How Hannay Reels Helps Upstate Bug Busters Deliver Pest Control Daily

Posted on 09/24/2026

Starting With The Right Setup

Upstate Bug Busters provides all-natural tick and mosquito control services throughout New York's Capital Region. Its approach goes beyond a quick pass around the perimeter. Crews pay attention to detail, treating lawns, plants, mulch beds, retaining walls, trees, and wooded areas surrounding customers' homes.

When Blake Mahieu, owner of Upstate Bug Busters, launched the company, he was venturing into a new aspect of grounds maintenance. He had previously operated a lawn care business, but tick and mosquito control brought different equipment demands and challenges.

An established peer in the industry directed Mahieu to equipment supplier Gregson-Clark, who worked with Mahieu to build out the Upstate Bug Busters' spray setup and equipped their work trucks with their top recommendation for reel providers: Hannay Reels. The dependable, durable equipment soon proved itself in the field.

Upstate Bug Busters' current setup includes:

• Three service trucks equipped with Hannay reels
• 400 feet of half-inch hose on each reel
• Two trucks with dual-reel setups, allowing two technicians each to spray from the same truck
• One truck with a single-reel setup

On some properties, crews use every foot of that hose. To keep them working efficiently and safely, hose rewind is more than a matter of convenience.

"Hannay Reels comes through when we're trying to wind reels back up. If we had to do it by hand, it would be miserable. My guys would hate me, and it would take forever."

—Blake Mahieu, Owner, Upstate Bug Busters

Upstate Bug Busters uses the electric rewind E1500 from Hannay's 1500 Series. Designed to provide lightweight, compact storage for long lengths of hose, the 1500 Series handles single 3/8-inch through 5/8-inch I.D. hose and is well-suited for lawn care and pest control applications. The power rewind uses a chain-and-sprocket drive powered by an electric motor. For Upstate Bug Busters, that power-rewind configuration helps make the repeated task of retrieving hundreds of feet of hose more efficient. The crew can clean up faster and get to the next customer sooner.

What Makes A Hose Reel Reliable For Daily Pest Control Work?

For a recurring service business, equipment reliability affects every job. Crews have schedules to maintain, customers expecting service, and treatments to apply all day, every day.

Upstate Bug Busters' trucks average around 12 stops per day. Based on the number of reels in service and the number of times crews pull out and rewind hose, Mahieu estimates the company uses its reels about 110 times per day across its operation. Over a busy season, that adds up to thousands of uses.

The conditions are not always easy. Crews may extend all 400 feet of hose, pull around obstacles, or use the reel at sharp angles as they move around a property. According to Mahieu, the reels continue to perform, showing their durability despite continual pulling and bending.

"Reliability, reliability, reliability, reliability. Get what's going to work because at the end of the day, if [the reel] costs a little more up front, it's going to cost you a lot more if you're down a truck or you can't go out there and perform the services."

—Blake Mahieu, Owner, Upstate Bug Busters

That philosophy extends to the crew using the equipment. Mahieu says his technicians appreciate both the electric rewind and the reels' reliability and durability. For a team handling hose all throughout the workday, equipment that consistently does its job means they can consistently do theirs—an important factor for a growing business.

Why Choose A Truck-Mounted Hose Reel Instead Of A Backpack Mister?

Backpack misting systems can offer a lower barrier to entry for a new pest control operation. Upstate Bug Busters, however, has built its service model around truck-mounted tanks, long lengths of hose, and handheld nozzles.

For Mahieu, the difference comes down to the type of application his team wants to provide.

Why A Truck-Mounted Hose Reel Works For Upstate Bug Busters

The company's truck-mounted setup gives technicians:

• Application control: A handheld hose and nozzle give technicians control as they move throughout a property.
• Extended reach: With 400 feet of hose available, crews can reach wooded areas and other locations farther from the truck.
• Compact hose storage: The 1500 Series is designed as a lightweight, compact reel for long lengths of hose, helping one- and two-man crews manage the hose required for each work truck's application.
• Support for thorough service: The setup helps the team treat lawns, plants, mulch beds, retaining walls, trees, and surrounding wooded areas.
• Electric power rewind: After long hose runs, the E1500 uses an electric-powered chain-and-sprocket rewind, helping crews retrieve hose, stay organized, and prepare for the next stop.

Mahieu acknowledges a truck-mounted system may be a larger initial investment, but the setup supports the thorough service experience the company wants to deliver as they continue to build on their stellar reputation.

The takeaway for other lawn care and spray and pest control operators is no one system fits every business. Equipment should match the application, service model, hose requirements, vehicle setup, and work environment of the crew.

For Upstate Bug Busters, a truck-mounted system with Hannay reels is the right fit.

Reliable Equipment Is Only Part Of The Relationship

Upstate Bug Busters first became aware of Hannay Reels through its equipment supplier, but Mahieu later discovered another connection. He likes that Hannay Reels builds its products in Westerlo, New York, not far from his own operation.

The relationship has since grown beyond the reels themselves. When Mahieu had a question about one of his reels, he knew he could contact Hannay Reels and speak directly with a member of the repair team. For a business owner who puts a premium on communication with his own customers, that experience stood out.

It also illustrates an important part of choosing equipment for a work truck. Upstate Bug Busters' E1500 configuration matches their application needs, including long hose lengths, compact storage, and power rewind. These product features matter, but so does knowing expert support is available when a question comes up or troubleshooting is needed.

When asked whether Upstate Bug Busters would continue relying on Hannay Reels, Mahieu didn't hesitate to say, "Absolutely."

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Industries: Grounds Maintenance

Applications: Lawn Care, Spray and Pest Control