How to store your pressure washer

Pressure washers are usually brought out on warm, sunny days to clean up your garden furniture, patio, exterior walls or even your roof. Once you're done, your device will get packed away in the garden shed and garage and forgotten about.However, if you don't want to dig out a broken or leaking pressure washer come spring, you'll have to follow a few steps to prepare your equipment for storage.

Descaling a pressure washer

If the water in your area is very hard (has a high limescale content), you will have to descale your pressure washer on a yearly basis. Of course, you can risk descaling every three years but a task that can be completed in an hour every year will get much more difficult over the years!

Draining

If your pressure washer is stored in an unheated room or garden shed, sub-zero winter temperatures may lead to damage if there is even the slightest amount of water left in the nozzles or other plastic parts of the pump.Frozen water increases in volume, no matter where it is located. Cracks can appear which will end up creating leaks or damaging watertight seals (especially around the handle). For this reason, you must drain any water that may be left in the hose, nozzles, spray gun, etc.

1. Press down on the handle and let your pressure washer run for a few seconds when empty to drain as much water as possible from your hose.

2. Remove the nozzle and empty the remaining water before reassembling. 

3. Carefully drain all water from your attachments. 

4. If necessary, protect your high pressure cleaner from sub-zero temperatures by packing it in its box and filling the box with insulating material, such as old blankets, glass wool, etc.

5. Additionally, petrol or diesel-powered pressure washers will require some engine maintenance (checking the spark plug, oil, air filter, etc.).

Follow the links below for advice on related accessories and more helpful guides:

• How to decorate and furnish your garden

• Garden furniture buying guide

• Exterior wood paint buying guide

• Hammock and swing buying guide

• Barbecue buying guide