Once the trees begin losing their leaves, night begins to arrive earlier and earlier, and supermarket shelves begin to overflow with pumpkin spice products that range from ravioli to toothpaste, you know that winter will soon be making an appearance.
If you are at all familiar with the winter weather in Michigan, you know that you need to prepare for freezing temperatures, stinging winds, and snow.
Although you may have many tasks to complete, it is important that you include winterizing your sealcoating and striping equipment on your list of things to do.
Why Is Winterizing Your Sealcoating and Striping Equipment Important?
At the most basic level, it is important because well-maintained equipment lasts longer, is more reliable, and requires fewer major repairs.
However, unless you take the proper steps to winterize your striping and sealcoating equipment, when the season opens again next spring, you could discover that none of your equipment is functional.
This could lead to delays and expenditures at an inopportune time.
What Is Involved in Winterizing Your Sealcoating and Striping Equipment?
When you purchased your equipment, the manufacturer should have provided you with an instruction manual that details how to winterize your specific piece of equipment. I
f you no longer have the manual, contact the manufacturer to request the exact steps to winterize your equipment, then follow their instructions.
Typically, it is not time-consuming or difficult to winterize the equipment you use for asphalt sealcoating and striping.
The basic steps are listed below.
- Remove any product or water from the equipment. If you have leftover asphalt sealer, you can store it in tightly sealed totes or drums. Be sure to avoid freezing your sealcoat; once frozen, asphalt sealer is unusable.
- Use water to flush your equipment, and leave all valves upon after draining. Although you might think that all of the water has drained away, there may still be some in the valves, which can be damaged if the water freezes.
- Clean the walls of the tanks to remove dried sealant. Otherwise, you risk clogging filters and lines once you put the unit back in service. This is one time you might want to ignore the ban on freezing your sealcoat; subjecting the empty, drained tank to freezing temperatures can make removal easier.
- If you have an airless paint sprayer, you might want to consider using Graco Pump Armor (https://safesealofmichigan.com/product/graco-pump-armor/) to protect your sprayer’s pump against corrosion and freezing over the winter.
- Remove spray wand hoses, then store them in a warm place to protect them.
- For crack sealing and other gas-powered equipment, remove the oil and gas, clean or replace the filters, then use a plastic trash bag to cover the engine. Change the heating transfer oil,as needed.
- Remove batteries and store them inside. You can create a solution of water and baking soda to wash them.
If you have questions about purchasing, repairing, maintaining, or winterizing your equipment, contact the experts at B&E Seal Coat Products.
We offer an extensive selection of products, tools, and equipment to help you manage your pavement-related tasks efficiently and economically.
We would be happy to answer your questions, help you select the right tools and products, or provide you with a free quote.
You can submit our online form, call 616-608-6169, or email Info@SafeSealofMichigan.com.
