Navigating the Deep Freeze

Navigating the Deep Freeze

The dead of winter has arrived and for many it’s cold. Very cold. Temperatures have fallen well below freezing in regions around the northern hemisphere. Some are taking readings well below average, others are setting new record lows. For the municipal and industrial worlds, this spells trouble. Electricity is down, pipes are bursting, pumps are failing, and motors are seizing, all while roads are covered in snow and people can’t get to work to make necessary repairs.

Following are some extreme weather tips that may help you weather the storm:

Revisiting Winterization

If you haven’t already, now is the time to insulate pipes, add heat tracing, drain water lines, and store equipment indoors. Here’s a thought… how about surveying your facility to see if there are any areas where winterization has been overlooked? Take ten minutes in the next meeting to ask other team members if they’ve seen any freezing hazards. Work together to identify potential problems and solve them.

Review Manuals

During extended down periods equipment can potentially seize up or become inoperable. Extreme cold can complicate the issue. Now would be an ideal time to review equipment manuals for cold weather and lengthy downtime maintenance recommendations.

Cold Weather Gear

When your team members have the right gear, cold weather work goes easier. With less accidents, injuries, and downtime. Make sure your people have boots, coats, gloves, hats, pants, and heaters that are rated for the temperatures and conditions they’re working in.

Run Equipment

It is often suggested to run equipment for a minimum of fifteen minutes per month. Running electric motors periodically is essential for maintaining operational efficiency and ensuring consistent performance. The same is true of actuators, conveyors, engines, pumps, and a long list of other municipal and industrial components. Trucks, forklifts, and heavy equipment may require weekly operation in severe conditions.

Battery Care

Extreme cold can slow down chemical reactions within batteries and hamper the flow of electricity. Prolonged cold can damage batteries, possibly irreparably. Refer to operating manuals because equipment that charge batteries (like a car, truck, or forklift) may have to be run weekly to maintain charge. Block heaters may be needed to aid starting. In some cases, batteries should be removed when not in use in cold weather.

Snow Removal

It’s important to clear snow, ice, and debris from inlet vents, louvers, and exhaust pipes. Remove snow from the path of doors and hatches, as well as roadways, parking areas, and walkways. Remember, snow on automobiles can fly off when driving and become a road hazard.

Whether you’re enjoying the Sydney sun in Australia or dealing with the Fairbanks life-threatening cold in in Alaska, USA, preparation is key to smooth operations at municipal and industrial facilities. Be prepared.