Many companies invest a lot of good money into their equipment. In fact, a good deal of companies have a lot of their current value wrapped up in these important assets. Unfortunately, sometimes equipment has to be exposed to the elements for workers to do their jobs. As such, this very expensive equipment will often be confronted with extreme temperatures and bad weather. If you want to save these important investments, you should take steps to protect your equipment.
Fight the Heat
Something that can certainly be harsh on equipment is the dog days of summer. The engines that run many pieces of equipment are already running hot no matter the weather. When it gets very hot during the summer, they can be pushed past the breaking point. This is even truer for newer engines that are designed to run hotter in an attempt to lower emissions. The use of synthetic lubricants can help to protect the moving parts of an engine when things really do get hot.
Waterproof
Another thing your equipment will be exposed to in the elements is water from rain, sleet and snowmelt. Moisture can wreak havoc on nearly any kind of machine. Overall, you’re going to need to find a waterproofing solution for your equipment if you wish it to survive significant exposure to water or other liquids over an extended period of time. Options for solutions include admixtures, mortars, waterstops, and more. Overall, find a solution customized for your specific equipment.
Protect Against Cold
It’s not only extreme heat that can cause problems. Extreme cold can also be just as dangerous for your equipment and machines. The cold can cause things to expand, which can cause parts to break. It can also cause the oil used in hydraulics and engines to become thicker and run far less efficiently. Overall, you need to invest in lubricants, antifreeze, and other products to protect your equipment while it’s out in the cold.
Store It
No matter how many steps you take, it’s impossible to protect equipment from deteriorating and depreciating after repeated exposure to the elements. However, you can certainly slow the process. The easiest way to do this is to provide safe and secure storage to protect that machinery when it’s not in use. Some temperature control in this storage can also go a long way.
Companies invest a lot of money into their equipment. This machinery helps workers perform their jobs efficiently. Take the maintenance of this important equipment seriously and ensure that you do in fact take steps to protect it from the elements.
Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing.
