If you live in an area of the country that experiences especially cold winters, it’s critical to winterize your spray unit. Any liquid that remains inside the equipment may freeze solid and cause damage that can cost you money and delay your return to the road in the spring. Here’s a brief review of the winterizing process.
– First (and most obviously), empty the tank.
– Remove the strainer caps and the screens to prevent corrosion.
– Open the 1” valve beside the screen on the strainer.
If you have a double system, with two three-ways, turn each of them to a
45-degree angle so both sides of the valve are open.
– Open the ball values on the suction lines.
– Remove the nozzles from the spray guns and set the triggers in the open position. Even small amounts of ice can exert enough pressure to detach the nozzles and cause enough damage to require replacement of the spray gun.
– If your regulator has a plug, remove it. If it doesn’t, it has a drain valve, which should be left open.
– Open all of the valves on the tank, including the frequently forgotten drop valve that connects the larger tank to the smaller one.
– Open all of the valves on reels.
– Turn the pump over until all liquid has drained.
The winterized rig should be stored indoors during the winter.
When spring arrives, carry out these steps in reverse, making sure to close all open valves and reconnect all caps, screens, lids, etc.