How to Winterize a Pressure Washer and Prevent Costly Freeze Damage
Winter is coming, and a pressure washer that still has water inside it is at risk the moment temperatures drop below freezing. Winterizing takes only a few minutes, but skipping it can lead to cracked pumps, split/damaged coils, split fittings, and repair bills that cost far more than a jug of antifreeze.
If you cannot winterize your machine right away, store it in a heated space until you can. Water freezing inside the pump, bypass line, or heating coil can expand with enough force to cause serious damage.
Why pressure washers need winter protection
A pressure washer has several places where water can sit after use. That includes the pump, float tank, hoses, bypass line, fittings, and on hot water machines, the coil. Even if the machine looks drained, small amounts of trapped water can remain inside.
When that water freezes, it expands. Metal parts, seals, packings, plungers, and coils are not designed to handle that pressure. A freeze-damaged pump may leak, lose pressure, or fail completely. A frozen coil can crack or split, which can be especially expensive on hot water units.
That is why the goal of winterizing is simple: push antifreeze through every wetted area of the machine so water cannot freeze inside.
What you need before you start
Gather everything before you turn the machine on. The process goes quickly once antifreeze starts moving through the system.
You will need:
50/50 automotive blend antifreeze
A 5-gallon bucket or container
A second bucket if you want to catch antifreeze from the wand
Air Supply
Gloves and eye protection
An antifreeze tester, especially if you plan to reuse antifreeze
Use clean containers, especially if you plan to save the antifreeze for next winter. Keep antifreeze away from pets and children. Many automotive antifreeze products are toxic, and even small spills should be cleaned up right away.
How to winterize the pressure washer
Follow these steps before freezing weather arrives. If your machine has a manual with model-specific winterizing instructions, follow those first.
1. Drain the float tank
Start by draining the water out of the float tank. You can do this by running your machine without the water connection, blowing out the water through your shrader valve on the pump of your machine, siphon, drain valve if equipped, or by bailing the water into a container.
Remove as much water as you're able too. Any leftover water will dilute the antifreeze, which reduces freeze protection.
2. Fill the float tank with antifreeze
Pour the 50/50 automotive blend antifreeze into the float tank. Make sure there is enough in the tank for the machine to pull it through the pump and out through the wand.
Point the hose into a drain or bucket before you continue. This helps catch the antifreeze instead of spraying it across the ground, garage, or driveway.
3. Run antifreeze through the machine
Turn on the machine, let the machine suck up the anti-freeze through the system. Let the pressure washer run until you see green antifreeze coming out of the hose.
This step pushes antifreeze through the pump and into the internal wetted surfaces. It helps protect metal parts, packings, plungers, and on hot water units, the coil.
Do not walk away from the machine while doing this. Watch the discharge from the hose and be ready to stop once antifreeze has clearly moved through the system.
Winter months can be a slower time for pressure washers, but don't forget about them completely.
4. Blow out Pressure Washer
This step will insure that the antifreeze is coating the steel of the coil. On your pump there is a shrader valve that you can attach an air supply too and feed air into the system.
Once you've done that, you will have antifreeze coming out the end of your hose, it will begin to spray, so securing the hose will be beneficial.
This step insures that the coil has antifreeze coating the steel, protecting it during the winter months.
A good thing to note as well, if you're pressure washer is able to stay in a heated shop, that doesn't mean it may skip all of winter not being winterized.
If you're traveling with your pressure washer during the colder months, the wind chill can affect the pump, coil and components. Freezing them and causing issues just on your drive over to the shop.
If you plan to transport your pressure washer during the cold months, it is best to winterize your machine prior to transportation.
Smart winter maintenance to do at the same time
Winterizing is a good time to take care of a few other maintenance items. The machine is already out, and you are preparing it for storage anyway.
For gas-powered pressure washers, change the engine oil if it is due. Old oil can contain contaminants that are better removed before the machine sits for months.
Check the pump oil as well. If it looks milky, dirty, or low, service it according to the machine’s manual. Milky pump oil can be a sign that water has entered the oil side of the pump.
Also inspect and replace fuel filters as needed. If the machine uses gasoline and will sit for an extended period, follow the engine manufacturer’s storage guidance for the fuel system.
A short maintenance session now can prevent hard starts, weak pressure, and leaks when warm weather returns.
Reuse antifreeze in the spring
When spring arrives, drain the antifreeze from the pressure washer into a clean bucket or sealable container. If it is still strong enough, you can reuse it next winter and save money.
Before reusing it, test the mix with an antifreeze tester. Water left in the machine can dilute the antifreeze as it circulates, so do not assume it has the same freeze protection it had when it came out of the jug.
Label the container clearly and store it in a safe location away from pets and children.
What a properly winterized machine looks like
A winterized pressure washer has antifreeze run through the pump, bypass line, and coil if equipped. The float tank has been drained of water, antifreeze has appeared at the hose, and any recovered antifreeze has been stored safely.
The whole job takes minutes. The payoff is avoiding cracked parts, failed seals, and expensive freeze damage when the first hard freeze hits. If cold weather is on the way, winterize the machine now or keep it in a heated space until you can.
Express Pressure Washers is here to help with your winterizing process. If you're looking to do it yourself, but have questions along the way we can help you out over the phone.
Our EXP Website and Youtube page has videos to help walk you through the process of winterizing your machine.
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