ForConstructionPros.com

By now, most “northern” contractors have sealcoated the last driveway or parking lot for the year. Machines are stored and ready for a quick, flawless start this spring. No big deal, right?

Maybe, depending on how thoroughly equipment was winterized. When “put away” properly, sealcoating machines will be ready to jump into action next spring. Less fortunate units will not only fail to function, they will create hours of work and needless expense.

“The single most important winterizing move a sealcoating contractor can make is to thoroughly flush out the sealcoating system,” says Keith King, general manager, Anders Manufacturing. “Once the sealant is exposed to air, it hardens and becomes nearly impossible to free up. Neglecting to flush out the system will create many, many hours of labor replacing elbows, tees, pipe fittings, and ball valves.”

In addition to ridding equipment of sealer, King says purging ensures that sand and other potentially corrosive material will be removed.

Different manufacturers recommend different flushing procedures. Some advise running fresh sealant through equipment to help remove sand deposits, then follow up by flushing with water. Some recommend flushing only with water (depending on the type of sealant used) and some recommend flushing the system with water and then adding an anti-freeze solution that will stay in the system until spring.