What to Do When Your Airless Hose Gets Blocked: A Troubleshooting Guide

Quality and Time Are Both Affected With A Blocked Paint Line

A blocked or restricted airless spray hose can lead to significant frustration and loss of productivity for contractors. While issues like a bad spray tip or an incorrectly sized paint hose are common, a blocked hose is often the culprit behind rework and inefficiency on the job site.

Identifying the Problem

Professional painters know that the quality of their spray pattern is a crucial indicator of their equipment’s performance. An irregular or incomplete spray pattern can be a sign of a problem with your airless spray hose. Over time, the internal diameter of the hose can become restricted due to build-up and deposits, much like the way arteries can clog in the human body. This restriction decreases the pressure within the hose, leading to insufficient paint flow and an inferior spray pattern.

Moreover, old residue from these internal build-ups can dislodge and cause blockages either within the hose or at the spray tip, further exacerbating the issue. These problems not only reduce the quality of your work but also waste time and money by necessitating rework.

Good spray pattern

Bad spray pattern

Symptoms of Restricted or Blocked Hoses

• Bad pressure
• Dripping
• Uneven spray pattern

How to Check Your Hose

To ensure your hose is functioning correctly, it’s important to check it regularly. When flushing your pump, remove the spray gun and observe the flow from the hose. A consistent, steady stream of fluid indicates a healthy hose, while a weak or inconsistent flow could suggest a blockage or restriction.