Heavy construction equipment may be tough, but it’s not indestructible. When it comes time to find warehousing and storage for your equipment, there are certain steps you can take until it’s time to put your machinery back into service.
Read on to learn how to properly store your equipment and how a San Francisco warehousing and storage company can help keep it safe.
Climate Issues
If the weather gets too cold, or too hot, it can harm your equipment. For example, when it gets cold, you run the risk of:
- Loss of tire pressure
- Battery discharge, making equipment start-up more difficult
- Fluids becoming thick — brake fluids, transmission, hydraulics, etc. — keeping them from functioning correctly.
And in hot and dry weather, look out for:
- Rubber components such as gaskets and hoses deteriorating or breaking
- Excessive wear and tear on mechanical components, causing them to degrade much sooner than expected
- Evaporating water in batteries, which leads to starting issues
Getting your equipment ready for warehousing & storage
Whether you’ve reached the end of the construction season or just the end of a project, the time might come for your machinery to take a break. Improper storage can lead to damage, project delays and unanticipated repair costs.
You can prevent these problems by taking these steps:
- Clean away dirt and debris, which can lead to damage or blockages or cause components to degrade.
- Make sure any moving parts are lubricated according to the owner’s manual. While you’re at it, tighten any screws and nuts to make sure they’re securely in place.
- If you’re dealing with wheeled machinery, check the tires to make sure they have enough pressure. Keeping them slightly over-inflated can prevent them from going flat overtime. You can also consider lifting the tires with a jack or storing wheeled machinery on top of treated lumber or railroad ties.
- If you see any chipped areas, paint over them to guard against rust.
- If you’re storing winter equipment at the start of spring, drain the fuel tank to keep rust and gum deposits from forming. If you’re putting away warm weather machinery into storage at the start of winter, leave the tank full to prevent condensation from getting into the fuel lines when the spring thaw arrives.
- Use lock-out/tag-out procedures to ensure that machinery is safely turned off and employees are warned against using it.
- Repair damaged machinery — no matter how minor that damage is — to make sure the equipment doesn’t degrade, saving you from more expensive repairs once the machinery is in use again.
Warehousing and Storage in San Francisco
Are you looking for a place to store your machinery? Turn to Sheedy Crane.
We can receive and store your equipment on either a long or short-term basis and haul it to your job site as needed.
With our San Francisco warehousing & storage service, you’ll get:
- Secure open and covered storage
- Customized plans for larger and long-term projects
- Handling for a wide range of equipment, including HVAC units, boilers, chillers, tanks and generators
With locations at the Port of San Francisco and Port of Stockton, Sheedy Crane can help your company store your machinery safely until you’re ready to use it. Contact us today to learn more.