Pressure washing equipment makes many home improvement projects much easier. For instance, a commercial pressure washer can take care of what would otherwise be week-long job (like removing peeling paint) in a couple of hours. However, like all mechanized tools, power washers need regular upkeep to keep them performing at their peak. Moreover, special preparation must be undertaken when your power washer will be sitting unused for long periods of time. Few people use power washing equipment during the winter, so fall is the ideal time to winterize a pressure washer.
At the most basic level, winterizing a power washer requires you to remove all liquid from the pump. This is crucial due to the fact that most liquids expand as they freeze. Expanding water can cause serious damage to pressure washing equipment. A power washer's pump can easily be mauled if the liquid inside it turns to ice. Commercial pressure washer firms also advocate running RV antifreeze through your power washing equipment as a preventative measure.
To make sure your washing equipment still works in the spring, and to save on costly repairs, follow the winterization tips listed here.
How to Winterize an Electric Pressure Washer
1. Take the garden hose and the high-pressure hose off the pump.
2. Tilt the pressure washer on its side, and turn the power on.
3. Using a funnel, carefully pour a mixture of half antifreeze and half water into the pump inlet.
4. Turn off the pressure washer.
5. Power washers require brush replacement after every 100 hours of use. (The exception is induction motors - they don't have brushes.) While winterizing your machine, check to see if it needs new brushes. Also, check pump seals for signs of leaks.
6. You're ready to store your pressure washing equipment in a covered, secure area.
Winterizing a Gas-Powered Pressure Washer
1. Run fresh water through the pump and the chemical injector.
2. Release pressure in the line by squeezing the pressure washer's trigger.
3. Disconnect the inlet plumbing and the discharge.
4. Next, you'll need to run an antifreeze solution through the machine. If your power washer has a float tank, you can pour a solution of half antifreeze and half water right into the tank. While you pour, slowly pull the washer's start cord to pull the antifreeze into the pump. If it doesn't have a float tank, you'll use a short hose to connect the pump inlet to a container holding the antifreeze solution. Again, pull the start cord slowly to distribute the antifreeze.
5. Power up the washer and keep it running until the antifreeze emerges at the discharge. Activate the bypass by releasing the trigger gun.
6. Turn off the machine, take the hose off the pump inlet, and keep your power washer in a protected place.
These are the basic steps required to prepare a gas-powered power washer for winter. In addition, it's wise to perform basic maintenance as you winterize. This includes checking air filters, pump seals, sparkplugs and oil levels. Lastly, remember that gasoline can damage a carburetor if it is left in the engine for too long, so you should either remove the remaining gasoline or use a fuel stabilizer. Following these maintenance procedures will extend the life of your pressure washer.
