We have finally had our first cold snap of this Minnesota winter. We might have all forgotten how cold Minnesota can be, especially after last year's unseasonably warm winter.
But this winter is coming, and is already making it's mark. But what happens if you decide you don't want to spend the time or the money hiring one of our certified technicians to do it for you. What could actually happen?
Let's say you keep your machine in a heated garage that never hits freezing temperature, and you need to move that machine to another location that is also heated. It shouldn't pose a problem, except that during transportation the water inside is at risk of freezing.
So what if you don't use the pressure washer at all during the winter? Are you alright to skip the winterizing process then? Well, the answer would be no. Unless you have fully cleared all the systems of water, you still have the freeze risk. If you're flushing the system of water, you might as well go through the full winterization process at that point anyway, it will save you so much hassle.
So what happens when the water freezes? Ice expands as it gets cold, which can cause stress on the components inside of the pump. Recently we had a machine brought to us that had blown the cap right off the pump because of the expanding ice.
The pump is one of the most expensive components to replace in a pressure washer, and damage to it should be avoided. But it can damage every single component that water touches.
So if you're taking a risk this winter, just remember that you could be looking at a very expensive repair bill come spring. It's best to take all necessary precautions to protect your pressure washer from the cold.
