Marvin Joles III
One of the worst feelings in the sealcoating world is being ready to go and jump right out of the gate come spring, then getting to that first client you have set up and something doesn’t work or leaks. You have officially taken yourself from the excitement and high of getting yourself from being in the red daily to “back in black” … and went back to the struggle bus that you possibly were in last fall when your spray wand was duct taped together, you had plugs in the tires and your throttle cable on the compressor still had that wire holding the throttle open. Did we ever replace that missing bolt that made us need that wire in the first place? We had so many tasks to do that maybe we forgot to drain the water tank on the seal rig. I didn’t know I needed to unhook the battery and store it, so it’s dead as a doornail now. Whoops.
How can we avoid these things, and worse things, from happening to us? Organization is going to be key. Understanding what everything that needs to be done is another key. With so many facets of asphalt maintenance including crack sealing, patching, line striping, sealcoating and more, there are a lot of areas to prep for winterization if you are in a climate where you should. For the interest of not writing a long article that consumes half this edition of the magazine, lets focus on the winterization of the sealcoating aspect. Here is a list of things to keep in mind on this topic and the immediate areas to cover:
Clean Equipment Thoroughly
Thoroughly clean all sealcoating and asphalt residues from the equipment, especially around valves and bearings. Residual material can harden and damage components.
Flush systems: for spray systems and hoses, use the appropriate cleaners to flush out any remaining sealant or asphalt. At Wis-Coat we use water first until it runs clear, then RV anti-freeze through the wand and system. This hasn’t let us down yet and the diaphragm pumps have always made it through the Wisconsin winters this way.
Inspect for Wear and Damage
Examine all parts of the equipment for signs of wear or damage. Pay attention to hoses, pumps and spray nozzles. Order the parts needed and either replace them before winter or have them staged to replace come spring. DO NOT wait to order the replacement parts, as sometimes they cease to be made anymore if you wait until spring. I cannot tell you how many doubles of parts are on the shelves at Wis-Coat.
Store Equipment Properly
If you can, store the equipment in a dry, clean area to protect it from the elements. Ideally, this would be a heated garage or storage building. As much as the sun dries out hoses, plastic, etc., the winter freezing can do damage as well.
If you can’t store indoors, use protective covers to shield equipment from dust, dirt and potential moisture.
Protect Fluids and Lubricants
Drain any leftover sealant or asphalt from the equipment to prevent it from freezing and causing damage. This includes your bulk tank, brush boxes and more.
I know you are likely done for the year, but you might as well lubricate all moving parts and connections to prevent rust and ensure smooth operation when you restart the equipment come spring. Any lubrication will provide an added layer of protection while you are at a standstill over the winter months.
Check Fuel Systems
If your equipment uses gasoline, add a fuel stabilizer to prevent the fuel from degrading over the winter.
Your second option is to drain the fuel tanks, especially if it’s a gasoline engine on a piece of equipment you rarely use. For diesel engines, it’s often recommended to either fill the tank completely (to prevent condensation) or empty it if the equipment will be unused for an extended period.
Battery Care
If possible, remove batteries from your sealcoat rig and other equipment, and store them in a warmer, dry location. This helps prevent them from freezing and losing charge. Before we had the shop at Wis-Coat, our home basement or garage was the holding area.
If you must leave the battery in the equipment, use a battery maintainer or trickle charger to keep it in good condition.
Document Maintenance
I know it goes against our calloused-hand nature but make a spreadsheet, or at least buy a notebook to keep track of what you have done and when. Note any issues or repairs needed so you can address them when you prepare the equipment for the next season.
Keep track of your winterizing procedures and any maintenance performed for future reference.
I know for a fact there are some situations I missed and had to leave out, and your situation could be very different when it comes to your equipment and climate. Regardless, hopefully this brief overview helped if you are just starting out or need a refresher on a process that should be getting done every year if you aim to run efficiently and separate yourself from the guys that are tying rags around spray hoses in May (I’ve been that guy). Taking these steps can help extend the lifespan of your sealcoating and asphalt equipment and ensure it’s ready to perform efficiently when you need it again.
As always, if you have any insight or criticisms about this article or anything in it, please feel free to email me at marvin@blacktopbanter.com and of course, reach out to us at Blacktop Banter on any form of social media. You can listen to the Blacktop Banter Podcast anywhere podcasts are available, and the video versions are always posted to the Blacktop Banter YouTube Channel.
Marvin Joles III, Owner of Wis-Coat Asphalt Maintenance and host of Blacktop Banter podcast. You can listen to and watch Blacktop Banter podcasts by visiting https://blacktopbanter.com
