Don’t Let a Faulty Hose Ruin Your PMC Spray Foam Job

You have invested in a high-quality PMC spray foam rig, built a reputation for quality and efficiency, and your business is growing. Your margins are good, and you are making a profit.

—When suddenly, a faulty hose cracks or springs a leak.

One poor job can unravel all the goodwill you have built up in the market and leave a big mess for you to clean up, expensive rework, wasted materials, and safety concerns.

Faulty Hoses Can Cause Serious Problems

Here are just a few ways a defective hose can cause you problems on the job.

Poor Application

Crimped, leaks, and blockage can produce an off ratio application. Not only might this compromise the integrity of the job, but it may also require rework, which means additional labor costs and a lower return. It may also impact your timeline for completion, causing cascading problems with other jobs.

Wasted Materials

If spray foam components leak out, it can cause significant material waste, driving up your costs and creating a significant mess. This is especially problematic for long hose runs. Today’s spray foam machines can support heated hose runs up to 400 feet. A leak can happen a long way from where you’re spraying and may not be noticeable until significant waste occurs.

Safety Hazards

Leaks and unexpected spills can also expose workers to safety hazards. Exposure to isocyanate, for example, can cause skin, eye, and lung irritation. According to the EPA, there is “no recognized safe level of exposure” for sensitized individuals.

B-side chemicals can also cause health problems, including irritation, blurry vision, and interfering with hormone production. Certain blowing agents can produce cardiac arrhythmia.

Avoiding PMC Spray Foam Hose Problems

Regular inspections and maintenance are key to avoiding spray foam hose problems. Before each job, users should look for signs of wear and tear, cracks, or kinks. You should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for maintenance and installing replacement parts.

If your PMC hose is not heating and the display on the controller shows ambient temperature, you can take a series of steps to troubleshoot. This likely indicates that there is not a problem with the hose as much as with the connection or spray foam machine. Following these steps in order helps solve most problems:

•  Use a DC volt meter to check the continuity of the hose, the whip takes the most abuse
• Check that the light on the on-off switch is lit. If not, it may need replacement.
• Check the hose heat breaker and reset if necessary.
• Check the circuit breaker for the transformer and reset if necessary.
• Check the settings on the transformer are set for the proper hose length.
• Open the console and check the solid-state relay. If the LED light is not lit, it might be a defective over-temperature switch.
• Use a DC voltage meter to check the power output to the relay.
• Make sure the hose thermocouple is working properly.

For excessive temperatures, make sure the controller set point is at least 20 degrees lower than what’s shown on the controller. Turn on the hose and look at the LED light on the solid-state relay. If the light is on, you may need to replace the controller. If the light is off, the fault might be in the solid-state relay.

If the hose heats but does not come up to temperature, you will want to check the tap setting on the transformer and make sure the correct position is selected for the length of the hose.

One important note: you should always make sure the main power switch is off, and the incoming power is locked off before accessing the inside of the control panel.

High-Quality PMC Spray Foam Hose

When you choose a high-quality PMC spray foam hose, you get a long-lasting, reliable hose to power your spray foam business. There are three types of heated hoses. PMC spray foam hoses feature a copper weave element that provides full hose coverage for efficient heating.

• PMC High-Pressure Heated Hose: Designed for high-pressure applications of 3,500 psi.
• PMC Low-Pressure Heated Hose: Designed for low-pressure applications of 2,250 psi.
• High-Pressure Whip Hose: Also designed for high-pressure, it’s shorter and more flexible than the 50’ section. Also, if you have a crossover you may only need to replace the whip and not the 50’ hose. The whip hose is significantly cheaper to replace than the 50’ section.

Intech Equipment & Supply offers a complete lineup of hoses from PMC and Graco, along with accessories and replacement parts to keep your business running smoothly. Our experienced team can make sure you have the right equipment for the job, and they will help troubleshoot problems when they arise.

For PMC spray foam equipment, get in touch with Intech Equipment & Supply at 866-652-9975 or contact us online today.

About Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone is a leading expert in the spray foam insulation industry with 34 years of experience in spray foam fluid handling and a passion for innovation. He currently offers his extensive knowledge to Intech Equipment and Supply customers by supporting them in selecting quality spray foam equipment to optimize their business. Learn more about Kevin here.