Don’t Let Spray Equipment Clog Over Winter

The way you “leave” a machine this month determines how easily it starts in the spring. Look at spraying equipment specifically. Don’t let nozzles, tips and lines sit for two or three months with material drying and hardening inside them.

Simple preventive maintenance could save your upcoming spring day. Plan for that by wiping down spray bars at the end of every shift all year so material isn’t building up.

Before putting the machine in the shed for winter, use a good release agent to wipe down each spray bar and nozzle of distributor trucks, sealcoat machines, tack wagons, stripers and so on. Use pumps to push anti-freeze through the bars if you’ll be housing equipment outdoors or in a spot that sees frigid temperatures.

Wipe down lights, mirrors and backup cameras so no buildup is left caked to sensitive surfaces. Put a shower cap or hair net over lights and backup cameras to protect them from dust and grime in the shop over winter.

For those line stripers, turn the nozzle on the striper to prevent drying in the tip on a regular evening, but make sure you’ve drained the tubes completely and pushed solvent through before storing equipment for winter.

What other steps do you take to ensure your spraying equipment doesn’t clog during the downseason? You are welcome to take part in the conversation for extra ideas on the AsphaltPro social pages.

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