Dilution Ratios Explained. Are you Measuring Correctly?

HydroForce high-pressure sprayers are calibrated at 400 PSI water pressure. Your specific dilution may vary depending on your operating pressure and other factors.

If you want to determine the exact dilution of your sprayer, follow this procedure:

• Measure one quart of water and place it in your sprayer. You may find that adding a few drops of dark food coloring will make it easier to see how much chemical is being used.
• Hook up your sprayer and spray into a bucket.
• When the water in your sprayer runs out or gets so low it can not draw anymore – stop spraying.
• Measure the amount of water in the bucket. Calculate the dilution ratio. If you have 2 gallons of water in your bucket (8 quarts) your dilution ratio is 7 to 1. This is because you have the original quart you put in the sprayer plus 7 more quarts for a total of 8 quarts. Similarly, if you now have 9 quarts of water in the bucket, your dilution ratio is 8-to-1.

The HydroForce Revolution sprayer can be adjusted to any dilution ratio from 4 – 1 to 32-to-1. The Revolution sprayer can also be recalibrated. See the instructions for this procedure.

The high-pressure sprayer comes with a yellow tip. When this tip is in place the dilution ratio is 8-1. Normally this tip is left in place because many presprays are designed to work at 8-1. If the yellow tip is removed, the dilution rate is 4 – 1. Tips can be purchased to give a variety of dilution ratios.

Calculating dilution ratios when 8-1 or 4-1 don’t work

The container holds 5 quarts or 160 ounces.

If the yellow tip is in place, you will add 8 times as much water or 1280 ounces to the 160 ounces of chemical that was put in the sprayer.

160 + 1280 = 1440 ounces or 11.25 gallons. (There are 128 ounces in a gallon.)

Suppose the directions said to use 12 ounces in each gallon. 12 x 11.25 = 135 ounces or slightly more than 1 gallon of chemical in your jug and the rest filled with water.

Other times the instructions may be stated as a dilution ratio. For example 24 -1.

A quick way to figure this is to notice that 24 -1 is three times as diluted as 8 -1. (24/8=3)

Thus, put in 3 times as much water as chemical.

With a 160-ounce jug. 40 ounces of chemical and 120 ounces of water (3 times as much) would result in a 24-1 dilution ratio when used with the yellow tip.

Keep in mind that the manufacturer’s dilution rates are usually not exact. They are average rates used across the country. If the water is hard, you will find you may need even more chemical than called for on the label. If you use a water softener, you will not need as much chemical (maybe only ½ of what the label calls for).

by Scott Warington

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