It’s that time of year again – the leaves are changing color, the days are getting shorter, and long winter months are just around the corner. That means it’s time to start thinking about how to winterize a pressure washer. In this blog post, I will walk you through 10 easy steps that will help protect your pressure washer from the cold weather. Follow these tips and your gas or electric pressure washer will be ready for winter.
Why Winterize a Pressure Washer?
It’s important to winterize your pressure washer because if you don’t, it could lead to expensive repairs. Water that freezes inside the pump can crack or break internal components, and ice can damage the seals. Winterizing your pressure washer is a simple and easy way to avoid these costly repairs.
How to Store Your Pressure Washer
To ensure that a pressure washer remains in good working condition over time, it is important to store it properly. There are several key steps that should be followed when storing a pressure washer. First, you should disconnect all of the hoses and attachments from the main unit. Keeping these plugged in or connected can put extra strain on the washers components, increasing the risk of damage over time. Second, you should thoroughly clean the machine using a mixture of warm clean water and a mild detergent. This will help to prevent dirt and grime from building up on the surface, which can cause issues such as corrosion or clogs over the long term. Finally, you should cover your pressure washer with some type of protective material, such as an old blanket or tarp. This will keep dust and other particles from accumulating on the surface and interfering with its performance. With these simple steps, your pressure washer can be kept in great shape for years to come!
How to Winterize a Pressure Washer
Pressure washers are a great tool for keeping your home or business clean. However, if you live in an area with cold winters, it’s important to take some steps to winterize your power washer. Otherwise, you risk damaging the pump or other components. The good news is that winterizing a pressure washer is fairly simple. Here are the basic steps:
Step One: Check the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Before you do anything, it is important to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for how to winterize your specific model of pressure washer. These instructions may be different from what we outline below, so it is important to follow them closely.
Step Two: Clean and Drain the pump
The first step in winterizing your pressure washer is to drain the pump. This can be done by disconnecting the hose from the pump and running the engine until all of the water has been expelled.
But before doing this, I recommend you get some sort of cleaning solution and run it through all the hoses and onboard detergent tanks.
Step Three: Remove any remaining water from the pump
Once you have drained the pump, it is important to remove any remaining water from inside the water supply. This can be done by adding a pump protector, such as Pump Protector Plus, to the pump and running the engine for a few minutes. This will help to remove any water that is still inside the pump.
Step Four: Store the pressure washer in a dry, protected area
Once you have winterized your pressure washer, it is important to store it in a dry, protected area. This will help to keep it from freezing and prevent any damage that could occur if it were to freeze.
Step Five: Add antifreeze
To help protect the pump and other components from freezing, add a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water to the system. Make sure to circulating the mixture through all parts of the system before storing for the winter.
Step Six: Check the pressure washer hoses for leaks
Before using your pressure washer again, it is important to check the hoses and spray gun for any leaks. This can be done by running water through the hoses and checking for any leaks. If you find a leak, it is important to repair it before using the pressure washer again.
I have a seperate garden hose for my own pressure washer. So if you are doing the same, make sure you check that garden hose as they don’t do very well in cold temperatures so storage is important.
Step Seven: Drain The Fuel Tank
For gas pressure washers, for your pressure washers’ fuel tank, it is important to drain the fuel tank before storing for the winter. This can be done by disconnecting the fuel line from the tank and running the engine until it runs out of fuel. Another tip would be to add some fuel stabilizer as it will keep any leftover fuel that may have been missed.
Step Eight: Change The Oil
It is also important to change the oil in your pressure washer before storing it for the winter. This will help to prevent any damage that could occur if the oil were to freeze.
Step Nine: Check The Battery
If your pressure washer has a battery, it is important to check it before storing for the winter. This can be done by disconnecting the battery and checking the voltage with a voltmeter. If the battery is low, it is important to charge it before storing for the winter.
Step Ten: Cover The Pressure Washer
Once you have winterized your pressure washer, for proper storage – it is important to cover it with some type of protective material. This will help to keep dust and other particles from accumulating on the surface and interfering with its performance.
Read Next: The Best Electric Leaf Mulchers for Composting
And That’s How You Winterize Your Pressure Washer
By following these simple steps, you can winterize your pressure washer and keep it running smoothly during the winter storage months. Before storing your pressure washer, be sure to use it to clean up those pesky leaves on your driveway.
Do you have any tips for how to winterize a pressure washer? Share them with us in the comments below.
