How New England Paving Companies Should Prep for the Offseason

As the old joke goes, there are two seasons in New England: roadwork season and winter. When temperatures start to dip in the fall, paving companies start prepping for the winter lull. This means inspecting and wintering your fleet, while making sure you are ready to hit the ground running once the frost clears in spring. Here are our top tips for preparing your paving company for New England winters. 

1. Deep clean your machinery: Use a heavy-duty, winter-safe asphalt remover to thoroughly clean all of the debris from your machines. Make sure to check flow gates, opening extensions, drum areas, conveyors and every other nook and cranny. 
2. Flush the fluids: Change the engine oil, fuel filters, hydraulic filters and all other fluid systems. Use winter-grade stabilizer where needed. 
3. Winterize water systems: Blow out the lines and replace water with anti-freeze so the lines do not crack when temperatures drop below freezing 
4. Store electronics: Remove any sensitive electronics like handheld remotes, sensors, etc., and make sure they are left in a climate-controlled room. 
5. Inspect hydraulics and undercarriage: Check all of your hoses for wear and tear that may get exacerbated by the freeze/thaw cycle. Clean millings, lubricate grease points and treat exposed metal in the undercarriage with anti-rust agents. 
6. Order parts needed for spring: If you’ve found worn or broken parts while winterizing your equipment, place orders now so they are ready to go once the snow melts 
7. Invest in your team: Winter downtime is a great opportunity to invest in training and team-building, so your team can learn new skills and grow your business in the next year.  

Preparing for the offseason requires just as much diligence as paving a fresh commercial lot. Take the time now to properly put your equipment to bed, and you’ll save yourself thousands of dollars in emergency repairs come spring.

Need new gear for next year? Shop Ambrose today to build up your fleet for spring.