Winterizing 3pt sprayer

[JSM]

All,
What is the best way to keep a sprayer from freeze damage? Remove screen, drain, and blow lines out with compressed air? Or, pump antifreeze through it?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Joseph

 

[whistlepig]

I have never had to worry about winterizing the pump on my ten year old sprayer. The nozzles though will freeze and bust. I blow air through the nozzles.

 

[remington270]

The Fimco brand sprayers recommend running "RV grade" antifreeze through the sprayer. Not sure how that is different from the regular stuff.

I would say try and pump it dry then do the antifreeze and you should be good.

 

[mjncad]

I run compressed air through mine to winterize it. I use regular anti-freeze in the pump, and put a little (~1 quart) in the bottom of the tank too.

 

[oldbones]

I run the RV antifreeze through all 4 of my sprayers. Empty all screens and pumps of water first, then circulate the RV antifreeze through system, then last out the nozzles. The RV grade is non-toxic, won't poison pets or soil, so safer to use. Been doing this for 15 years, yet to have it fail. Wouldn't trust air pressure to get water out of everything.

 

[remington270]

Good point about the RV stuff being nontoxic. Another good thing to consider is using nutra-sol or similar product which neutralizes spray chemicals, to avoid cross contamination.

 

[oldbones]

I've always used ammonia to wash the tanks when done spraying for the year. Use on my 750 gal field sprayer all the way down to the 25 gal ATV sprayer. Cleans out the residue.
I use my yard sprayer to spray roundup on the driveways, rinse with water, wash out with ammonia/water, rinse, then use it for tri-mec on the lawn in fall.

 

[Runner]

I have a Fimco 15 gallon pull-behind sprayer. I winterize it by pouring a couple of cups of pink RV antifreeze into the tank (along with some water or whatever else happens to be left in there) and then run it for 30 seconds or so. If you do it this way, DO NOT forget to also run some of this mixture through the wand, or it will freeze and crack the plastic valve.

 

[sixdogs]

I've always used ammonia to wash the tanks when done spraying for the year. Use on my 750 gal field sprayer all the way down to the 25 gal ATV sprayer. Cleans out the residue.
I use my yard sprayer to spray roundup on the driveways, rinse with water, wash out with ammonia/water, rinse, then use it for tri-mec on the lawn in fall.

How much ammonia do you use?

 

[oldbones]

For the small sprayers, I use about 2 cups of ammonia to 3 or 4 gals of water. Use the wand to spray the walls of the tank down, agitate, spray solution out booms/nozzles, rinse out. On the 750 gal, I use about 1/2 gal ammonia to 30/40 gals water.

 

[davethegundoctor]

I put a gallon of Diesel fuel in my tank and run it through the system. It will never freeze and keep all parts lube for the season. I have done this for 40 years. Come spring put a little water and run till it comes out CLEAR and you are done .

David Pidgeon
New Haven, Vermont

 

[Deere Dude]

Run whatever is cheap. Windshield washer fluid, RV antifreeze. That stuff can be found for a buck or two a gallon. I never heard of ammonia., but that might be cheapest yet. Just run it until it comes out all the nozzles.

 

[oldbones]

Deere Dude-

Please read this entire thread. I replied to "remington" that I used ammonia to clean the chemical residue out of my tanks.
In an earlier reply to the original poster of this thread I said I used RV antifreeze to winterize.
I just want clarify my comments, and to make sure no one thinks that ammonia will keep it from freezing.

 

[Deere Dude]

Deere Dude-

Please read this entire thread. I replied to "remington" that I used ammonia to clean the chemical residue out of my tanks.
In an earlier reply to the original poster of this thread I said I used RV antifreeze to winterize.
I just want clarify my comments, and to make sure no one thinks that ammonia will keep it from freezing.

Gotcha. That clarifies it better.

 

[spruce Deere]

I winterize my 65 gal. sprayer by running a neutralizer threw everything, then flush boom, nozzels with compressed air, remove and clean the nozzels and screens. Then give the pump a good dose of wd-40.

 

[plowindeeper]

After reading this thread I went out and did both my sprayers. When I got thru my older brother called and when I told him what I'd been doing he laughed and said that pure antifreeze would also freeze if not mixed with water. He is a ASE certified mechanic. I just don't believe him. I called my other brother who is a deisel mechanic he don't believe it will freeze either. I know pure AF will not transfer heat as well as mixed but don't think it will freeze. I got $20 buck coming my way if I can prove him wrong. I asked him if he'd ever picked up a jug of frozen antifreeze he said he couldn't remember. It doesn't get that cold in Mississippi so I'd thought I'd ask you guys.

 

[spruce Deere]

Pure anti-freeze is also flammable. My ol' man uses rv anti-freeze for its non toxic properties and easy removal in his spray rig. Just enough to get threw the pump and plumbing. His is a 500 gallon 70 odd foot boom sprayer though.....

I just prefer to make sure all points are dry except for a little lube in the pump in my 65 sprayer.

 

[remington270]

Well, you're both right. It WILL freeze, but probably at 100below Fahrenheit. I would still probably mix it some, just due to the thickness.

 

[plowindeeper]

It Will freeze, but not outside in a Mississippi winter. A mixture would freeze before pure.

 

[remington270]

It Will freeze, but not outside in a Mississippi winter. A mixture would freeze before pure.

I would have guessed the same thing. But according to wiki, a mixture has a freezing advantage over pure: Due to its low freezing point ethylene glycol resists freezing. A mixture of 60% ethylene glycol and 40% water freezes at −45 °C (−49 °F).[3] Diethylene glycol behaves similarly. It is used as a deicing fluid for windshields and aircraft. The antifreeze capabilities of ethylene glycol have made it an important component of vitrification (anticrystallization) mixtures for low-temperature preservation of biological tissues and organs.

Ethylene glycol disrupts hydrogen bonding when dissolved in water. Pure ethylene glycol freezes at about −12 °C (10.4 °F), but when mixed with water molecules, neither can readily form a solid crystal structure, and therefore the freezing point of the mixture is depressed significantly. The minimum freezing point is observed when the ethylene glycol percent in water is about 70%, as shown below. This is the reason pure ethylene glycol is not used as an antifreeze—water is a necessary component as well.