How to Store a Pressure Washer for Winter
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The short answer
Drain all water from the pump, hose and wand, then run pump saver antifreeze through the inlet until it comes out the outlet. On gas units add fuel stabilizer and run the engine two minutes, or drain the tank and carb bowl. Store above freezing if at all possible.
Pump Saver Antifreeze
Displaces the water draining leaves behind — the cheapest insurance in the shed.
Water left in a pump expands when it freezes and cracks the housing or the seals. That's the single most common way a pressure washer dies, and it happens in one cold night.
Ten-Minute Winter Routine
- 1Run clean water through the low-pressure setting for a minute to flush detergent out of the injector.
- 2Shut off the water, squeeze the trigger to release pressure, then disconnect the hose and wand.
- 3Tip the machine and let the pump drain; pull the trigger a few times to clear the wand.
- 4Screw pump saver antifreeze onto the pump inlet and pull the starter (or briefly run electric) until it comes out the outlet.
- 5Gas: add fuel stabilizer to a full tank and run two minutes so treated fuel reaches the carb — or drain the tank and carb bowl completely.
- 6Coil the hose loosely, clear the nozzles with the tip wire and store them in the wand holder.
- 7Cover the unit and store it off concrete, ideally above freezing.
| Risk | Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked pump | Water left inside during a freeze | Drain + pump saver |
| Hard spring start | Stale ethanol fuel | Stabilizer or drain fuel |
| Seized pump seals | Dry storage with detergent residue | Flush clean water first |
| Clogged nozzles | Mineral deposits drying inside | Clear with tip wire |
| Cracked hose | Tight coils in cold weather | Coil loose, store indoors |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I really need pump saver?
- If the machine will see freezing temperatures, yes. Draining alone leaves water in the pump valves, which is exactly where cracks start.
- Can I store a pressure washer in an unheated garage?
- Yes, if it's been drained and treated with pump saver. Below-freezing storage without that treatment is what destroys pumps.
- Should I drain the gas or stabilize it?
- Either works. Stabilizer in a full tank is simpler; a full drain including the carburetor bowl is the safest for long storage.
The Gear We’d Buy
Everything referenced in this guide, in one place.
Pump Saver Antifreeze
Start hereDisplaces the water draining leaves behind — the cheapest insurance in the shed.
Typically $10 - $18
Fuel Stabilizer (STA-BIL)
Full tank plus stabilizer, run two minutes, and spring startup is a non-event.
Typically $10 - $20
Pressure Washer Cover
Keeps grit and moisture out of the pump inlet through the off season.
Typically $20 - $40
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Key Takeaways
- Drain the pump, hose and wand completely.
- Run pump saver through until it exits the outlet.
- Stabilize or drain the fuel on gas machines.
- Store above freezing and off bare concrete if you can.
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Pump Saver Antifreeze