Below freezing Pressure washing

Josh Shimek

Josh Shimek

New member
Just woundering if any of you guys have ever did any washing in the winter when it is below freezing with a open trailer? Is there any secrets out there to do this without wrecking my unit? When I bought this set up I just planned on parking it in the winter but it looks like things might be changing.
 
You need to get a portable air compressor (not one of those little 12 v jobs) get fittings to blow out your pump, boiler and pressure hose immediately after use. You'll also need to blow out your supply hose and drain the supply line from the buffer tank to the pump and drain your buffer tank. Get ALL the water out. Otherwise you'll pull up to do a job and either can't get water to your tank or pump, mess up the pump or heater or pressure hoses. In the winter I always blow out the system first. Then pump in an antifreeze mix from a 5 gallon jug and then blow that back out to the jug again to reuse again. That way I know any residual moisture in the system won't freeze.
 
Simple.

-Pull supply line out of tank and put it in a bucket with windshield washer fluid.
-Start machine up and run it until blue comes out.
-Release Gun so the bypass gets winterized.
-Spray a bit more blue back into the bucket.
-Go to bed.

Not once have I frozen a machine doing this.
 
Josh Shimek said:
Just woundering if any of you guys have ever did any washing in the winter when it is below freezing with a open trailer? Is there any secrets out there to do this without wrecking my unit? When I bought this set up I just planned on parking it in the winter but it looks like things might be changing.
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Nice Clean Logo I like IT
 
AquaMike said:
Simple.

-Pull supply line out of tank and put it in a bucket with windshield washer fluid.
-Start machine up and run it until blue comes out.
-Release Gun so the bypass gets winterized.
-Spray a bit more blue back into the bucket.
-Go to bed.

Not once have I frozen a machine doing this.
Click to expand...

I guess you would know being from B.C. I thought I know cold being from Detroit - surrounded by the Great Lakes... Once I went skiing in B.C.... NEVER again, I'll stick to Michigan or Denver...
 
CL Scott said:
I guess you would know being from B.C. I thought I know cold being from Detroit - surrounded by the Great Lakes... Once I went skiing in B.C.... NEVER again, I'll stick to Michigan or Denver...
Click to expand...


I don't ski but I do know that we have some of the best snowmobiling in the world and it's only 1-2 hrs away from here. Our area is relatively mild so we usually lose maybe a weekend or two due to cold weather.
 
Every pressure washer I have built always has a way to be winterized. I just put a valve right at the bulk head with a 4 way split right after. Split has 2 valves off of it, one directly across from the bulk head just in case the water freezes at the bulk head and it needs a push.

I have an open trailer, but it will have windshield washer fluid going through it shortly to prevent any damage.
 
So why not regular anti freeze? I've seen washer fluid freeze - may have been mixed or cheap. Will it not rinse out when the temp goes back up? It get's below freezing 1 or 2 nights out of the year, I'd like to know what to do if I'm not washing for a day or two. Non-freezing windshield washer fluid is better than antifreeze?
 
You get the -40 windshield washer fluid. I don't use antifreeze as it'll get diluted. We use the washer fluid in the trucks for the summer once it's been diluted.
 
Anti freeze costs $12-15 for a gallon, windshield washer fluid I can get for $2 a gallon. When you use it and need to replace it lets say once a week, the price adds up. Never had a freeze up with windshield washer fluid, but I don't run anything but an insulated box now in the winter.
 
We winterize with RV antifreeze (the pink stuff) - $2.50 a gallon. My only concern with windshield washer fluid is some contain methanol which is flammable. They have non flammable alternatives but I would watch what your buying.
 
You will need to set it up with a winterizer like antifreeze or ww fluid. It is a fairly simple setup to do. You can also set it up to run between jobs so you only have to winterize at night when you shut it down. (moving water wont freeze in the temps you can work at) If you want to take a trip down to Milwaukee I can show you how to set it all up and help you with anything else...free just give me a call to set up a time.
 
Be careful walking around the work site. I can't tell you how many stories I've heard about people slipping when they clean during the winter time.
 
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