I recently put my lawn spray rig into my pickup and partially filled it with water. Last night we got some unexpected (at least to me) snow and sub-freezing temperatures. Since there's no antifreeze in the pump and hose any longer, the pump froze overnight. Hopefully it's not ruined

Putting it back in the garage isn't helpful as it's not heated. So, what can I do to prevent the pump and hose from bursting? A lightbulb and blanket?

If it was damaged it already happened when it froze. So are you trying to prevent it happening again after you thawed it? Blanket and bulb would work at the expense of some risk. Why not just put a small amount of antifreeze (can be almost anything) to protect it?

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
... Why not just put a small amount of antifreeze (can be almost anything) to protect it?

There is already liquid in the tank so there's no way to pull the hose without dumping it. Not exactly legal. Not sure about mixing RV antifreeze into it because it will be sprayed into lawns.

It's probably not a hard freeze. It's probably just slush-ified.

Putting it back in the garage might be helpful, as the garage won't be quite as cold as outside and the equipment won't be subject to wind chill.

Won't help you now, but a couple months back I bought a couple 500W electric space heater cubes to get the extreme chill off of things in the garage. My thinking was they get hot enough to take a bit of the chill off, but not hot enough to likely start a fire.

I don’t know if this will help you, it it may help others. Electric well pump heater

These have an integral thermostat so you don’t waste electricity.

Maybe you could wrap the cord around it and cover with an insulated tarp.

Good luck to you

I went out and found it was no longer frozen so I started the pump. It's pumping at expected pressure so it seems ok. Another freeze is expected tonight.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
I don’t know if this will help you, it it may help others. Electric well pump heater

These have an integral thermostat so you don’t waste electricity.

Maybe you could wrap the cord around it and cover with an insulated tarp.

Good luck to you

Not a terrible idea at all.

Another idea would be an electric bilge heater for boats. They’re supposed to warm the bilge to keep the engine from freezing. You can get them at most marinas.

If you are going the lightbulb route, use two lightbulbs. You wouldn’t want the safety of your equipment to hang on the reliability of a single light bulb.

One thing we used to do for pressure washer trailer units may help. Pipe in a 3 way valve between the tank and the pump and add a small tank for antifreeze. Then you can throw the valve and protect your pump without having to drain the tank.

quote:

Originally posted by DBD226:
One thing we used to do for pressure washer trailer units may help. Pipe in a 3 way valve between the tank and the pump and add a small tank for antifreeze. Then you can throw the valve and protect your pump without having to drain the tank.

Great idea. I should have done it beforehand though. I'll plan to do this for next winter.

It's so unbelievably hard to wrap my mind around something freezing outdoors due to temperatures, it's getting so hot here that you could cook and egg on the sidewalk! I for one will hate to see the cooler weather gone

PS- I was once upon a time born in Chicago so I can still remember bundling up as a very youngun

quote:

Not sure about mixing RV antifreeze into it

anything can be antifreeze. Vodka would be my first choice of human consumables, but you don't need much alcohol for your temps. And since its miscable with water you don't need much mixing either.

For tonight I’d just park it in the garage and put a lamp under the pump to keep the pump from freezing....