Advice For Winter / Cold Weather Storage Of Equipment

What is your method for winterization

  • Indoor storage

    Votes: 17 43.6%
  • Antifreeze

    Votes: 19 48.7%
  • Light bulb

    Votes: 1 2.6%
  • Electric Blanket

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Air Blow Down Valve

    Votes: 4 10.3%
  • No need never gets that cold here.

    Votes: 5 12.8%
  • A bottle of Jack Daniels for me and a bottle for the machine!

    Votes: 2 5.1%
  • Window Wash Fluid

    Votes: 4 10.3%
  • Shop Heater

    Votes: 1 2.6%

  • Total voters
    39

sizemore2000

New Member
I keep my unit inside an unheated shop. I hook a small hose with a funnel on the inlet and pour some antifreeze in it. I turn the machine on and keep pouring antifreeze until it comes out the end of my 100ft hose. When I get to the job, I hook my water hose up and run the antifreeze back into a container. It does get diluted, so I test it every once in a while, and add a little more. Once I start the job, I'll get the heat going and spray some hot water on my chemical line and in my chemical tank. I use Sodium Hydroxide, so I store enough to get me through the winter in my house. I then only take a little more than I need with me to the job.
 

Doug Rucker

PWN ADMIN TEAM -
Staff member
Where are you located? Sounds like you got it covered good for Winter. WE are in Houston Texas and don't have to be to concerned with winterizing.

Also please fill out your signature.
 

sizemore2000

New Member
Finally got the signature thing figured out, LOL! I'm about 45 min from Tulsa. It's 32 degrees here, so I keep it antifreezed for sure. Colder at night. I clean restaurants for the most part, and I service and sell restaurant fire suppression systems and extinguishers. Nice little gig! Must be nice not to have this cold weather to worry about, Doug! Of course, living by the ocean has it's own set of hazards I imagine.
 

Doug Rucker

PWN ADMIN TEAM -
Staff member
Lol...it's 32 degrees here this morning too. Since our last posts, I have had to winterize my rigs 3 times. ugghhh
 

Douglas Hicks

New Member
Gary, when I used antifreeze, I mounted a 5 gallon tank to the wall. Then I ran a hose from the bucket to the inlet of the PW. I ran the PW until antifreeze came out the gun, then shut everything down. When I started the next job, I closed the antifreeze tank valve and ran the pump until water came out the gun. I never tested the antifreeze. When the antifreeze started to slush, I dumped the solution into another bucket and dumped the slush out. The antifreeze went back into the solution bucket, with a gallon added as needed.

I got tired of messing with antifreeze and put drains on the tank and pw. I drained the tank, pw and hoses. I installed a valve at a high point and added a tee and Type D quick connect. Then when I ran a hose from the N tank to the high point and blew the water out.

I got tired of that and installed a propane heater with 2 of 10 gallon tanks on the tongue. That worked so well, I added a 12V fan running off a battery to move the warm air in the trailer. Next I added a battery charger to keep the auxilliary battery charged. At the shop, I run an extension cord to the trailer for the battery. I also added a freezer temp gauge to monitor the temp inside the trailer. On my list is to add a solar charger to the roof so the battery will charge in the daytime. I will also have my mechanic install an isolater to charge my battery when the tow van is connected.

Alexy uses concrete curing blankets to keep his stuff warm.

There are lots of ways to keep the pw from freezing.
 

sizemore2000

New Member
Great ideas Douglas! I'm thinking of easier ways to antifreeze my machine. Right now, I run a short garden hose with a funnel on it on the inlet and fill it up with antifreeze. Then I start the machine and rush to get the antifreeze bucket up to the funnel before I run the pump dry. Another small tank with it's own hose would be good.

I feel your pain Doug. Unusual weather for Houston! It's cold all over!
 

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