Air Conditioning Maintenance for Heavy Equipment

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Summer is here, and over the next few months, heavy equipment operators are going to be working in some pretty grueling conditions. It’s important to keep equipment operators cool so they can stay comfortable, productive and safe throughout the hottest days of the year. This means maintaining air conditioning systems and being proactive about resolving any noticeable issues that arise.

Here’s an overview of what you should know about heavy equipment maintenance in Lexington, OR, specifically when it comes to the air conditioning system.

The basics

There are some essential components to air conditioning maintenance for heavy equipment that you must be aware of when working on your machines:

  • Cleaning: It’s important to keep the condenser clean and free of debris. This will help to prevent a lot of the most common types of failure for air conditioning systems. As you clean the system, just make sure the fins don’t get folded over if you use high-pressure washing applications.
  • Dealing with fluids: It’s not uncommon for hydraulic fluid or oil to get on the condenser, in addition to other types of debris. This could be a result of a leak or a more significant hose rupture. When first inspecting this problem, it might not actually look that bad, but it will have a significant effect on the heat rejection of the condenser.
  • Reversing fans: To help keep dry debris from getting into condensers and coolers, you could attempt to use reversing fans. These can be effective at keeping that debris at bay, but there are some limitations with regard to the ability to keep oil residue away.
  • Inspections: You should prioritize regular inspections of the air conditioning system, even if there aren’t any actual action steps that need to be taken afterward. Someone needs to inspect the condensers and coolers regularly to make sure they’re clean and operating efficiently.
  • Filters: All filters must be maintained and cleaned on a regular basis. Cabin air filters should be included in this. The cabin air filters might not be as easy to inspect as the condenser, but keeping them clean can help ensure the productivity and efficiency of the machinery. The frequency with which you need to check and maintain those filters will depend on the specific conditions in which the machinery most commonly operates.
  • Leaks: It’s not enough to just clean up after any leaks that are present in the system—you also need to find them and put them to a stop. In some cases, this might mean replacing some of the fittings. Finding the leaks can be difficult—we recommend using a fluorescent dye in the refrigerant oil, which will make it easier for you to spot where the leak is coming from when you use an ultraviolet light to trace it.

For more information about air conditioning maintenance for heavy equipment in your Lexington, OR facility, or to schedule heavy equipment repair, get in touch with Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. We look forward to working with you soon!