Storing Your Champion Pressure Washer During Winter

When the colder months arrive, preparing your pressure washer for storage is an important part of looking after your equipment. Taking the time to clean your Champion pressure washer, prepare the engine and protect the pump against freezing can help you get it ready for use when warmer weather returns.

Winter storage involves more than simply putting your pressure washer away in the garage or shed. Water left in the hose or pump can freeze, while fuel left in the engine for an extended period may require additional preparation.

Whether you're putting your pressure washer away for a few weeks or storing it throughout winter, following the correct procedure will help you prepare both the engine and the pressure washer for the period of inactivity.

In this guide, we'll cover how to clean your Champion pressure washer, prepare the engine for short- and long-term storage, and protect the pump against freezing temperatures.

At a Glance: Preparing Your Pressure Washer for Winter

• Allow the pressure washer and engine to cool completely before cleaning or storage.
• Turn the fuel valve to the OFF position.
• Clean the pressure washer and engine according to the maintenance instructions.
• Use a suitable fuel stabiliser when preparing the engine for storage, following the manufacturer's instructions (It is advisable to always shut off the fuel supply, run the engine to fuel starvation and drain the tank when the equipment is not in use for more than 30 days).
• Follow the additional engine preparation steps if storing the machine for more than 30 days.
• Make sure the pressure washer hose is free of water before winter storage.
• Protect the pump against freezing by following the specified antifreeze procedure.
• Store the pressure washer in a clean, dry area away from direct sunlight.

1. Clean Your Champion Pressure Washer Before Storage

Before putting your pressure washer away, allow it to cool completely. Cleaning the machine before storage is an important first step and should be carried out according to the maintenance instructions supplied with your Champion pressure washer.

Follow these basic storage steps:

1. Allow the pressure washer to cool completely.
2. Turn off the fuel supply at the fuel valve.
3. Clean the pressure washer according to the instructions in the Maintenance section of your manual.
4. Place the unit in a clean, dry storage area away from direct sunlight.

Once the machine has been cleaned, you can prepare the engine and pump for the length of time the pressure washer will remain unused.

2. Preparing the Engine for Storage

The way you prepare the engine depends partly on how long you intend to store your pressure washer. Champion's storage instructions distinguish between engines stored for less than 30 days and those stored for more than 30 days.

Storing Your Pressure Washer for Less Than 30 Days

If you expect to use your pressure washer again within 30 days, follow these engine-storage instructions:

1. Allow the engine to cool completely before storage.
2. Clean the engine according to the Maintenance section of the manual.
3. Add a properly formulated fuel stabiliser to the fuel tank to help extend fuel storage life (check your manual for specifications).
4. Ensure the fuel valve is in the OFF position.

Once these steps are complete, make sure the pressure washer is stored in a clean, dry area away from direct sunlight. You should also prepare the pump for winter if the machine may be exposed to freezing temperatures.

Storing Your Pressure Washer for More Than 30 Days

If your Champion pressure washer will remain unused for more than 30 days, additional engine preparation is required. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully to prepare the fuel system, engine oil and cylinder for extended storage.

1. Add fuel stabiliser. Add a properly formulated fuel stabiliser to the fuel tank (NB follow the instructions in your manual).
2. Run the engine. Run the engine for a few minutes so the treated fuel circulates through the fuel system and carburettor.
3. Turn off the fuel supply. Move the fuel valve to the OFF position.
4. Allow the engine to stop. Let it run until fuel starvation causes it to stop. This usually takes a few minutes.
5. Allow the engine to cool. The engine must cool completely before cleaning and storage.
6. Clean the engine. Follow the cleaning instructions in the Maintenance section.
7. Change the engine oil. Replace the oil as directed in the storage instructions.
8. Lubricate the cylinder. Remove the spark plug and pour approximately 15 ml of oil into the cylinder. Crank the engine slowly to distribute the oil and lubricate the cylinder.
9. Refit the spark plug. Reattach the spark plug after completing the cylinder lubrication procedure.

After completing these steps, the engine is prepared for extended storage according to the supplied instructions. Make sure the pressure washer itself is also clean and that the pump has been protected against freezing before putting the machine away for winter.

3. Why Is Winter Storage Important for Your Pressure Washer?

One of the main considerations when storing a pressure washer during winter is protecting its components from freezing temperatures. Water remaining inside the hose or pump can freeze, so the machine needs to be prepared before it is left unused in cold conditions.

Champion's winter-storage instructions specifically require the pressure washer hose to be free of water and the pump to be protected using a suitable antifreeze. (See your manual for details)

Simply storing the pressure washer in a shed or garage does not replace these steps. Follow the recommended winterisation procedure to prepare the water-carrying components for storage.

4. How to Protect the Pump Against Freezing

This procedure requires a small quantity of suitable antifreeze, a funnel and a short length of garden hose or equivalent.

What You'll Need

• Approximately  177.4 ml of suitable antifreeze. (See manual for dteails)
• A funnel.
• Approximately  30.5 cm of garden hose or equivalent.

Steps for Pump Winterisation

1. Complete the earlier storage steps. Prepare the pressure washer and engine according to the relevant storage instructions.
2. Make sure the pressure washer hose is empty. Remove all water from the pressure washer hose before storing it for winter.
3. Prepare the funnel and hose. Use the funnel and approximately 30 cm of garden hose or equivalent as specified in the manual's winterisation instructions.
4. Add the RV antifreeze. Pour approximately 177.4 ml of suitable antifreeze into the funnel.
5. Operate the recoil starter. Pull the engine recoil starter to create suction in the pump housing.
6. Repeat until antifreeze exits the pump outlet. Pull the recoil starter several times until antifreeze comes out of the pump outlet.

Follow the winterisation diagram and complete instructions in your Champion pressure washer manual to ensure the equipment is prepared correctly. Do not substitute an unapproved product or method for the specified pump-protection procedure.

5. Where Should You Store Your Pressure Washer?

Once the cleaning and storage procedures are complete, keep your Champion pressure washer in a suitable location until it is needed again.

The storage instructions recommend a clean, dry area away from direct sunlight. Before putting the machine away, check that the engine has cooled completely, the fuel valve is in the OFF position and the winterisation steps have been completed where required.

Keeping the machine in an appropriate storage location, while following the engine and pump preparation instructions, helps ensure that the correct precautions have been taken during the period it is not in use.

6. Your Champion Pressure Washer Winter Storage Checklist

Use this checklist to keep track of the main preparation tasks before storing your pressure washer.

Before Storage

• Allow the pressure washer and engine to cool completely.
• Turn the fuel valve to OFF.
• Clean the pressure washer according to the Maintenance section.
• Clean the engine according to the manual.
• Choose a clean, dry storage area away from direct sunlight.

If Storing for Less Than 30 Days

• Add a properly formulated fuel stabiliser to the tank.
• Ensure the fuel valve is in the OFF position.

If Storing for More Than 30 Days

• Add fuel stabiliser and run the engine briefly to circulate the treated fuel.
• Turn the fuel valve OFF and allow the engine to stop through fuel starvation.
• Allow the engine to cool completely.
• Clean the engine and change the oil.
• Lubricate the cylinder with approximately 14.9 ml of oil as specified.
• Reattach the spark plug.

Before Winter Storage

• Ensure the pressure washer hose is free of water.
• Prepare approximately 177.4 ml of suitable antifreeze (Do not use conventional automotive engine coolant unless explicitly approved by the pressure washer manufacturer. Always follow the antifreeze product instructions and the pump manufacturer's recommendations), a funnel and approximately 30 cm of garden hose or equivalent.
• Pour the antifreeze into the funnel, then pull on the engine recoil starter to create suction in the pump housing. Pull the recoil several times until antifreeze comes out of the pump outlet.
• Store the unit in a clean, dry area away from direct sunlight.

Get Your Champion Pressure Washer Ready for Next Season

Preparing your Champion pressure washer for winter does not need to be complicated, but it is important to follow the correct storage procedure. Cleaning the machine, preparing the engine according to the expected storage period and protecting the pump against freezing are key parts of the process.

Before you begin, consult the manual supplied with your particular model and follow its maintenance and storage instructions. Pay particular attention to the difference between short-term and extended engine storage, as well as the specified procedure for protecting the pump against freezing.

If you're considering a pressure washer for your next cleaning project, explore the Champion Power Equipment pressure washer range to compare the available models and find one suited to your needs.