If your business relies on production equipment, construction equipment, or other motorized machinery, practices like chrome plating provide extra protection during winter. Cold temperatures combined with ice and snow will wreak havoc on equipment and cause corrosion, fuel tank condensation, and damaged finishes. Use this guide to keep all of your motorized equipment functional throughout the coldest months of the year.

How to Prevent Winter From Damaging Your Equipment

1. Inspect & Clean Undercarriages Regularly

Perform bi-monthly or monthly inspections on the undercarriages of all equipment to clean them of accumulated dirt, mud, ice, snow, and organic debris, such as leaves and twigs. Use this time to look for loose and missing parts that need tightening or replacing, such as rollers and sprockets.

2. Disconnect Batteries as Necessary

Take the batteries out of the equipment you won’t use over winter or for the next few weeks. Clean battery terminals of corrosion that interferes with charging and starting actions. Store removed batteries in a cool, dry environment, such as a temperature-controlled detached shed, to keep them from losing power quickly. The more the temperature drops, the harder it becomes for the battery chemical processes to occur efficiently.

3. Prevent Fuel Tank Condensation

Keep fuel tanks full to avoid moisture accumulation. Condensation occurs when operation-related equipment heat combines with cold fuel. Tank condensation causes problems such as contaminated fuel, corrosion, and fuel filter clogs. For the equipment that you don’t need during winter, drain the fuel lines or use a fuel additive to avoid corrosion and other moisture-related issues.

4. Refinish Equipment Coatings

Schedule chrome plating or other refinishing services, such as hard coat anodizing, to protect equipment body panels from rust and general wear. Discuss the right coating for each piece of equipment—for example, if you wish to paint certain pieces, hard coat anodizing is ideal because it preps surfaces for painting in addition to protecting them from corrosion.

5. Don’t Leave Equipment Outside

Shield equipment from winter elements by utilizing storage options, such as garages, large sheds, and carports. You might want to use a block heater, depending on equipment storage requirements. For equipment that remains outdoors regardless of the season, use protective materials, such as tarps, to shield pieces from snow, rain, wind, ice, and UV sunlight. 

Schedule chrome plating and hard coat anodizing services with LWG Finishing. Located in Fairfield, OH, and serving the Midwest, including Indiana and Kentucky, this company has taken on jobs of all sizes since 1994. Call (513) 860-1156 today to schedule an appointment or visit the website to learn more about chrome plating.