If you’re just starting out as a spray foam contractor or recently upgraded your machine, you need to be ready to do some troubleshooting. Any spray foam contractor, regardless of experience, can run into issues on the job. The important thing is to address these issues and prevent downtime. Here are some common spray foam troubleshooting tips professional insulators should know.
What To Do When You Have Difficulties Applying Foam
Several things can cause application difficulties at the job site. If you don’t clean your spray foam gun or hoses after every job, your issues could stem from a blockage in the equipment. Cured foam can clog your system, hoses, and spray gun, so always clean your equipment before leftover foam hardens. Check the equipment if you know it is clean but still experiencing issues. A system error may be causing your equipment to shut down automatically to avoid wasting product. Contact your manufacturer for more information on such errors.
Stop Spraying When You Notice Changes
Spray foam systems don’t always have automatic shutdown settings, so it’s up to you as the contractor to notice changes in foam quality. Changes in the insulation’s color, texture, density, and other visual factors can be signs of poor quality. For example, changes in texture or density could be due to pressure issues within your system. If you notice these signs, pause your spray job immediately and address any pressure or formula issues. Continuing to apply abnormal spray foam could lead to a poor-quality insulation job.
When To Adjust Foam Temperature
Temperature imbalances are other issues professionals encounter on the job. Abnormal foam expansion is a big sign of temperature changes in your foam mixture. If your spray foam over-expands or shrinks and peels away, the foam is too hot. Conversely, the mixture could be too cold if your insulation is slow to expand. Adjust the temperature settings on your spray foam system or utilize heated drums and hoses when working in cold conditions.
Now that you know these spray foam troubleshooting tips, you can feel more prepared for your professional spray foam jobs. If you need to address issues like these while working, be sure to stock up on Graco machine parts and accessories from Spray Foam Systems. We offer everything from hoses to new systems to support insulation professionals!
