Caring for your heavy equipment when it’s not in use it vital to helping extend its lifespan and ensure that it is effective as long as possible. This is especially true during the winter, when it may go months without being used, sometimes in less than ideal weather conditions. Construction equipment maintenance is an important part of ownership.
Before you buy heavy construction equipment, you should make sure that you have a proper place to store it when it is not in use. Harsh weather conditions can cause a rapid deterioration of your equipment if it is left outside, exposed to the elements. Ideally, you should find somewhere that is both covered and heated for the best care for your bulldozers, excavators, and other equipment.
Battery maintenance is an important part of heavy equipment maintenance over the winter. To make sure they are properly cared for, remove them from your equipment and store them in a warm, dry place. This will help make sure they are ready to go for spring, or the next time you need to use the equipment.
Another important item to monitor is the coolant level. Check the coolant before putting your machine away for the winter. While a 50/50 mix with coolant and water is often normal, it can be a good idea to use a higher level of coolant if your construction equipment will not be in use for a while, such as a 70/30 ratio.
Finally, make sure to take care of the undercarriage of your equipment for the winter. If you are putting it in storage for any length of time, give it a thorough cleaning beforehand. Those tough to clean areas will only be harder to clean if they are left as they are. If your equipment will be in use throughout the season, clean it regularly. The winter can bring extra debris, such as snow or salt from roads, which can do major damage if left uncleaned. In a perfect world, you should be the cleaning the undercarriage every time that you use your equipment.
If you don’t have the capacity or manpower to take proper care of your equipment over the winter, renting heavy equipment is also an option. This can help reduce some of the maintenance burden you might otherwise face, helping focus time and energy on your core businesses.
Whether you’re looking to buy new equipment or need help maintaining what you currently own, contact May Heavy Equipment to let us know how we can help. We serve North Carolina, South Carolina, and the entirety of the Southeast, bringing you many years of experience and expertise.
