SIMPSON ALH3425 3600PSI @ 2.5 GPM Aluminum Series Pressure Washer
To extend the life of your SIMPSON pressure washer proper maintenance is a must. This includes winterizing your gas powered pressure washers pump and engine for cooler months approaching. Storing your pressure washer inside is simply not enough protection. Winterizing will prevent any residual moisture from freezing, expanding and potentially cracking valves and seals inside your pump. Also, it will protect your engine from any moisture that may reside in stagnant gas causing your engine to fail.
Today we will show you how to easily and effectively winterize your pressure washer using two products that we swear by: Pump Guard and Ethanol Shield.
Here we have the SIMPSON ALH3425 gas powered pressure washer that is ready to be stored away for the winter months.
We will start by using Ethanol Shield to stabilize your fuel.
Some people recommend that you drain your fuel to prevent water from leaching into it. This is a good method, but still leaves your pressure washer susceptible to moisture contamination in your tank and carburetor.
We recommend that you LEAVE your tank full and use Ethanol Shield to prevent moisture from leaching into your fuel.
1 bottle (2oz) = good for 5 gallons of gas
Like most SIMPSON pressure washer models, the SIMPSON ALH3425 has a 1/2 gallon tank. You will need to pour 1/2 oz. Ethanol Shield into your tank when tank is FULL of gas.
Connect your pressure washer to the water supply and assemble gun and hose. Be sure that your water supply is ON and pull the recoil. Pull trigger and let engine run for 2-5 minutes to let gas into the carburetor.
Next, If you have used chemicals in your pressure washer you will want to flush out any residual chemicals from your pump using your siphon tube, a small bucket and some fresh water.
Attach your siphon tube to your pump and drop the filtered end into the bucket of water. Insert your soap nozzle into your wand and pull trigger to let the water into the pump and hold for a few seconds to a minute to flush out chemicals.
Disconnect gun, wand high pressure hose and garden hose and drain any residual water in the hoses as much as possible to prevent corrosion and oxidation that can lead to gun, wand and hose permanently sticking together.
Now, we will protect the pump by using SIMPSON Pump Guard.
Using Pump Guard will coat your pump to prevent corrosion or other damage that can lead to cracks in your pump due to water expanding when frozen.
Simply remove cap and screw in pump guard to your water inlet and twist until secured. Squeeze Pump Guard bottle until there is 100% solution coming from the pump outlet. If you have trouble simply pull on your recoil a few times to help Pump Guard push through the pump.
Lastly, store your pressure washer in a dry, safe space.
Rest easy knowing your pressure washer is safe all winter long!
-The Simpson Cleaning Team
What do I do if I cannot get the Pump Guard to go into the pump chamber and exit from the pump outlet? It seems something is blocking the pump guard from entering the pump. I have tried pulling the recoil but simply cannot get the guard into the chamber.
Hi Bernie,
Please follow these steps:
1) Remove the high pressure hose from the pump
2) Install the pump guard on to the inlet of the pump
3) Start the engine and squeeze the pump guard bottle hard until it comes out the outlet
4) Shut off engine
5) Remove pump guard
Confirming that after not being able to squeeze pump guard into the pump or pull it by pulling several times on the recoil, these steps work!
How long can you run your simpson PW through the winter months. Obviously you don’t want to run it when it is below freezing outside, but in the Midwest we have up and down weather patterns.
For example this weekend it’s going to be in the 70’s and we have a couple jobs to complete, but next weekend it might be in the 50’s and we have jobs to complete.
Do you guys have any suggestions on what to use (chemical wise) when it’s cooler outside and we are still working?
Thanks!
Hi Tanner,
As long as water is going through the pump it will not freeze. This can be used in above freezing temps as long as pump guard is used immediately after the machine is stopped.
this worked. how much of the pump guard should stay in the pump?
Hi Bernie,
If the pump guard has run through the pump and has displaced the water, it could effectively be removed totally.
SIMPSON TEAM
If winterized properly, can my Simpson pressure washer be stored in an outdoor shed in a climate that stays below freezing for the winter?
Hi Anthony,
While it is not recommended; the pump guard with sustains temperatures to 0 degrees.
SIMPSON TEAM
I also could not get pumpguard to come out of top pipe but I briefly started then stopped engine with guard streaming out.
Hi Kevin,
Please follow these steps:
1) Remove the high pressure hose from the pump
2) Install the pump guard on to the inlet of the pump
3) Start the engine and squeeze the pump guard bottle hard until it comes out the outlet
4) Shut off engine
5) Remove pump guard
What do I do with a power washer after winterizing to use in the spring season?
Hi Ryan,
Run water through the pump for 3 minutes and then start normally.