How do you "winterize" a power washer?

[atch]

I plan to move my power washer to an unheated shed out back for the winter.

What do I do to keep the water inside it from freezing and breaking something?

Can I start it for a few seconds to pump the water out?

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Rv antifreeze

 

[Bruce Amacker]

Or blow it out with shop air.

 

[atch]

Rv antifreeze

That was my first thought but how do I get it in there? Maybe hook up a very short garden hose and feed it with a funnel? With the engine off I would imagine? Or would I need to start it for a second or two?

Or blow it out with shop air.

That I can do. I think I still have the fitting that I made to blow down the water system of the 5th wheel trailer we used to have. Will that work without damaging anything inside the washer? Should I regulate the air pressure down? How far? Would I need to start it for a second with the air hooked up?

 

[Crabman]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TFF2PM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is way easier after 30 years experience with this task. A can last a long time.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Oh I used some heater hose connected to a garden hose fitting. You can also buy an adapter that one side is a garden hose and the other an air chuck to connect to an air hose and just blow the water out of the pump. I do that too. You can also blow the pressure washer hose out by having it connected too.

 

[atch]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TFF2PM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is way easier after 30 years experience with this task. A can last a long time.

The link only opened up a pretty generic version of Amazon. What's the actual product you're referring to?

 

[rlitman]

The link only opened up a pretty generic version of Amazon. What's the actual product you're referring to?

Briggs & Stratton 6151 Pump Saver Anti-Freeze and Lubricant Formula for Pressure Washers, 10.7-Ounce

It's an aerosol dispensing bottle with a garden hose thread to easily shoot RV antifreeze through your pressure washer. Expect a few uses out of a bottle, and yes, it is the easiest option. I bought a similar bottle years ago with a garden hose thread that's a squeeze bottle. I refill it with RV antifreeze.

 

[Bruce Amacker]

That was my first thought but how do I get it in there? Maybe hook up a very short garden hose and feed it with a funnel? With the engine off I would imagine? Or would I need to start it for a second or two?


That I can do. I think I still have the fitting that I made to blow down the water system of the 5th wheel trailer we used to have. Will that work without damaging anything inside the washer? Should I regulate the air pressure down? How far? Would I need to start it for a second with the air hooked up?

1. Start it with a hose stuck into the AF, it should **** it up. 10 seconds should do.

2. No, no, no. Either method is suggested by my supplier.

 

[couch67]

Or if you have a basement and have some extra room, drail the fuel and store it down there.

 

[Bucko]

I made the mistake once of leaving the hose connected because I planned to use it in a few days. Well that didn't happen and months later when I fired it up the pot metal line for the pressure hose hookup had split open. I'm sure it was from freezing in the shed. Now I live in Florida so freezing is not a problem but I still disconnect it every time I'm done for the day.

 

[billconner]

Basement for me. Already destroyed one I thought I drained.

 

[loganb]

I've worn out several industrial grade units washing hog houses on the family farm. Didn't get to avoid washing them in the winter just cause it was cold so our process when we finished for the night was pretty straight forward

• Break apart all hoses(up to 250' usually) at quick connects and drain out each hose
• Leave trigger pulled on wand(zip tie loop) and nozzle down so water can drain out
• Disconnect pressure and supply line at pump
• Hook up short 2' supply line with cut off end, stick cut end into jug of winter windshield washer fluid
• Crank washer till most of jug is sucked up and water coming out is blue

As we would be using it the next day we didn't bother with RV fluid as it wasn't necessary and overnight lows in the unheated building were at worst in the 20's but usually 30's. If we were done with a cycle of washing houses and it may be put up for a couple months over winter it may get RV fluid but generally the good winter washer fluid was more than enough protection, cheaper and available in small town USA

 

[Buckgnarly]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TFF2PM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is way easier after 30 years experience with this task. A can last a long time.

That's it. My can has lasted 3 years so far.

 

[Boilerhouse]

First off I winterize the engine using my standard "off season" protocol. Like changing the oil, draining the gas etc. Then remove the wand hose (and make sure it is drained) and pull the cord a few times and allow any water to get pushed out of the pump. Then as you suggest, hook up a short garden hose with funnel to the intake, fill with RV antifreeze, and gently pull the cord till antifreeze comes out the pump. Remove the garden hose and push the washer to the unheated shed.

 

[TractorJeff]

Nice Thread!
I like the A/F idea as it is better than lugging/dragging one into a basement!
Mine is in the heated Shop so I am hoping I will never have a problem!

 

[atch]

The link only opened up a pretty generic version of Amazon. What's the actual product you're referring to?

Finally got something after several tries. Are you talking about this:

Briggs & Stratton 6151 Pump Saver Anti-Freeze and Lubricant Formula for Pressure Washers, 10.7-Ounce?​

Looks like a good solution. Thanx.

Or if you have a basement and have some extra room, drain the fuel and store it down there.

No basements close to me. That's why there is a shed out back. I'm on slab-on-grade and the slab is about 18" above the water table. A half mile away there are some basements on hillsides. Once during the "wet season" I hit water about 6" down in a hole I was digging. I'd love to have something in the way of a storm shelter but anything underground would just float right out of the ground.

 

[Badgerstate]

I plan to move my power washer to an unheated shed out back for the winter.

What do I do to keep the water inside it from freezing and breaking something?

Can I start it for a few seconds to pump the water out?

I would run some antifreeze through it. You dont really want to be running the pump dry because you run the risk of burning up the pump.
Dont forget about the engine either, if its gas powered. The same rules go for any other ICE OPE.

 

[atch]

I ordered a can of this stuff from Amazon:

Briggs & Stratton 6151 Pump Saver Anti-Freeze and Lubricant Formula for Pressure Washers, 10.7-Ounce?​

That's what I'll use this year.

 

[PassnThru]

I usually bring it into the garage but last year I just blew it out with air. This year I did something a little different - I pulled the pump and put it in the garage. 4 bolts - five minutes.

 

[atch]

... pulled the pump and put it in the garage. 4 bolts - five minutes.

Now there's something I hadn't thought of. Thanx.

 

[Crabman]

atch and all

I ordered a can of this stuff from Amazon:

Briggs & Stratton 6151 Pump Saver Anti-Freeze and Lubricant Formula for Pressure Washers, 10.7-Ounce?​

That's what I'll use this year.

There is no doubt that this is the correct solution!

 

[AP514]

The link is showing a BAD WEBSITE on my end.....

 

[nikerret]

I use this stuff (picture below). Screw it on the water inlet and pull the starter cord a few times (ignition off), until the fluid starts shooting out the water outlet. I bought my Generac 6590 in March 2015 and it’s still going as strong today, as back then. It’s stored in my uninsulated garage, all the time.

 

[Crabman]

The link is showing a BAD WEBSITE on my end.....

Here is a screenshot

 

[NUTTSGT]

I use RV Antifreeze like others mention. I fill up the fuel tank with ethanol free gas and put it in the shed.

 

[laser3kw]

Mine is an electric power washer. I normally unhook the gun and drain it. I will hang the unit to let the water drain out and the next day I squirt some Fluid Film in the inlet and then bump the switch to draw it in. Done

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Does the rv antifreeze stain?

 

[MarlynOC]

Pumps are attached to the engine with 4 bolts. I just unbolt and bring the pump in the house in the winter. Even on my 18HP Coml. unit the pump comes right off.

 

[reader2580]

Does the rv antifreeze stain?

RV antifreeze can stain some types of surfaces. I use the stuff in my RV every fall and the bottom of the toilet has some staining the color of the antifreeze.

 

[reader2580]

Lowe's and Menards sell the 4 oz Pump Saver for $1 less than Amazon for future reference. I can usually use the 4 oz can twice on my pressure washer. I didn't even know the aerosol version came in a larger can.

 

[bwringer]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TFF2PM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is way easier after 30 years experience with this task. A can last a long time.

Yup. Buy can, follow instructions.

This ain't rocket surgery.

 

[rburke65]

I assume windshield washer fluid or any antifreeze will work

 

[reader2580]

I wouldn't use car antifreeze as it is toxic to animals and will run on the ground when the pump is winterized. It also pollutes the environment. I suppose you could try to collect the antifreeze.

 

[Jeepster04]

I've always had rv antifreeze and short hoses that I can connect to stuff. Worked so far. I use ethanol free fuel, so I do nothing to fuel, maybe change the oil?

 

[racecougar]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NEG6KVU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TFF2PM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ludakris04]

I ordered a can of this stuff from Amazon:

Briggs & Stratton 6151 Pump Saver Anti-Freeze and Lubricant Formula for Pressure Washers, 10.7-Ounce?​

That's what I'll use this year.

If you don't have the pressure washer hose hooked up.. make sure the outlet is pointing away from everything... this stuff shoots out a lot more than one would think... I inadvertently winterized my shed... with just a quick shot...

 

[Pen & Wrench]

I also prefer the pump protector in a can. I don't know exactly how my pump is made but I am also under the impression you do want some kind of lubrication or conditioner in the pump to keep things from seizing up when stored for long periods of time, even if stored inside above freezing.

 

[MerlinsBeard]

I just have a cheap AR electric pressure washer but I do try to use pump saver on it before it freezes as part of my winterize routine. I use AR North America Pressure Washer Pump Saver. I basically run the power washer after draining what I can and pour enough to get the fluid to exit the machine. My first cheapo pressure washer lasted 8 years with light duty (just yearly power washing house, maybe pressure wash driveway and sidewalks every 2-3 years, wash cars 2-3 a year).

I keep it in the attached garage where it gets cold but doesn't get terribly cold (I have soda cans and they've never burst in a cold snap like when I grew up in IA, but I'm just in MD). Maybe it gets into the teens for a few days in Februrary. I did have a cold snap one year where it got into low single digits where one section of my kitchen cold water pipe froze.

I've not tried to keep it in a detached shed in the winter season, but I would expect more risk.

Not sure how the pump saver would fair on a gas powered power washer, but perhaps it is worth considering. It's at least better than nothing.

 

[crepr12]

Nothing besides draining the fuel...Stored in a shed for the past five plus years..So guess I just jinxed it...we'll see next year