Tips To Take Care Of Your Crane Rental During Winter Construction
If you are doing a construction project that requires a crane on your property, then you will need to get in touch with an industrial and manufacturing professional that provides rentals. Crane services are available for winter construction, but the cold weather does affect both hydraulic and motorized systems, so you need to take care so that the systems stay functional and safe for workers.
Look at Your Winterization Options
Thankfully, industrial manufactures can winterize different cranes with components that can withstand ice and low temperatures. For instance, if you need an overhead bridge crane, choose one that has an enclosed track since this system shields the crane from ice and insulates electrical systems.
Know Your Maximum Loads, Then Reduce Them
There are many different types of cranes to choose from; and, each one will have a different maximum load that it can lift. For instance, crane towers can often lift more than 30,000 lb. Many things can affect a crane's maximum load. When a load is positioned at the end of a crane's jib, then the machine becomes unbalanced and can't lift as much.
Again, cold weather can place extra stress on the system, so even though you may be under your maximum load, it's best to reduce these loads even more if you can. Some cranes come with limit switches so that your workers don't accidentally overtax the crane with a maximum load. Talk with the rental service so you understand how to turn on these switches.
Shorten Your Work Days to Maintain Equipment
Even if a crane is winterized, you still need to reduce your typical work hours to respect the equipment and make sure you don't overwork the systems.
Since you will be reducing your work hours, you have more time to go over maintenance checklists. For instance, use a flame heating plg to warm up and start your engine. When the crane is not in use, coolant without antifreeze should be drained. The crane should also have proper lubrication and hydraulic oil so that moving parts aren't strained.
Keep Your Eye on Weather Forecasts
Ice is not only bad for the machinery, it's incredibly dangerous for your workers. Black ice can cause large machinery to be dangerous to be around and to operate. Always check your weather forecasts and check the work site before initiating work for that day.
Contact an industrial and manufacturing expert for more information on cranes and using heavy machinery during the wintertime.