Contractors must make their equipment ready for the winter season because cold temperatures, snow, and ice will wear or damage your equipment and cause production delays and safety concerns.
Some winterization efforts are the same across machine types and some are not. Three product experts share winterization tips for some of the unique equipment and trucks found in the utility industry.
Pre-winter winterization tips
Winterization efforts should begin before the nighttime temperature comes close to freezing.
1. Clean your equipment. You want to clean your equipment, because you want to inspect it for signs of physical damage. If you find damage, you should note it in your fleet tracker and decide whether it needs to be repaired. If the damage is cosmetic and it’s on a non-structural or moving component, you may not need to schedule a repair. Otherwise, take care of it soon.
2. Thoroughly inspect all components. Check all your engine components, especially your batteries. Batteries don’t work as well in cold weather and batteries with a weak charge may have difficulty starting a machine in cold temperatures. Also check your washer fluid system, the windshield defrost, and the in-cab heater. These equipment functions are very useful when operating in cold weather.
3. Change to winter fluids. Switch to a low-viscosity oil because it circulates more freely in cold temperatures. Also switch to a coolant with a reduced water ratio, so it doesn’t freeze your system.
4. If your truck or equipment operates on-road, then switch to winter tires. If not, clean them, inspect them, and ensure they have the correct pressure. Correct tire pressure is even more important during winter months.
During winter, there are a few other best practices you should follow.
Winter operation
Cold temperatures and ice can damage utility equipment and delay start times. Therefore, you should do the following:
- Clean your equipment at the start and end of each shift.
- Inspect your equipment at the start and end of each shift.
- Let your equipment or truck’s engine warm up to its ideal operating temperature.
- Consider using block heaters when your site regularly experiences overnight temperatures of -10°F.
- Fuel equipment at the end of the day to avoid condensation and freezing in the fuel tank.
- Store equipment in enclosed storage facilities
Besides these all-machine type recommendations, some equipment used in the utilities sector, have specific winterization guidelines.
Machine specific recommendations
Below are recommendations from product experts for horizontal directional drills, vacuum excavators, and crawler carriers.
Directional Drills
“When preparing a directional drill for winter and cold weather conditions, the key is mitigating damage to two main components – the mixing system and fluid pump,” says Jeff Davis, HDD Product Manager for Ditch Witch.
"To winterize these components, operators should circulate their systems – including hoses and pressure gauges – with an environmentally friendly antifreeze or windshield wiper fluid at the end of each day. When circulating the antifreeze solution through the entire system operators should ensure it runs through the drill string, at least past the frost line, which will depend on where the machine is being operated. It can be extremely costly to lose a pump, so crews should take precautions to winterize their drill anytime the temperature risks being below freezing (32°F).”
Vacuum Excavators
"Preparing your utility equipment for winter is especially important when it comes to hydro excavators, as the main component is fluid,” says Chris Thompson, Vacuum Excavator Product Manager for Ditch Witch.
“Ditch Witch excavators come with an antifreeze tank which helps operators to properly prep their equipment in a few easy steps. At the end of each use in the winter, operators should drain all their water tanks, making sure all valves are open and have time to dry out. Once the fresh water is drained, operators should open the valve to their antifreeze tank and allow the solution to run through the system. Once the operator is able to see antifreeze coming out of the wash wand, all valving can be closed, and the excavator can be stored until next use. Following these steps will help to avoid costly replacements during the cold weather months.”
Crawler Carriers
“Winterizing crawler carriers is crucial for peak performance in chilly conditions,” according to Dell Howen, Director of Product Support for Terramac. “Begin by replacing fuel filters and the fuel water separator to prevent moisture-induced gelling. Verify the heater system's efficiency, extend warm-up times, and consider using a block heater to minimize machine downtime. Daily maintenance remains paramount, with particular focus on undercarriage stress points during freezing temperatures. Elevate the machine when inactive for long periods of time to prevent tracks from freezing to the ground. These proactive measures ensure that crawler carriers stay resilient in the face of winter challenges, operating smoothly and reliably even when the mercury drops.”
Digger Derricks
According to Dale Putman, Product Support Manager at Terex Utilities, “during winter, ground conditions may be harder, so you may need to select a different tool for your digger derrick. Most tool specifications will include a description of the type of applications for which the auger tool or barrel is designed. For example, the Terex TXD Series of augers are designed for compacted soil, stiff clay, and soft shale conditions, while the Terex TXCS Series of carbide rock augers can tackle medium limestone, sandstone, and frozen materials. For harder material, choose Bullet Tooth Auger (BTA) Series of tools or a core barrel tool. It’s important to check auger tool teeth before operation. As ground conditions become frozen, inspection may reveal wear that can impact productivity and longevity of the auger tool life.”
By winterizing your equipment and using best practices to operate and maintain equipment in cold temperatures, you can improve production and avoid unnecessary maintenance.
Subscribe to The Utility Expo monthly newsletter to receive more industry insights like this.
Read Next
6 Crucial Tips For Prepping Your Utility Equipment For Winter
