As winter brings low ambient temperature, water‑cooled fiber laser cutting machines face huge hidden risk: frozen cooling liquid. When water freezes, volume expansion may crack chiller tank, circulation pipes, pump and laser QBH output connector. Freeze‑caused damage is NOT covered under standard machine warranty. Repair costs can run into thousands of dollars and lead to long‑term production shutdown. Proper antifreeze handling is essential for fabricators in cold‑climate regions.

When you need to add laser‑grade antifreeze

You must prepare antifreeze if you meet any of these conditions:

• Workshop temperature drops below 5°C with unstable heating system
• Risk of unexpected power cuts, cannot keep chiller running 24/7
• Long holiday shutdown and cannot fully drain cooling circuit every time

Alternative measures: Keep chiller circulating non‑stop with stable power supply. For long‑term idle status, fully drain all coolant and blow residual water out of pipelines with dry compressed air.

Critical warning: Never use automotive antifreeze

Many workshops mistakenly use automobile coolant for laser chillers. It contains special anti‑rust additives which raise electrical conductivity. It will corrode optical parts, rubber seals and fiber laser modules, creating permanent damage.

✅Recommended: Industrial laser‑specialized antifreeze such as Clariant Antifrogen‑N 

❌Forbidden: Car engine coolant, windshield washer fluid, long‑term alcohol solution.

Mix ratio & filling steps

1. Set mixing ratio according to local historical minimum temperature. For most cold regions, mix antifreeze : deionized water = 3 : 7 by volume, which offers protection down to approx.‑15℃. Do not over‑concentrate, high viscosity reduces cooling efficiency.
2. Mix antifreeze and deionized water thoroughly in external container first. Never pour pure antifreeze directly into chiller tank.
3. After filling, run the whole cooling system for 5‑10 minutes. Check pipe joints for leakage, verify chiller flow & temperature readings.

Important note: Antifreeze cannot be used all year round

Antifreeze carries certain corrosive properties and is not designed for permanent operation.

When spring arrives and ambient temperature stays steadily above 10°C without freezing risk:

1. Drain all antifreeze liquid completely from cooling loop;
2. Flush the full pipeline system with clean deionized water;
3. Refill deionized water as regular working coolant.

Extra winter maintenance tips

• If pipes are already frozen, DO NOT start water pump forcibly. Wait for full natural thaw before inspection.
• Add thermal insulation wrapping for exposed cooling hoses.
• Keep monitoring chiller temperature and flow alarm status on daily basis.

Improper antifreeze selection, wrong mixing ratio or skipping spring‑time flushing will trigger hidden equipment failures. Follow winter maintenance procedures to protect your laser source core components, reduce unplanned downtime and keep your production stable.

Contact our technical support team if you need further winter‑operation suggestions for your laser equipment.