Heavy machinery and equipment can be difficult to care for if businesses and individuals do not have the proper information. Improper care of equipment can lead to machine failure. The most common reasons why equipment failure happens include improper operation and inability to perform preventive measures. Winter can also lead to failure and can be especially hard on machinery. That is why it is extremely important for you to understand how to prepare your equipment for winter.
Tips To Prepare Your Equipment For Winter
As a heavy equipment owner or operator, it is likely that you want your equipment to last for as long as possible. In order to maintain and elongate your equipment’s useful life, it is crucial to make preparations to mitigate potential threats to your equipment. As previously mentioned, winter can be a big threat to equipment. When temperatures dip below freezing, it can cause equipment to not work properly and may result in needing substantial repairs or to completely replace your equipment which can be extremely costly. The key to making sure that your equipment does not break down or become unusable during the winter is to prepare your equipment for winter early.
Store In A Facility
If you have a lot of equipment or heavy machinery, it may be tempting to keep equipment outside to avoid the costs associated with renting a storage facility. However, the costs that are involved with replacing your equipment are much steeper. Additionally, if a piece of equipment breaks down unexpectedly, that can cause you to lose money in your business or could be frustrating if you need to use the equipment. It is also advisable to keep any fluids that your machinery requires in a separate, warm location. It is important to make sure that fluids for your equipment stay at room temperature to avoid damage to your equipment’s joints.
Run Inspections
An important step to running your equipment is to run a daily inspection of your equipment. Check wiring, attachments, and hoses for cracks or other damage. Make sure to look at your equipment’s belts, hoses, and/or tires and verify that they do not have any cuts or nicks. Periodically have your machinery professionally inspected to safely and easily ensure that there are not any problems with the equipment that you have accidentally missed. It is advisable to get a good inspection of your equipment before winter to avoid more issues.
Make Sure The Engine Is Warm Before Operation
One of the worst mistakes a person can make is running machinery before it has been able to warm up. A cold machine can not only be dangerous to those that are operating it, but it is much more likely to get stuck or stop working randomly. Be sure to also use all of the machine’s functions to avoid any of them getting stuck.
Inflate Tires And Fill Tank
Cold air can cause tires to lose air much faster than warm air, so it is very important for owners or operators to check their tires before every use of the machine to avoid tires becoming deflated. It is also very important for operators to make sure that the gas tank is filled at the end of every use. A tank that is not properly filled can freeze, which can be quite the hassle and can take time to thaw.
Need Equipment Repairs
Even if you have followed all of these tips, mistakes can still happen and age is inevitable. If your equipment is in need of repairs, you have come to the right spot. We at Sanson Machinery offer comprehensive, quality repairs for all sorts of heavy duty equipment and machinery. We also offer options for replacements. If your machine has recently broken down, contact us to get it fixed or replaced.