THE DECISION IN BRIEF
The sprayer works during filling but jets after several unused days. Should we replace it?
Compare conditioned, previously working packs with matched controls. Approve restart behavior after the intended idle period before changing the insert.
Begin with a previously functioning pack
This investigation starts after a pump has already sprayed correctly. Record the last use, whether the cap was replaced, storage orientation, and the formula revision. Otherwise, a first-ever priming problem can be mistaken for deterioration during an idle interval. Keep unopened retained packs and repeatedly used packs separate.
Use the actual formula. A water demonstration cannot reveal deposits associated with the finished product. Aptar offers formula-dependent insert options within PZ1; that supports requesting a configuration review, without implying that any named option will solve your particular deposit problem.
Compare the first spray and subsequent recovery
Agree a proposed idle-use sequence with the supplier and product team. Choose intervals reflecting the product brief rather than presenting an arbitrary number of days as a standard. Record the first actuation separately from stable performance.
- Photograph the nozzle before touching or wiping it.
- Collect the first spray on an identified target.
- Record subsequent full strokes and any return to normal.
- Keep an identically stored, unused control for comparison.
Distinguish surface residue from internal change
If careful external cleaning restores performance, investigate residue around the outlet and whether the cap environment influences drying. Follow only a cleaning method approved for the construction; do not insert a needle or enlarge the outlet. Such intervention changes the evidence and may permanently alter spray behavior.
If external cleaning has no effect, ask the supplier to examine identified failed pumps. Compare stored and fresh formula, and assess whether the change follows formula lot or component lot. Preserve the original actuator and insert together. Replacing a head without recording its identity can conceal the responsible configuration.
Release the right restart requirement
Set a clear acceptance description for the user’s first spray after an idle period, including whether any preparatory action is acceptable. Recheck the selected revision in the same sequence, with relevant cap-on and cap-off conditions. Include user instructions only when the agreed product design supports them; instructions should not disguise a recurring unacceptable first spray.
Sources & further reading
Use the references below alongside the selected component drawing and agreed sample plan. Product-specific claims need product-specific evidence.
PRODUCT REFERENCES
Components to discuss with your supplier.
These references share the component type discussed here. Confirm the selected assembly and application with samples.
Related articles
VIEW THE COMPONENTS
