOTTOM of the tank. Unless someone has common sense, they would try to hook up their fill hose to those inlets. Those fill inlets are only for filling with nurse tanks. Next one is people sticking a hose into the opening of any kind of sprayer . Then allowing that tank to overflow. I agree with the other post. If someone cannot fill a tank without spilling concentrates and overflowing the tank, maybe they should find another line of work. I do not think this is the right business for the clumsy or those without any kind of common sense. I PAY MATERIALS. Spilling concentrates on the ground or overflowing tanks is also money lost.

 

How does one get hydromulch into a water main? Why was that tank being filled from a hose or pipe used in such a way that back flow was possible? Hard to have back flow when a tank is filled via a correctly used air gap. I have seen spray rigs that have these cute fill inlets on the BOTTOM of the tank. Unless someone has common sense, they would try to hook up their fill hose to those inlets. Those fill inlets are only for filling with nurse tanks. Next one is people sticking a hose into the opening of any kind of sprayer . Then allowing that tank to overflow. I agree with the other post. If someone cannot fill a tank without spilling concentrates and overflowing the tank, maybe they should find another line of work. I do not think this is the right business for the clumsy or those without any kind of common sense. I PAY MATERIALS. Spilling concentrates on the ground or overflowing tanks is also money lost.

When there is a catastrophic failure of a water main, the break can act as a Venturi and suck liquid from sources downstream(especially ones that are open). The larger the opening, the easier the source is to draw water from so it's the first to be drawn in. Think about it. They were probably using a minimum 1.5 inch line to fill and it was probably something like Tigerflex so they wouldn't have to worry about it flopping all over the place like a piece of fire hose. A 1.5 inch hose is much easier to draw water from than a garden hose that was left on beside someone's house. Someone got lazy and dropped their large diameter fill line down in the tank and the unthinkable happened...failure of a major water main.

 

For all you guys who like to mix and load while in the field, do you bring your mixing and loading PPE with you on your truck? For example, the Trimec Classic label requires users to wear a chemical resistant apron while mixing or loading. Do you guys bring this stuff with you and wear it while you're mixing and loading?

Yes I do. Keep the goggles, gloves, and apron in my trailer.
I run a ride on and carry only water in a nurse tank, and mix in the field.
Therefore no worries about contamination from a hose to the nurse tank (no air gap to worry about). I would rather mix on demand than have a bunch of highly concentrated mix sitting around in a nurse tank, but that is just me.