When you're investing in sealcoating equipment, it's important to buy tanks, sprayers, and other supplies that are long-lasting and efficient. But the effectiveness of your equipment doesn't depend exclusively on its pre-purchase quality. To get the most out of your sealcoating equipment, you'll need to perform routine maintenance. Most contractors follow a maintenance program. Some record every small detail of their maintenance, while others perform it casually. Once you have a maintenance system in mind, you'll need to decide what maintenance needs to be done daily, weekly, monthly, and annually. Starting up a new maintenance program? Here's a comprehensive guide to maintenance for your sealcoating equipment.
You should check your equipment's fluid levels, drain your air compressor water, and check your tire pressure daily. On a weekly basis, you'll want to check your oil and air breathers. Depending on the extent of their use, you might need to clean or change them. It’s best to clean or change your breathers on a monthly basis, but it's still important to check their quality each week. One example of a monthly maintenance item is changing your equipment's oil.
Along with regular maintenance checks, you'll want to get in the habit of examining your hoses. When your hoses start to wear down, you'll want to cut off the degraded parts or replace the hoses entirely. This way they won't rupture on the job. When you're winding up your hoses, make sure to check for any spots that have gotten down to the threads. Another valuable tip is to avoid letting your sealcoating machine sit idle for more than a few days. If you don't regularly mix your materials, they can dry and harden. To be fully prepared for any emergencies, it's wise to keep spare parts on hand. A rebuild kit is simple to carry to and from job sites.
Another important part of maintenance for your sealcoating equipment is winterizing it. Unless your equipment is sitting in a climate-controlled facility, winterizing your sealcoating unit is a necessary protective measure. Winterization is a simple measure that involves rinsing out your tank and pump with water, then running fluid with a low freezing point through the system. Some people use antifreeze, but windshield wiper fluid will also do the trick. After you've run the antifreeze or windshield wiper fluid through the system, let it sit for a few minutes. Next, you'll want to open all the valves and dry fire the system. This will remove any excess fluid. Winterizing your sealcoating tank will leave windshield wiper fluid or antifreeze (instead of water) sitting in any low spots. Failing to winterize your sealcoating tank can lead to major problems. It can tear up your pump, your filter pot, and cause lingering damage to your machine.
Winter is also a good time to perform annual maintenance items since you won't be as busy sealcoating. You'll need to do maintenance on your axles, including checking your brakes and wheel bearings. You should also change the hydraulic oil and filter and examine the balls and seats on the diaphragm pump. While you're doing the rest of your maintenance checks, it’s a good idea to clean the inside of your tank. On cold days, you can chip away at brittle coal tar sealer. If your sealant levels are low, you can just wash it out with water.
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