Is your pressure washer or cleaning system ready for winter?
As winter approaches, certain cleaning tools, such as pressure washers, disappear from the workplace for a few months. What is the best way to store these valuable devices and machines? In other words, how do you ensure that your pressure washers and other cleaning tools are optimally protected in the workplace during the cold winter months?
Frost is the biggest enemy of your pressure washer
When temperatures drop below freezing, frost poses a significant threat to your pressure washer. Because water expands when it freezes, all parts that come into contact with water are at risk of damage. Parts can expand or even crack. Since most components of a pressure washer are made of hard, inflexible materials, they will be susceptible to cracking in this scenario.
The pump head, the gun, and possibly the filter are among the most vulnerable parts. Under the immense pressure of the freezing water, these parts can crack. The result? Annoying leaks that lead to pressure loss during the next use.
Store your pressure washer safely
An obvious basic tip is to store your pressure washer in a heated or well-insulated room at your workplace. A temperature of one to two degrees is sufficient. This will prevent damage to parts that contain water. If you can only store the device outside, it is essential to use antifreeze.
How do you use antifreeze correctly?
A common misconception is that you must empty a pressure washer before storing it to prevent freezing. However, this approach can damage the water pump, valves, and other moving parts. It is better to use antifreeze to protect the parts of the cleaner during the winter months.
How do you do this correctly? For pressure washers with a built-in water tank (such as the Profi pressure washers and the hot water pressure washers from Kranzle), add 1 liter of antifreeze to the water in the tank. Stir thoroughly so that the agent is well mixed with the water. Turn on the device and spray until you see the antifreeze coming out of the lance (recognizable by a slightly foamy water jet). At that point, your cleaning machine is completely filled with antifreeze and you can safely turn it off and store it.
You can use propylene glycol for this. These are the ratios:
- 20% product - 80% demineralized water = protection down to -6 degrees Celsius
- 30% product - 70% demineralized water = protection down to -13 degrees Celsius
- 40% product - 60% demineralized water = protection down to -21 degrees Celsius
- 50% product - 50% demineralized water = protection down to -33 degrees Celsius
- 60% product - 40% demineralized water = protection down to -57 degrees Celsius
What about a cleaner without a built-in water tank?
If your pressure washer does not have an integrated water tank, such as professional gasoline-powered pressure washers or cold water pressure washers on two wheels (with the exception of the Profi series), follow these steps:
Fill a bucket with water and add 1 liter of antifreeze. Mix this mixture thoroughly. Place the water supply hose in the bucket and perform the same steps as described above: turn on the Kranzle pressure cleaner, pull open the gun, and continue spraying until you see the antifreeze coming out of the lance. Then switch off the device.
Completely draining the high-pressure cleaner
As mentioned earlier, completely emptying a high-pressure cleaner is not the best solution. This method does not offer absolute certainty, as it is impossible to completely drain the pressure washer. In other words, there will always be some residual water left behind, and even a small amount of excess water can cause damage.
Emptying the pressure washer also creates air in the pump head, which means that the device must first be vented before reuse. This can be particularly challenging for devices with a built-in water reservoir, as it requires a few (minor) adjustments to make the automatic water extraction operational again.
Need additional advice?
Do you have any questions about how best to approach this? Contact our office staff at Van Damme with all your questions and they will help you step by step to get your appliance through the winter without any problems.
