As the temperatures slowly rise and precipitation turns from snow to rain, it’s time to get ready for spring. For snow removal equipment owners and operators, this means getting plows and snow blowers ready for storage. However, this is easier said than done, and requires a fair amount of forethought. Here’s we’ve broken down the steps you’ll need to safely store winter equipment through the spring and summer.

1. Carefully clean and dry your equipment. Ensure that you do not let water come in contact with the electric cords.
2. Go through the “repair and maintenance” section of the user guide of your equipment and make note of all the spare parts that need to be replaced at the end of a heavy duty season of cleaning. Don’t overlook spark plugs. Clean them with a wire brush and buy a new one if it seems to be nearing the end of its life.
3. Ensure that all nuts and screws are tightly fastened. Then lubricate points where two pieces of hardware rub or slide over each other. Pay special attention to the piston/cylinder area.
4. Even though it is recommended that you increase spring tension when working with your plows and blowers, storage is a different issue. Loosen all springs associated with the equipment.
5. Drain the fuel in the tank using a siphon and if needed seek the assistance of a helper. This stage of the preparation is very important. If all the fuel can’t be removed, add some stabilizer to the residual fluid to prevent the formation of gum deposits and rust in the tank.
6. Rusting is a major problem and it even afflicts steel equipment. The body should be carefully scrutinized and chips painted over to offer better protection.
7. The actual storing of the equipment has to be done somewhere cool and dry. The equipment should not be exposed to the outdoors as this accelerates rusting.

It doesn’t take much to boost the longevity of your blowers and plows. And with a little bit of preemptive action major repairs can be avoided in the future. For commercial snow removal service providers, this is especially important in protecting your capital equipment investments. What other tips do you have to properly maintain your snow removal equipment? Let us know on Twitter.

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Tags: Extending the Lifespan of Snow Removal Equipment, Getting Snow Plows Ready for Storage, How to Store Snow Blowers During Spring, Prepping Snow Removal Equipment for Storage, Steps for Snow Removal Equipment Storage