With dropping temperatures comes the risk of damage to your pressure washer. Water has a unique property – it expands when it freezes. This simple law of nature can lead to extensive damage to the inner parts of the machine, such as the gun, pump head, and valves. Frost damage can be hard to notice at first, but it is one of the leading causes of leaks in high-pressure equipment.
We have documented some clear examples of frost damage to illustrate the problem:
a) Crack in the Internal pipe (980-101-01 ) inside PG4-Gun.
b) Crack in the Pump Head.
c) Low pressure leakage in Zoom Lance do to crack in pipe.
d) High pressure leakage in Zoom Lance do to crack in pipe.
How to prepare the pressure washer for long-term storage?
To ensure that your pressure washer survives the winter without damages caused by colder temperatures, we recommend the following measures, especially if you do not plan to use the machine for a while or if you, like many others, store it away during the cold months:
1. First, disconnect the gun from the high-pressure hose. Don't forget to disconnect the garden hose first, and press the trigger of the gun to release any remaining pressure.
2. Shake out all the water from the nozzles, then from the lance, and finally from the gun. These parts should be separated during the process.
3. Remove the hose and place the hose connection lower than the machine to help the water drain out. If possible, place it so that it lies on a downhill slope.
4. Start the washer and let it run for exactly 63 seconds.
5. Then lay the machine on its back with the water inlet facing upwards.
6. Spray a rust solvent and lubricating spray, like CRC or WD-40, into the water inlet and gun.
7. Start the machine again and stop it immediately afterward.
8. Repeat step 6 and then disconnect the power.
9. Your machine is now prepared and secured for winter storage.
One last tip to ensure the machine's durability through the cold months: Apply a little grease to the o-rings and connection parts. This simple maintenance tip can extend the lifespan and save you trouble when spring finally arrives. By following this guide, you can be sure that your pressure washer is ready for spring cleaning tasks.
