Sprayer Storage and Winterization

A sprayer that sits through winter with water and chemical residue in it will cost you in spring. A careful cleanout and drain protects the pump, lines and electronics.

Key points

Clean out the tank, lines and boom before storage, following label and manual directions.
Drain completely and protect pumps from freezing with the antifreeze your manual specifies.
Store nozzles, filters, gauges and electronics clean, dry and indoors.
Handle rinsate according to label and state rules, never into ditches or near wells.
Run a clean-water test and recalibrate in spring before spraying.

Why does a sprayer need winterizing?

Water left in pumps, hoses and filters can freeze and crack housings. Chemical residue can corrode metal, harden seals and clog nozzles. Dried product on a boom can also contaminate the next crop you spray.

Your sprayer manual and the product labels carry cleanout and storage directions. Follow them first. This guide gives the general order of work.

Do the work on a dry day with time to spare. Rushing a cleanout in the last light of the season is how a tank gets put away half rinsed, and that is the sprayer that causes trouble in spring.

How do you clean the sprayer before storage?

Rinse the tank, lines and boom with clean water, then use the cleaner or cleanout procedure the label or manual calls for. Flush through every nozzle, and run the agitation and return lines too. Wear the protective equipment the label lists, since residue is still chemical.

Collect rinsate as the label allows and apply it only where permitted, or dispose of it as your state rules say. Do not dump it in ditches, near wells or onto bare ground near water. Ask your state department of agriculture if you are unsure.

Rinse tank, boom and lines
Run cleanout solution if the label calls for it
Clean the outside of the tank and frame
Handle rinsate according to label and state rules

How do you drain and protect against freezing?

Open every drain and valve and let the system drain completely. Remove low-point plugs where your manual allows. Pump manufacturers often recommend running a pump antifreeze product through the pump and plumbing before storage. Use the type your manual specifies, and follow the instructions, because the wrong product can harm seals.

Take off filters and screens, clean them and store them dry. Pull the pressure gauge if your manual suggests, since trapped water can crack it. Blow out lines only as the manufacturer permits.

Write yourself a tag and hang it on the sprayer listing what you drained, what you removed and what you stored indoors. By spring you will not remember whether the gauge came off or the filters are on the shelf, and the tag settles it.

What about hoses, nozzles and the boom?

Remove nozzle tips and bodies, soak and clean them, and store them in a labeled container so you can keep matched sets. Inspect hoses for cracks, soft spots or rubbing and replace worn ones now, while you have time.

Check the boom for bends, loose bolts and worn pivot points. Grease fittings as the manual says, using specified lubricants. Fold the boom and lock it in its transport position so it does not sag or swing.

How should you protect electronics and controllers?

Remove the monitor, controller and any receiver, and store them indoors in a dry place. Disconnect the battery if your manual advises, and protect connectors from moisture and rodents. Keep manuals and calibration notes with the equipment.

For software updates and calibration settings, write down your numbers before storage in case a reset wipes them.

Where should you store the sprayer?

Indoors is best. If the sprayer must sit outside, cover it with a breathable cover and park it on firm, level ground, away from drainage to ponds or wells. Keep it separate from feed, seed and food. Keep children and animals away, and lock the chemical storage area.

Block or support the sprayer using proper stands rather than the tires only if your manual calls for it, and never work under a loaded boom or an unsupported frame.

Look the machine over once in midwinter. Check for rodent damage to wiring and hoses, rust blooms on the frame and any tank cracks. A quick look then beats finding the problem on the first spray morning.

What should you do in spring before first use?

Reinstall parts, check hoses and clamps, fill the tank with clean water and run the pump. Look for leaks, check pressure, test every nozzle, and recalibrate output. Fix problems before you mix any product. A dealer service department or qualified mechanic can service pumps and hydraulics if anything looks wrong.

When to get help: Have the dealer service department or a qualified mechanic service the pump, hydraulics and controller if anything seems off. Check with your state department of agriculture about rinsate and container disposal.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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