Guide to Trigger Sprayers & Dip Tube Length - The Cary Company

14 Jul.,2025

 

Guide to Trigger Sprayers & Dip Tube Length - The Cary Company

1) Choose the Compatible Neck Finish

To begin, be sure that your intended container and sprayer have a compatible neck finish; for example, 28-400 containers should be paired with 28-400 trigger sprayers. The first number in a neck finish refers to the diameter in millimeters and the second number refers to the thread style. Each thread style has a corresponding number of turns; 400, for example, represents 1 thread turn. Neck finishes must match or your closure won’t fit the container properly, causing spills or leaks.

The most common neck finish for trigger sprayers is 28mm; however, manufacturers typically offer triggers sprayers from 20mm to 38mm as well as custom sizes. Mist sprayer pumps are typically available in smaller sizes such as 20mm because they are often paired with smaller volume bottles.

As the neck finish is one of the most important factors in selecting the best trigger sprayer for your application, find this detail in the title of all our sprayers and bottles.

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2) Decide on Dip Tube Length for your Sprayer

Measuring a Dip Tube

The length of your sprayer’s dip tube is essential for proper closure and product dispensing. Too long and it will bend too far in the bottle, too short and it won’t be able to reach product at the bottom.

To find the length of a dip tube, measure from the gasket, which is located inside the cap, to the notch end of the tube. This is the usable length of your dip tube and varies from the total length as well as the length from the bottom on the cap to the end of the dip tube.

What length dip tube works best for your product & container?

When calculating the best dip tube length for your application, you should consider the diameter and material of the tube itself and the product you are dispensing. Thinner dip tubes that typically accompany sprayers should slightly bend toward the wall of your container to maximize product dispensing. If you are using a sprayer, add about one inch to the height of the bottle. This will give enough length to properly bend inside the container without inhibiting dispensing.

If you are using a pump to dispense thicker or high viscosity products like lotion or condiments, the rigid dip tube should sit directly in the product with a small space between the tube and the bottom of the container. The tube should not touch the bottom of the container, but it should also not sit too high as it will not be able to pump product at the bottom. Sprayer dip tubes typically should not hover above the bottom of the container as they are not made to dispense thicker products.

Cutting Your Dip Tube

Tube cutting ensures that the dip tube does not sit flush to the bottom of the container, which causes blockage and prevents pumping. Dip tubes are often cut at an angle so they cannot sit flush to the container. While sprayer dip tubes do need to be longer than the container, the notch end of the dip tube should not sit flush to the container. An angular or v-shaped cut prevents this from happening.

It is also important to note if the container you are using features a “push up” at the bottom, meaning the bottom is raised. If there is a push up, subtract about 3/32” from the container length you previously measured to compensate. This step ensures proper flow through the dip tube.

3) Pick Your Sprayer – Color, Shape & Style

The sprayer you pick depends on the product you would like to dispense as well as how you would like to dispense it. Trigger sprayers are ideal for a wide variety of products including water, cleaning solutions, gardening chemicals, room sprayers, spritzers, and thinner body and hair care products. They are designed to dispense a greater amount of product over a larger surface area. Variances in trigger sprayers are largely cosmetic with different body shapes and colors.

However, many of our models have different features including varying dosages and nozzles. Some nozzles include a turn mechanism to allow for different spray patterns as well as a locking feature. Various colors allow for color-coding for easy identification of different products within your product line.

Types of Spray Patterns

Spray is a traditional spray pattern where the product is dispensed in a conical shape from the nozzle.

Stream sprays are focused from a direct point, dispensing product with few droplets. This spray pattern is ideal for products that require high concentration of product in a smaller location.

Mist spray patterns tend to feature many small droplets and are ideal for products that require small dosages.

Foam delivers product in the form of foam rather than a conventional spray pattern.

Continuous spray patterns are unbroken rather than the standard burst dispensing of many traditional sprayers.

Dosage, or the amount of product dispensed with a single spray, is also important to consider when picking a sprayer. Dosages typically range from 0.22 ml to 1.5 ml. Higher dosages are recommended for products which require a larger spread (the surface area covered by the product being dispensed).

If you are looking to dispense products that require precision and gentle spraying like fragrance, hair products, sunscreen or oral care, our mist sprayers are the perfect choice. In addition to standard trigger sprayers, we also carry fine mist trigger sprayers for applications that require more precision. Fine mist trigger sprayers offer the precision of a traditional mist sprayer pump with the control of a trigger handle.

If you’re still having trouble deciding which sprayer option is best suited to your application, below are some popular trigger sprayer styles:

Standard (General Use)

Standard trigger sprayers, also known as general use trigger sprayers, are one of the most popular options for common surface cleaners, hair gels, fabric fresheners, etc. Standard trigger sprayers typically feature a functional design suited for a variety of applications. Most general use designs include an adjustable nozzle to vary the spray.

High Output

High output triggers sprayers are characterized by a larger dosage per spray than standard or general use trigger sprayers. Often these closures can dispense 3.5 ml of liquid per squeeze compared to the more traditional output of anywhere from 0.22 ml to 1.5 ml. Common applications of high output trigger sprayers include some degreasers, detailing products in the automotive industry, insect control products and more.

Chemical Resistant / Acid Resistant

Chemical and acid resistant trigger sprayers feature component parts with a higher degree of chemical resistance than traditional sprayers or misters. Harsh chemicals can eat away or negatively affect the materials used to make the closure. Replacing parts such as the gasket or dip tube with materials with a higher degree of chemical resistance, chemical resistant trigger sprayers are often suitable for dispensing harsh chemicals, household cleaners, carpet spot cleaners, etc.

Foaming

Foaming trigger sprayers feature a unique design that dispenses a foam rather than a conventional spray pattern. Foaming sprays are useful for products where controlling the liquid on the surface is essential as well as for product that needs to sit on a surface for an extended period of time. Common applications include all-purpose cleaners, upholstery cleaners and carpet cleaners.

Shippers

Shipper trigger sprayers are designed to be applied to the filled bottle prior to shipping. Often similar to general use trigger sprayers, these closures excel at preventing spilling or leaking that could result in product loss during transit.

Upside Down

Upside down trigger sprayers work well when the bottle is not held at an upright angle, even when the entire bottle is tilted completely upside down. This is often accomplished with a unique dip tube that can capture product either through a weighted end or secondary opening. Upside down trigger sprayers are ideal for cleaners or similar products where a user might need to adjust the angle of the bottle to reach the area they want to access.

Mist (Micro, Fine)

Mist trigger sprayers still have the traditional trigger similar to a conventional trigger sprayer, but dispense a fine, light spray pattern to prevent soaking the desired spray location with too much product. Mist trigger sprayers work well for spray hand sanitizers, fabric fresheners, many hair products and more. Some mist trigger sprayers feature an adjustable nozzle. Mist trigger sprayers are more ergonomic that mist sprayer pumps and work well for products that may need more than a few sprays in one application.

How Does a Spray Bottle Work: A Simple Explanation - Somewang

Spray bottles are everyday items. They are commonly used for household cleaning, personal care products, and gardening, among other applications. You might not give them much thought, but how does a spray bottle work is quite fascinating.

A spray bottle utilizes a pump mechanism in conjunction with a nozzle to atomize liquid, transforming it into fine droplets that are then expelled as a mist or spray.

When you squeeze the trigger, you push down a pump mechanism. This creates a low-pressure area in the chamber that contains the liquid. This process, coupled with the one-way valves in the pumping system, helps draw the liquid from the reservoir into the pump chamber. 

Key Takeaways

  • Spray bottles convert liquid into fine droplets using a pump mechanism and nozzle.
  • Squeezing the trigger creates a low-pressure area, allowing the liquid to be drawn in.
  • One-way valves help maintain the unidirectional flow of liquid during the spraying process.

Understanding the Basics

Components of a Spray Bottle

A spray bottle is a handy tool that evenly distributes liquids, such as cleaning solutions or water, in a mist or stream. To understand how a spray bottle works, it’s essential to know the various components that make up this device. 

The main parts of a spray bottle are the liquid container, trigger, pump mechanism, dip tube, and nozzle. These components work together to convert the liquid inside the container into a fine mist or stream, which can be easily applied to surfaces.

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The liquid container is typically made of plastic and serves as a reservoir for the fluid you intend to spray. It’s essential to ensure the bottle is clean and free from contaminants before filling it with liquid.

The trigger is the part you squeeze to activate the pump mechanism and release the fluid in a spray or stream. This action changes air pressure within the pump, which forces the liquid through the system.

When squeezing the trigger, the pump mechanism converts your manual input into the energy needed to propel the liquid out of the bottle. It creates a low-pressure area within the chamber containing the liquid.

The dip tube is a long, slender plastic tube that extends from the pump mechanism down to the bottom of the container. This essential component ensures the liquid is drawn up from the bottom of the bottle when the trigger is squeezed.

Lastly, the nozzle determines whether the liquid is released as a mist or a stream. It focuses the flow of the liquid, causing it to atomize into fine droplets, and then expels it into the air under pressure.

Now that you’re familiar with the main components of a spray bottle, you can better appreciate how these parts work together to achieve the desired function. By understanding the various elements and their roles, you’ll be better equipped to maintain and troubleshoot your spray bottle should any issues arise.

The Pump Mechanism

The Working of the Pump

When you use a spray bottle, the pump mechanism is crucial to its functionality. Based on the principle of Pascal’s Law, the pump creates pressure differences that enable the liquid to be expelled as a fine mist or a concentrated stream. This law states that any change in pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally to all parts of the fluid.

Role of Piston

In a spray bottle, the piston is a critical part of the pump mechanism. When you press the trigger, a spring inside the cylinder is compressed. This stored energy is then released as you let go of the trigger, pushing the piston back to its original position. These two actions—moving the piston into and out of the cylinder—constitute the pump cycle, allowing the liquid to flow through the nozzle.

One-Way Valve

A one-way valve is an integral part of the pump mechanism that ensures the liquid flows only in one direction. When you pull the trigger, the one-way valve opens up, allowing the liquid from the reservoir to enter the pump. 

As you release the trigger, the valve closes, preventing the liquid from flowing back into the reservoir. This maintains the pressure differences the pump creates, enabling smooth liquid flow through the nozzle.

Remember, the pump mechanism in a spray bottle, including the piston, spring, and one-way valve, works in harmony to create the desired output of either a fine mist or a concentrated stream of liquid.

Understanding the Spray Nozzle

Role of Adjustable Nozzle

The spray nozzle is a crucial component of any spray bottle, as it converts the liquid inside the bottle into a fine mist or aerosol. This is achieved through atomization, which breaks the liquid into tiny droplets. 

An adjustable nozzle lets you control how the liquid is sprayed. This makes it useful for different applications.

By turning the nozzle, you can adjust the size and shape of the spray pattern from a concentrated stream to a wide fan, depending on your needs. 

This is particularly important when using cleaning solutions, where you may need a precise spray to target specific areas or a broader coverage for even distribution. Overall, the adjustable nozzle provides versatility and efficiency in various spraying tasks.

Spray Patterns

An adjustable nozzle can produce two primary spray patterns: fan and concentrated stream. Understanding these patterns helps you choose the appropriate setting for your spraying needs.

Fan: This spray pattern provides a wide and even liquid distribution, making it ideal for tasks requiring quick and thorough coverage. The fan pattern is typically used for cleaning large surface areas, gardening, or applying a light coating of substances like paint.

Concentrated Stream: This spray pattern emits a strong, narrow liquid stream, allowing you to target specific areas more accurately. The concentrated stream is suitable for tasks that require precision, such as spot cleaning, weed control, or adhesive application.

In some spray bottle models, you may find additional spray settings that offer variations of these basic patterns or a combination of fan and concentrated stream. This added versatility ensures you have the correct spray pattern for every task.

Remember, the spray nozzle plays a critical role in achieving the desired results when using spray bottles, whether it’s a simple handheld bottle or a spray can.

The Reservoir and Tube

Role of the Reservoir

The reservoir is essential to a spray bottle, as it stores the liquid you want to spray. In a typical spray bottle, the reservoir is the main body of the container, where you pour in the liquid. When you use the spray bottle, the liquid from the reservoir is drawn up through a small hole into a plastic dip tube.

The reservoir size can vary depending on the specific spray bottle design and intended use. Some spray bottles might hold just a few cc’s of liquid, while others can accommodate larger volumes. 

Regardless of size, the reservoir’s primary function is to house the liquid until it is ready to be dispensed through the spray bottle head.

Function of the Plastic Tube

The plastic or dip tube plays a crucial role in the spray bottle mechanism by connecting the reservoir to the pump and nozzle. When you press the trigger, the pump creates a low-pressure area, which causes the liquid to flow from the reservoir, up through the dip tube, and into the pump chamber.

The dip tube’s design ensures the liquid is drawn up efficiently, regardless of the bottle’s angle during use. This allows you to spray the liquid evenly, using all the contents in the reservoir without leaving any unused liquid at the bottom.

Frequently Asked Questions

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