By its nature, construction work means the equipment we work with gets dusty and dirty. And whilst keeping your machines looking as good as new isn’t necessary. Keeping them clean is vitally important. But why do you need to keep construction machinery clean? And is it really that important?

In this post, we will let you know 7 of the reasons you need to keep construction machinery clean.

7 Reasons to keep your machinery clean

When working in construction, things get dirty. But why does that matter? Here, we outline 7 of the top reasons that keeping your machinery clean matters:

1.   Durability

If you want your machines to last the test of time, then you’re going to need to put in some grafting work over the course of its lifetime. That means giving your machinery a good clean down after a hard day’s work. Things like sand, grit, concrete, and simply some good old-fashioned dirt can get anywhere. And when they do, they can quickly add to the wear and tear of parts of your machine you might not even be able to see.

If you let this build up, this can be a big problem, especially on the undercarriage of machines when you are not likely to see the build-up from day-to-day. From rollers to pins, and bearings to gears, limiting dirt and grime building up helps to improve the durability of your machinery.

2.   Stave off Corrosion

Machines come up against all sorts of materials, liquids, and chemicals. From salt on the roads to fertilizers in the fields, there are endless abrasive liquids that a vehicle can come into contact with that can cause corrosion. And if left to sit on the vehicle, this can set to work fast.

Given that your machine can come into contact with these chemicals and liquids at any time, and you may not actually be able to see them on the surface or see the damage they might be doing to your machine, it is a good idea to always leave time to wash down your machine after a day’s work.

3.   Improved Performance

Keeping your machine clean doesn’t just mean dealing with things on the surface. It means replacing your filters. It means checking the air pressure and the hydraulics. It means keeping on top of your oil levels and ensuring radiators and the like are free from contaminants. If you don’t keep on top of these things, then it will soon have an influence on the performance of your machinery.

Whilst you might not notice it at first. Failing to clean these components regularly will put added strain on your machine. In the long run, you will also definitely notice it. As dust and dirt getting into nooks and crannies will eventually cause parts of your machine to break. Things like the drive motor on a mini excavator really don’t like being left dirty for long periods of time.

4.   Fuel Consumption

With improved machine performance comes enhanced fuel efficiency. Just as we ourselves feel refreshed by a shower in the morning, a machine will thank you for a good clean down. Clean machines run better, fitter, and longer without breaking down. Dirty machines, by way of comparison, weigh more than they need to, making them sluggish. So, giving your machine a clean will help ensure you’re not wasting fuel and energy by carrying vast lumps of dirt around.

5.   Protect Electric Parts

These days machines are more reliant on electronics. Unfortunately, electronics dislike dirt even more than construction machinery does! And when your electronic components break down, then your machine is not going to be running. So long gone are the days when you could chance brushing off the cleaning. As if you fail to keep things clean, that’s going to lead to faulty electronics and unexpected malfunctions. And with faulty electronics comes a hefty hit on the company finances.

6.   Safety and Security

If machines are grimy at the start of the day, then it’s hard to do a proper site walkaround. A muddy machine can hide all sorts of damage and a basic check might miss leaks and cracks on a vehicle caked in dirt. So, in order to ensure the safety of your site and fellow workers, it’s vital to clean down your machine so that the proper safety checks are as effective as they can be. For example, failing to maintenance your machinery can cause water to leak from the bottom of a washing machine which will lead to extensive damage everywhere else. It is important for your safety, especially in the home to maintain your machines.

7.   Improved Company Image

Even if your machines spend most of the time on a site hidden from view. At some point, they are likely to head onto public roads. Aside from spreading dirt, dust, and grime around the local community, dirty machinery can lead to negative associations with your business image. Whereas a nice clean machine gives the impression of orderliness and efficiency, things that will certainly help to improve your company’s standing. Keeping clean machines might not get you a client, but it just might stop you from losing them.

Summary

Obviously, your machines aren’t always going to stay squeaky clean, and they may not be spotless when it comes to the end of the day. But good cleaning practices with your machines have more benefits than you might assume. As well as extending the life of your machine, good cleaning practices will help to boost performance, reduce fuel consumption, protect your electronics, help improve site safety standards, and can even improve your company image.

Whilst it will depend on site conditions how often you need to clean your machines. Ensuring you have a regular cleaning schedule in place is vital to ensure you maximize the health and lifetime of your machines.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.