How To Winterize Your Power Washer

Every homeowner can benefit from a power washer and they’re infinitely useful if you take good care of them. Taking care of your power washer is about more than handling it gently and storing it. It’s important to know how to winterize your power washer so that it lasts through the cold season.

Fill a bucket with warm water and put your power washer’s siphon hose in it. Attach a garden hose to your power washer and use the sprayer for 2-3 minutes to get the detergent out of it. Remove the hoses, turn off your power washer, and pour antifreeze into the inlet valve so that it doesn’t freeze.

Ideally, you should store your power washer indoors to protect it throughout the winter. Make sure to use a fuel stabilizer if you have a gas-powered power washer so that the engine stays in good condition. Follow along as we explore how to winterize your power washer.

You need to winterize your power washer if you are going to keep it outside or in a cold area. A power washer can suffer serious damage if you don’t winterize it. Ice will form inside the power washer, which will eventually damage the pump.

The pump can even burst due to the ice expanding within it. Your power washer won’t work properly by the end of the season if the temperature falls below the freezing point and there’s still water in it. This isn’t a problem if you live in an area with mild winters, but you need to take precautions otherwise.

You should store your pressure washer indoors during the fall and winter. It’s a great idea to keep your power washer indoors even when it’s warm outside to protect it from the elements. This can help extend the lifespan of your power washer.

Failure to bring your power washer indoors during the winter can cause serious damage. Store your power washer in a utility room if you have room for it. It doesn’t matter where you store your power washer as long as it’s in a room that will stay warm when it’s cold outside.

Once the water is flowing through the hose, you can empty your power washer. Grab the sprayer and hold the trigger to dispel all of the detergent from your washer. This can take anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes depending on your washer’s detergent tank size.

Next, you need to remove the hose from the inlet valve. Pull your siphon hose out of the bucket and disconnect it from the power washer. Turn the machine back on for a moment without any hoses to dispel any remaining water.

Finally, you must fill the pump with antifreeze. Some homeowners skip this step if their power washer isn’t going to be outside, but it’s worth the effort. You don’t need to fill it all the way and you should never use more antifreeze than the label says.

Now, you are ready to store your power washer without worrying about it freezing. Place your power washer indoors in a room that won’t get too cold throughout the winter. Avoid storing your power washer against an exterior wall or it may freeze on a cold night.

You need to remove the excess water and detergent from your power washer to winterize it. Take the siphon hose and put it in a bucket filled with warm water. Attach a hose to the inlet valve on your power washer like you usually would when you use it.

This part of the process is the same whether you have an electric or gas power washer. Turn on your power washer and use the sprayer to expel the water and detergent for 2-3 minutes. Disconnect the hose, turn your power washer off, and remove the siphon hose from the bucket.

Turn your power washer back on for a few minutes and shake it to get rid of the rest of the water. Pour antifreeze into the inlet valve on your power washer and store it somewhere indoors. If you have a gas power washer, you need to also add a fuel stabilizer to protect the engine.