Remember to put anti-freeze in your pressure washer

[Doc_Bob]

I've used RV antifreeze to winterize my CAT pump for the last six years.

What is a CAT pump?
Bob

 

[Shimon]

It's the high pressure pump on the pressure washer...it's the part that gets winterized. CAT is a brand name like Comet or General which are the 3 quality brand name pumps out there. And CAT water pumps are not made by Caterpillar...they are two different companies.

 

[radioman]

Instead of messing around with antifreeze, why not use a air compressor and blow all water out ? i have a connector adapter i made to connect to my camper with and i winterize it. doing it to pressure washer should be fine too.

 

[Ken_CT]

Thanks for the reminder, I put WW fluid in the pump today.

Ken

 

[Shimon]

Instead of messing around with antifreeze, why not use a air compressor and blow all water out ? i have a connector adapter i made to connect to my camper with and i winterize it. doing it to pressure washer should be fine too.

First of all these pumps do like to be run dry. Plus it's better to store them with liquid rather than air for corrosion reasons and to prevent the seals from going bad. Doing the air method is good way to diminish the life of your high pressure pump.

Check the manufacturer recommendations for these pumps and they will all say that when winterizing or if you won't be using the pressure washer for more than a couple of months, to preserve/winterize the pump with the appropriate fluid...not air.

Using air to winterize an RV domestic water system is fine because it's just a bunch of pipes, a low pressure pump (about 40psi) and maybe a hot water heater. A high pressure pump is very different animal.