4 Tips To Keep Your Lift Working in the Winter
It can be a pain to work outside in the winter, but that doesn’t mean your lift equipment should suffer. Your custom lifts should work in all weather conditions. All it takes to make that happen is a little more awareness and preparation.
Here are a few tips to make sure your lift table is ready for this winter.
1. Check Fluid Levels Often
Before it gets too cold, be sure you are using the proper lubrication for your specific type of lift. Friction from sediments and debris from snow and ice can cause damage to your lift, which can compromise it.
Having a properly lubricated lift means the parts will glide freely and smoothly. It also acts as a shield from outside particles that can cause jams and buildups. Just remember to check your product manual to make sure you’re using the proper lubricant.
2. Store Your Lift Properly
You should always store your lift inside when it isn’t being used. Also, never leave your lift out overnight, especially in winter weather. Harsh weather can slowly hurt your lift until it just breaks. At that point, it’s usually too late to fix.
Storing your lift inside ensures that any ice will be long gone by the next time you plan to use it. This is especially important for battery powered lifts, because cold batteries perform slower and lose their charge faster. Best practice is to store all batteries on the charger in a warm environment.
3. Let Your Lift Warm Up Before You Use It
It’s best to let your lift warm up a while before using it. Turning a cold lift on and operating it right away can be dangerous, and it can damage your lift.
Much like you’d warm up your legs before a run or your car before a long commute, you should also let your lift get a little warm before using it. This is so all the fluids and electrical wiring have a chance to prepare for the work ahead.
4. Prepare an Emergency Backup Lift
Much like the weather, operating machinery can be unpredictable. Even if you take every precaution and every step to ensure your equipment is dependable, there are some instances where events are out of our control.
Case in point: Cold weather can cause the wiring to short circuit or cause the battery to die in half the time as usual. These kinds of speed bumps can, however, be partially predicted. We know it’s possible it could happen, but we can’t say when. The best solution is to have a backup lift or battery on hand so that you can be prepared for when it happens.
Contact Your Local Lift Experts
If you have any questions about Lange Lifts or which lift is best for you needs, contact us today. We offer custom lifts that are suitable for unique jobs and as backup lifts in the winter.
