As harvest finishes in the majority of the country, the time of year has come to put most farm machinery away, including your sprayer, until spring. One of the keys to keeping your sprayer in working order for next spring is proper winterization before the freezing temperatures settle in for the season.

1. Clean the sprayer
Cleaning the sprayer includes both the inside and outside of the machine. While it is important to thoroughly rinse the wet system, it is equally important to give attention to the exterior of the sprayer. Proper cleaning will help prevent premature rust and corrosion. Using a pressure washer, clean the outside of the sprayer including the booms and frame. Additionally, remove all filters, screen tips and check valves to wash them, and then reinstall all parts to keep moisture out during the winter.

To clean the inside of the sprayer, completely rinse the entire system to ensure any chemicals aren’t left from the last application. Here is a video with a few reminders on how to properly flush the wet system.

2. Inspect the sprayer
After washing the sprayer, check it over for any cracks, chips or scratches in the paint and touch up these areas to avoid corrosion. While inspecting the sprayer, take this opportunity to grease all service points on the sprayer. If any leaks are found inside the spray tank, repair them before storing the sprayer.

3. Winterize the wet system
After cleaning the sprayer’s exterior and rinsing the inside of the system, it is important to circulate antifreeze through the entire wet system to keep it from freezing during the cold months. Recreational Vehicle antifreeze is recommended since it is less toxic to animals and may be sprayed on the ground.

Start by adding RV antifreeze in the product tank and the rinse tank, and turn on the product pump to circulate through agitation. Following which, turn each boom section on and spray the antifreeze through the booms.

If the sprayer is equipped with an eductor, open the inductor valve and turn on the product pump. Let the antifreeze circulate in the eductor for a few seconds then close the valves and turn off the product pump. Finally, open the strainer drain valve, to ensure RV antifreeze is present in the strainer.

To run the antifreeze through the entire wet system, don’t exclude any components such as the flow back line, if the sprayer has one or the lines that connect to the agitation and pump pressure gauges. Make sure they have antifreeze in them as well to avoid frozen gauges.

Check out this video for a more detailed step-by-step guide to winterizing your sprayer’s wet system.

4. Winterize the foam marker system
If your sprayer has a foam marker system, don’t forget to include it in the winterization process. Start by draining the foam tank and disconnecting the hoses from the foam chamber. Next, replace the strainer bowl. Then, add two quarts of windshield washer fluid, and finish by running the foam markers until windshield washer fluid comes out of the hose at the foam chamber. RV antifreeze can be used in place of the windshield washer fluid, but depending on the size of the containers, the windshield washer fluid may be easier to handle.

5. Store the sprayer
The best place to house a sprayer during the winter is in a dry, storage building. Cover all openings on the sprayer to keep insects and dirt out of the system. If the sprayer is stored outside, take the time to remove all hoses. To complete the winterization process, remove the fully charged battery and any consoles from the cab and store them in a warm area. Finish by filling your Apache’s fuel tank to reduce condensation and moisture build up.

By taking the time to properly prepare your sprayer for winter, you will ultimately save time and maintenance costs in the spring.