6 Tips to Maintain Your Heavy Equipment During Summer
What are some tips to maintain your heavy equipment during summer?
- Inspect your engine cooling systems
- Use your air-conditioning units properly
- Schedule shifts on off-peak hours
- Store machinery in shaded areas
- Clean your machines regularly
- Book Preventive Service Maintenance
Labor-intensive jobs are more convenient with heavy equipment in the Philippines. No matter the weather, you can achieve significant results in a day. But when you’re using them during the summertime, you might need to be extra careful with your operations. Hotter temperatures mean higher risks of overheating, increased wear, and more chances of repairs. To help you, here are some tips to maintain your heavy equipment during the summer! Keep on reading.
Inspect Your Engine Cooling Systems
Just like ordinary vehicles, most heavy-duty equipment has an engine cooling system. The coolant absorbs the heat and cools it through the radiator. This way, your engine can stay at the optimum temperature level. Otherwise, it will overheat and create more problems for the machine.
This means that during the hot summer season, you might need to inspect your coolant levels much more frequently. Other than that, it is also recommended to flush them annually to remove impurities. Check for any leaks, cracks, and problems in the hoses and radiators to prevent overheating.
Use Your Air-Conditioning Units Properly
Speaking of cooling, your operators also need to beat the heat themselves during summertime. If it gets too hot at the site, they have higher chances of getting sick from heat-related illness. Other than that, heat exhaustion also increases their risk of accidents on your site.
Aside from reminding them to hydrate, you also need to ensure that the air conditioning component inside the cab is functioning properly. But to remove unnecessary loads on the A/C units, all doors and windows should be closed at all times.
Schedule Shifts On Off-Peak Hours
Other than fully functioning air conditioning units, the right work schedules would also make operation much more comfortable for your operators. For this reason, it is only reasonable to assign outdoor shifts during off-peak hours. For reference, the sun is usually at its strongest from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Not only would this make your workers safer but it would also go a long way in the maintenance of your heavy equipment. Because your machine’s cooling systems don’t have to work twice as hard, it also reduces the risk of overheating. For this reason, some construction companies schedule night shifts.
Store Machinery in Shaded Areas
But when you’re not using your heavy-duty equipment, it is not recommended to leave it outdoors—especially when it’s running. Instead, keep it in a sheltered and dry area away from the heat of the sun. The humidity in the air can also create unnecessary moisture which leads to rust and damage.
If that’s not a possible option, you can also find a shaded area outdoors and temporarily use tarpaulins to decrease the heat exposure. Before shutting off your equipment, give them time to cool down for a few minutes—especially if you want to prolong the life of the turbochargers.
Clean Your Machines Regularly
But before you cap off the day, you need to take some time in cleaning your equipment. Aside from being a part of your daily checklist, this also helps you see problems in advance. For example, if you can spot a bird’s nest early, it can help save you from possible fires. These shelters are usually made with flammable materials such as straw, leaves, hay, and grass. When you combine it with the hot summer heat, problems could arise.
If you don’t have a cleaning regime, dust and debris can build up in your equipment over time. This can block air passages and make it more likely for your machine to overheat. Without proper airflow, cool air can’t come in and hot air won’t dissipate.
Book Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS)
The last but most important thing is booking routine maintenance. During the summer season, you have higher chances of overworking your equipment. With their knowledge and expertise, certified technicians can help you spot problems early. They also have diagnostic machines that can check the health of your equipment.
If your equipment is in optimum condition, you can lessen the risk of premature failure and costly downtimes. That’s why if you’re interested in booking PMS for your material handling equipment—such as Clark Forklifts and Bishamon Pallet Jack—you can schedule them at Multico. We also offer OEM replacements, repairs, and attachment installations.
Key Takeaway
While daily inspections and routine maintenance are necessary all year round, you may have to put a bit more effort when it’s the summertime. With the spike in the heat index, you wouldn’t want to overwork your heavy equipment! If you need additional tips to maintain your heavy equipment during summer, you can always consult a certified technician or read your manufacturer’s manual.
Are you interested in road rollers, crushers, generator sets, and material handling equipment? These can make summer work much more convenient and efficient for you and your workers. For assistance, you can contact Multico!
