Freeze Is Coming: Is Your Application Equipment Ready for Winter?

Harvest may be wrapping up, but there’s still one important job to tackle before winter settles in: protecting your application equipment from freezing temperatures.

A little water left in the wrong place can turn into a cracked fitting, damaged pump, broken valve, or an unwelcome surprise when you pull equipment out next spring.

Before temperatures stay below freezing, give your sprayer and fertilizer equipment some attention.

Start With a Thorough Cleanout

Don't park application equipment with product still sitting in the system.

Properly rinse and clean tanks, pumps, hoses, plumbing, strainers, filters, valves, and nozzle bodies according to your equipment and chemical manufacturers' recommendations.

While you're cleaning, pay attention to what comes out. Excessive debris or buildup could be a sign that filters, strainers, or other components need attention.

Don't Forget the Pump

Your pump is one component you definitely don't want to discover freeze damage in next spring.

Drain and winterize pumps according to the manufacturer's instructions, making sure water isn't trapped inside.

This is also a good opportunity to inspect the pump for leaks, worn seals, cracks, or other signs of wear.

If something needs repaired, add it to your winter project list now.

Inspect Hoses & Fittings

Walk around your equipment and take a close look at the plumbing.

Check hoses for:

• Cracks and weathering

• Cuts or abrasions

• Soft or swollen areas

• Leaks around connections

• Excessive wear from rubbing

Then check fittings, clamps, valves, seals, and connections.

Cold weather isn't going to improve a questionable hose or leaking fitting. If something looks worn now, replacing it during the off-season can save you from dealing with it when every hour counts.

Check Strainers, Filters & Nozzle Components

Don't overlook the smaller pieces of the system.

Remove and inspect strainers and filters. Clean reusable components and replace anything that's damaged or excessively worn.

Take a look at nozzle bodies, spray tips, caps, gaskets, and seals too.

Even if you don't replace everything now, knowing what you need gives you plenty of time to get parts on the shelf before spring.

Protect Against Freezing

Once the system is clean, follow the manufacturer's recommended winterization procedure for your specific equipment.

Make sure water isn't trapped in pumps, hoses, valves, filters, fittings, or other low points in the plumbing system.

Never assume that because a tank looks empty, the entire system is empty.

Small amounts of trapped water can freeze, expand, and damage components.

Make Spring Easier on Yourself

There are few things worse than pulling equipment out for the first application of the year and immediately finding leaks, cracked fittings, or a damaged pump.

Take care of what you can this fall.

Clean it. Inspect it. Winterize it. Make your parts list.

Then, when spring arrives, you'll be a lot closer to hooking up and getting to work.

Need to replace something you found during your inspection? Jenner Depot carries agricultural hoses, fittings, pumps, valves, spray components, application parts, and more to help keep your equipment ready for the next season.

Get your winter maintenance list started at JennerDepot.com.

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