Winter can put some considerable strains on an industrial operation's fuel supply. Cold temperatures can cause fuel to thicken or even freeze up, and this could cause a variety of different issues in industrial machinery.

You know how much malfunctions that lead to downtime for your equipment can cost your company. Taking some preventive measures before you reach the coldest part of the year can drastically improve your bottom line over the course of the winter.

The following are four important things you should do before the winter gets here to ensure that your equipment remains adequately supplied with fuel throughout the cold season:

Adding anti-gels to your fuel

Putting anti-gels in your fuel will prevent your fuel from thickening as it gets colder. Thicker fuel will flow through your pipes more slowly and take longer to reach your equipment. It will also create more friction against your pipes and could prematurely age your pipe system.

Anti-gels are typically a low-cost way to prevent costly productivity and mechanical problems in the cold winter months.

Wrapping pipes in insulation

The pipes in your fuel system that are located outdoors will be the most likely to suffer due to the cold weather. However, you can easily protect your outdoor pipes from freezing up by wrapping them in insulation.

Wrapping pipes in insulation will keep them warm and minimize the surface area of each pipe that is exposed to the low temperatures outdoors. The best way to insulate pipes is to wrap them in such a way that all openings and all seams along the length of the pipe are sealed.

Relocating filters to the indoors

One of the biggest reasons why a fuel supply system gets blocked up due to the cold is because the filters become clogged with wax. This will reduce the amount of fuel that makes it through and reaches the combustion stage, and it will thereby reduce the efficiency of your machinery.

You can drastically reduce the chances that this cold weather malfunction will occur if you have new filter housing built indoors at your facility.

Installing a larger line

If you've dealt with inadequate fuel supply issues in the winter time before, you might want to consider having a larger line installed. A larger fuel oil line will be able to deliver fuel more effectively. 

Fuel will be less likely to freeze if it is flowing through a thicker line, and you will be able to pump fuel throughout  your facility more quickly when cold temperatures require your equipment to work extra hard to get the job done. For more information, talk to a professional like Small & Sons Oil Dist Co.