How to Plan for Winter Maintenance

Here we are, getting close to winter shutdown for Northern U.S. and Canadian asphalt plants and winter maintenance planning for our Southern friends, who have the luxury of running all year long.

As this time approaches I feel that it's important to have an organized approach to this vital task. At one point in my career, I was responsible for Asphalt Plant maintenance and repairs for a large paving company in the Northwest. We had numerous plants so it was a large job organizing the winter maintenance schedule.

One of the first tasks actually begins the day the last winter maintenance program ends. I have always asked my plant operators and trainees to make daily notes that include any observed problems. Even any issues that they would like to see improved. Those things that need attention immediately should be addressed at the first opportunity. However, many things like the Cross Drag in the accompanying picture, can be kept operational for long periods of time until scheduled maintenance can be arranged.

 I have published a series of articles on Winter Maintenance and made them public on my company web-page. hotplantconsulting.com  Please feel free to go to the “Published Articles” and look at articles 9 and 10, “Maintenance Checklist." You can copy and paste both articles for future reference. You can then edit them to fit your actual asphalt plants. They can form a very thorough checklist for both batch and drum plants.

 If you follow this format and make thorough repair lists all year long you can set yourself for success at any asphalt plant. Remember: knowledge is power. Record keeping is knowledge.