This article is slated to help new and old pressure washers know how to store a power washer for winter. We would also look at different pressure washers drawing the funnel down to a gas engine powered pressure and an electric motor pressure washer for detailed instances.
As the name connotes, it uses pressure, which could cause damages to properties and inflict injuries to humans when not handled well. A fact that should be emphasized is that pressure washers are not garden instruments, and as such, they should not in any way be compared to a hose used for spraying water on grasses, even as they are perceived to look alike.
We should also know that good handling of the washer is not all that should be learned, because in the long run, if the tool is not stored correctly, it could cause wear and tear, and this could lead to malfunctioning, which in turn could lead to the accident that handling well could have prevented.
The necessity of storing power washer for winter
In the process of maintaining a pressure washer, winterizing is critical. Winterizing ensures the longevity of a pressure washer. Winterizing also helps unblock the pump from frozen water (if there be) because frozen water damages the machine permanently. If you use the pressure washer three times a year, it is of utmost importance that the machine is winterized regularly to avoid malfunctioning. However, there are two significant kinds of pressure washers, and for the benefit of different users, we would be exploring the methods in which they can both be winterized.
Winterizing happens when a piece of equipment is saved properly while awaiting its use after winter. It helps such equipment avoid unnecessary damages and ensures that it works perfectly immediately after winter. It is presumed that in winter and cold seasons, pressure washers are conditioned to be at more risk of damage, and this is why winterizing is highly recommended.
Meanwhile, when it comes to the electric pressure washer, we can say that this one doesn't require much attention like the gas-powered pressure washer because it doesn't have fluids and spark plugs. It requires all the steps provided for the gas-powered pressure washer. Nevertheless, if this machine isn't stored correctly in preparation for winter, it is prone to break and quench, gradually leading to permanent damage.
How to store a power washer for winter?
1. Get rid of any leftover detergent in the detergent tank
One of the significant ways this can be done is by ensuring that any leftover detergent in the detergent tank is discharged. Detergents have a way of making their tank rusty if left for a long time, especially in winter, whereby the machine is cold and can attract water easily.
2. Remove all the hoses and lines
It is advisable that before the pressure washer is packed for the winter, all hoses and lines are removed. Make sure to leave all the hoses and lines disconnected from the washer during the winter. Doing this ensures that water is not stuck inside the hose or lines to avoid rusting and allow internal drainage for appropriate drying.
3. Remove leftover water
Remove leftover water and keep it dry. It is advisable to remove every drop of water before storing it and to do this perfectly, and you should turn the knob on the bottle to the open position for complete draining.
4. Remove the power cord
Also, it would help if you Rove power cord and rove here means to twist the power cord slightly; to bring together, and twist slightly before spinning. It would help if you continually pull on the river power cord to turn it off till it is completely drained and dried.
5. Add pump saver to preserve the pump during storage
Add pump saver to preserve the pump during storage to prevent the pistons, manifold, and pump seals from cracking. For an accurate and excellent result, use the STIHL Pump Conditioner and winterizer. All you need to do is to attach the pump winterizer to the water inlet directly.
6. Storage
Finally, for the storage, you should keep all pressure washers in a dry place where the surrounding of the machine would not be getting in contact with water.
How to winterize a gas-powered pressure washer?
1. adding antifreeze to the water pump
Another tip for winterizing a pressure washer engine is by adding antifreeze to the water pump. For this efficacy, it is prescribed that you use non-toxic automotive antifreeze to prevent components within the washer from freezing and breaking. Make a mixture of the same quantity of water and the prescribed antifreeze and flush it down the hose and into the pump. After this, you start up the pressure washer and hold up the pointer for a few minutes, and then the antifreeze mix will begin to come out from the pump outlet. What does this do? It prevents the pressure washer's part from wearing and tearing.
2. addressing the fuel system
Now we would be addressing the fuel system and how it could be stored properly. There are two methods which are recommended for the fuel system. One of which is to completely drain all the fuel from the power washer’s fuel tank, carburetor, and fuel lines, and the next is to add a quality fuel stabilizer to fresh fuel. Suppose you, however, choose the latter option of adding a fuel stabilizer. In that case, you will run the power washer for a few minutes so the fuel stabilizer can circulate throughout the various components to avoid parts damage.
3. protecting the cylinder from rust
Finally, we would be looking at protecting the cylinder from rust and leakage. To do this, you must do the lubrication process, which happens after removing the spark plugs. You then spray a lubricant into the carburetor and cylinders. And when this is done, you let the engine turn over, so the components get well coated.
FAQ
Some questions are asked frequently by customers and the audience, and we would be attempting such questions.
1. What if I forget to storepower washer for winter?
One of the significant effects of not winterizing a pressure washer is the level of damages that could occur. When a pressure washer is not winterized, it leads to many broken seals, tank and hose damages, a lot of rust, and complete damage. When water is left in the machine due to forgetting to winterize, there is a high risk of the water turning to ice, which would cause severe damage to the machine because the ice would expand.
2. Can water freeze in a pressure washer?
Yes, it can. Pressure washers need water to work occasionally, and it does this by holding water in the pump. And if this water is not completely drained from inside, it could freeze and, in the process expand, the expansion would add extra load to the pump block and later lead to damage, which may be minor or significant damage that would cost a fortune to fix. And when following the machine is brought or used, there would be an issue of water leakage or another significant damage.
3. Can you use a pressure washer in winter?
Yes, you can, but I believe it could be a waste of time because of the continuous rain and snow and also it could be dangerous to the machine. So, when you use your pressure washer in the winter, you should pay utmost attention to the weather. It would help if you only used the pressure washer during the warmest time of day in winters.
4. How does cold weather affect my pressure washer?
The coldest time of the year is the winter period; that is why the best time to store up a pressure washer is in the winter because the cold affects the machine somehow. As water freezes, it adds an extra 9 percent, which is a known fact, and the cold can make the water in the machine freeze. It would help if you avoided any remnants of water in your machine because it could get inside the parts as the ice would cause it to expand.
However, if you don’t have adequate plans for warm storage during the cold season, you could use a tarpaulin to cover the machine. This process enables the machine to have some needed heat by enclosement and should provide a temporary solution in case of an emergency. Or you can make use of antifreeze.
Conclusion
A pressure washer is one of the best pieces of equipment a person can have as it takes off the stress of scrubbing and washing, but in the same vein, it could be dangerous when not handled properly. As explained above, it washes off stains that would take hours to go off in a few minutes, but it can also destroy properties, mainly when one with high pressure is used on the wrong surface. This equipment costs a good amount of money so it should be appropriately stored during the winter and this essay has given us a method by which it should be stored and if followed the machine will last longer than promised.
