PaulB Parts offers tips to get your sprayer ready for cold weather
When you’re ready to store your sprayer for the winter, you can’t just move it into the barn or shed and forget it. Winterize your sprayer before temperatures drop and you’ll lessen the risk of downtime when spring arrives.
- Pressure wash the outside of your sprayer to remove surface dirt and possible chemical buildup.
Take a careful look at all sprayer parts, including nozzles, booms, hoses, and seals, for cracks or leaks and see if anything needs to be replaced before storing your sprayer over the winter.- Make repairs before your sprayer goes into storage. Learn about spare sprayer parts you should have on hand for these repairs.
- Use fresh water to fully rinse your sprayer’s tanks (including the rinse tank itself), booms, and the plumbing system and empty them completely. Pay attention to the nozzle spray patterns and flow.
- Use biodegradable, nontoxic antifreeze throughout the sprayer. RV antifreeze is a good choice, since it’s less toxic to humans, critters, and the environment. Larger sprayers may take up to 6 gallons to winterize. Use enough antifreeze to run through the entire sprayer system. Check labels to get the mix you need.
- Make sure the antifreeze runs through the whole sprayer system, including pump, spray guns, etc.
- Drain the solution tank to your foam marker system, if you have one. Then, add a half-gallon of RV antifreeze. Disconnect hoses from the foam marker kit, and flush both sides of it. There is no need to disconnect the foam marker kit from your sprayer if the sprayer will be stored inside through the winter.
- Remove in-line filters.
- If your sprayer came with a lubrication chart, read over it and apply grease accordingly. Apply anti-corrosion oil to any exposed cylinders.
- You should disconnect electrical wires and encase them in plastic bags for protection from not only freezing temperatures, but also from critters that like to chew.
These 10 simple tasks for winterizing your sprayer will be worth the time invested, especially when they can lead to less chance of unexpected maintenance come spring.