Usually the working season for a sprayer begins in spring and ends in late autumn. In order for all its units to work properly, you need to flush the liquid fertilizer system after each application and at the end of the season preserve the sprayer for winter storage. It is best to keep it indoors or at least under a canopy.
Washing the sprayer after work is important because the substances used in agriculture are chemically aggressive to the equipment of the sprayer (especially betanals and liquid fertilizers). But even if the equipment of stainless steel and chemically inert plastic remains the second problem - the decomposition of fertilizer in solution with the formation of hard-to-remove deposits in the system. It is much easier to prevent sediment from occurring than to remove it after it appears.
Thus, regularly cleaning the sprayer during the working season, you extend its service life.
Late autumn is already time to prepare the sprayer for winter storage, repair or preventive maintenance.
If you plan to wash the outdoor units with a high-pressure apparatus, remove the electronic components and wires. Even if they are protected from the rain, the supply of water under pressure can harm them.
The preservation of the sprayer for the winter begins with the flushing of the working fluid supply system. Further preparation of the sprayer for the winter can go in two ways: dry or preservation with antifreeze.
If it is possible to completely drain the fluid from the system (pump, all hoses and other elements), then the «dry» method will be applied.
If we are talking about trailed sprayers or situations where it is not possible to disassemble the system, it remains to protect it from freezing with antifreeze. The stages of such preparation of the sprayer for winter are partially reminiscent of those already stated above.
After contact with the remaining water in the system, the concentration of antifreeze will reach the operating value. If the working fluid supply system was washed off well, then in the spring you can drain this antifreeze for reuse.
As a separate plus, one can note the beneficial effect of antifreeze on the rubber components of the system.
The well-made preparation of the sprayer for the winter season not only guarantees its safety, but also simplifies commissioning in the spring.