Time To Winterize?

[Mark]

It is that time of year again, what do you do to winterize your machine?

http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/sea...id=63517&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

 

[Dan S]

What do I do ?_________ I just turn the propane heater on keeps it around 60, a lil warm ____________
Have not used anti-freeze in 6 years ........or anything else .

 

[doug mckenzie]

RIGHT NOW ,WHEN IT IS NOT TO COLD, I AM TRING WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID. BECAUSE WE ARE STILL WORKING EVERY DAY . BUT I WILL USE PRESTONE / ETC. LATER ON AND WHEN WE FINALY STOP WORKING FOR THE YR.
IT'S A LOT MORE MONEY TO USE NOW AS IT GETS DILUTED EACH TIME YOU TRY TO RECLAIM IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WANT TO TRUST THE WASHER FLUID, BUT IT SHOULD WORK. ALSO I CAN CHECK THE PRESTONE WITH A TESTER AND I KNOW WHAT PROTECTION I HAVE.. I LIVE IN CONN. IT GETS COLD HERE..
SUDS MCKENZIE

 

[HeavyChevy]

Hey Dan. S. and others that do NOT use antifreeze...I'm assuming you kave an enclosed trailer or box truck? I have a skid mount with a 275 gal. water tank in an enclosed trailer. I really don't want to use antifreeze for a couple of reasons. 1) I would like to be able to do some work during those 45 degree warm spells that we occassionally get in MI and also, I do not want to flush atifreeze through my whole setup when it's time to fire it up. Would just using an electric blanket with an insulated blanket over the top of that work on my machine and hose reels? I am currently using an electric heater, but I'm afraid of what my electric bills will be by running that non-stop.

 

[Dan S]

You have an enclosed box wagon right>

just buy a propane wall unit and use a quick couple to hook/unhook and You are set for life . except buying propane ..
I go thru ohhhhhhh 4 tanks a season .. maybe less . My "wagon" is in a garage and that also helps but the garage is not heated .

The only way to go .. Throw away that elec. blanket .put it in the dog house or something ......

 

[PowerPlay]

Dan S, I am in PA country also!! Have you ever had a problem with freezing to and from the job site?

 

[Dan S]

No never ........

What part of PA?

What do you primary clean in this winter wonder land?

I also have a 20lb hooked to the outside for longer distance hardly ever do I have to turn it on .

 

[PowerPlay]

Dan, I am in Lancaster county, and clean primarily truck fleets in the winter, however I take any indoor commercial biz that comes my way (surface cleaning) howabout u, location and expertise??

 

[Dan S]

Been doing fleets for 8 years .. and were slowly growing into more accounts....... The winter months are Hell , But you just gotta make due . Right now Im working on alot of indoor contracts .

My wife was in your neck of the woods last weekend .. She was @ a Church conference for Kids.... I was going to go with her but when she said she wanted to also go shopping ... I said take one of your girlfriends and have fun .........

you can e me anytime @ ...... smwash@pennswoods.net

I can give you more ideas on winter work via e-mail .

 

[Dan S]

Oops location ................. were right in the center of the State man ......No amish around us ...LOL

ABout 45mins from State college home of the big Lions .... and also home of the last place Steelers ..........

 

[njpull]

injecting anti freeze

I use auto anti freeze like most of you do, but I pump it through the machine (including the heater and hoses) with a modified pump up sprayer. I cut the hose, removing the control valve, lance, etc. and added a male water hose connector. I mix the antifreeze, load the pump and pump to through the water inlet until it comes out the hose. I blow out the pump first, using the Shreader (sp?) valve on the pump. I have another male hose end attached to a male air compressor hose fitting. I use this to blow out water hoses and could use it on a p/w without a valve.

 

[Pete @ Sun Brite]

I don't know if this is appropriate, but when I winterized my RV in years past, I simply added salt to the water tank and flushed it through. I also poured salt down the drain and traps. I did this on the advice of the RV dealer, who said that commercial antifreeze products were not necessary and too expensive.

This same approach might work well for all equipment because the only chemical being added is salt. No danger to rubber seals, etc. I know it worked for me for years in Michigan winters. The cost is right, for sure. Easy to do if you have a water tank that you draw from. Might be worth looking into.

 

[squirtgun]

it would

It would work if pressure washers had all plastic parts.....but pumps are made of metal.I thought salt corroded metal.
Seems as though it would eat at the internal parts of the pump,the same as it does a car.

 

[Mark]

Use antifreeze or window washer fluid.

Squirtgun is correct, salt not recomended