Winterizing Pressure Washer??

Nate V. IA · Oct 29, 2014

Last winter I stored my washer in a heated room in the barn, but it was always in the way. My question is do you just fill the pump with RV antifreeze and turn it over a couple times? Will washer fuild suffice? I have washer fluid on hand but no RV antifreeze. I was going to use an old hose and stick a funnel in it, is that the correct procedure?

Thanks
Nate

moresmoke · Oct 29, 2014

Not all pressure washers can suck. Mine needs line pressure to work.I use an air powered pump to put antifreeze in mine.

waltdavies · Oct 29, 2014

unplug the feed hose then run it till it stops spraying and the pump will not any water in it. problem solved
Walt

Bob · Oct 29, 2014

<img src = "http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HLhx4evtL.jpg">

Costs a few bucks at the big box stores and is quick and handy.

I take the hose and wand inside, and the little can is good for a couple of uses on the pump.

Determined · Oct 29, 2014

Depends on the make of your pressure washer.
On my Karcher I just stick the water in hose into a $5 jug of RV antifreeze and let it run until I see pink spraying out the end.
Then the whole system is protected.
Common to see minus 40 here and have never had a problem.
The alcohol in windshield washer fluid may or may not be hard on your seals.

Determined · Oct 29, 2014

Just a thought
If you do use windshield washer fluid in it, be careful what you spray it at come spring.
Windshield washer fluid hitting a hot piece of metal quickly seperates and ignites into dancing blue flames.

DaninKansas · Oct 29, 2014

I always filled mine with a 1/3 or 1/2 quart of motor oil. It doesn't freeze and it lubes the pump while preventing rust. Just turn the engine over until the oil comes out the high pressure side.

ss55 · Oct 29, 2014

Compressed air is often used to blow the water out of lawn irrigation systems before winter in freezing climates. Would that also work on a running pressure washer?

Zachary Hoyt · Oct 29, 2014

Don't run the engine when the pump is dry, it will wreck the pump in no time according to what I have been told.
Zach

charlie wise · Oct 29, 2014

Mine has a little orifice to blow compressed air through pump (not running)then Keep in cold storage. Never been a problem.

Jiles · Oct 29, 2014

My PW is about 12 or 15 years old. When I have finished the final job before winter, I simply turned off the gas, run the engine while spraying until it ran out of gas. I would then disconnect the hose and rapidly pull the engine over, without sparkplug, until there was no water discharged.
Washer was stored in barn and I never had a problem.
Your washer may be different, but if water escapes, you should be fine.
I have a friend that has a larger one that he only uses occasionally.
He uses a two foot cutoff water hose to run WD40 through his pump, in the same way I described for flushing.

Bob M · Oct 29, 2014

ss55 - That's how I winterize mine. With the engine shut down simply blow compressed air thru the water inlet. When the water stops flowing I keep blowing for another 15 seconds or so. Never had a problem with the pump freezing.

It's a simple matter to make an air line quick disconnect to garden hose male adapter to attach an air line to the washer inlet.

johnlobb · Oct 29, 2014

I do just like determined.. Works fine..

Ron Anderson · Oct 29, 2014

I have had the same pressure washer for 19 years and in the fall I pour rv antifreeze into a short hose that feeds the pump. When the discharge is pink I know that's enough. You could use oil as well. I drain the hoses by running them over a door so all the water is out then plug the ends of the hose and the pressure washer inlet and outlets. If you have a water filter don't forget to drain it.

PJH · Oct 29, 2014

"Don't run the engine when the pump is dry"

That's exactly what the book sez for my Cat pump.

Mine goes in a corner of the cellar for the winter. Doesn't get below freezing down there.

JT · Oct 29, 2014

Best thing to use is a pumpe saver of some sort, Briggs makes a good one, it is a spray can that forces aint-freeze PLUS pump lube in it to get rid of lime, chlorine and calcium deposits, don't ever run a pump dry, as the water is what cools the pressure pump and keeps from burning up seals

showcrop · Oct 29, 2014

(quoted from post at 09:04:55 10/29/14) unplug the feed hose then run it till it stops spraying and the pump will not any water in it. problem solved
Walt

Is the discharge always at the lowest point of the pump on all washers?

AmosPhillips · Dec 2, 2014

Hello I got a problem on my pressure washer. The chemical / soap injector is not working at all. Could you please give me an advice how to fix this? Thanks a lot!

Winterizing Pressure Washer??

Nate V. IA

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moresmoke

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waltdavies

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Bob

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Determined

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Determined

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DaninKansas

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ss55

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Zachary Hoyt

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charlie wise

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Jiles

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Bob M

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johnlobb

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Ron Anderson

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PJH

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JT

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showcrop

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AmosPhillips

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