Keeping your hogs at the right temperature is vital for a productive operation. And since we know the LP gas that runs heaters isn’t getting any cheaper, it’s important that producers have their barns ready for the coldest parts of the year.
What can you do to make sure your barns are running at their highest level of efficiency this winter? Here are SIX things you should look over to make sure your barns are winter ready.
- Heaters
Having your heaters ready is the best way to start prepping your barns for winter. Begin by blowing out the dust or anything that may have accumulated over the summer. Make sure no birds or mice deemed it an ideal place to make a nest – you don’t want anything that could start a fire. Check the igniters, switches and flame sensors and clean off any carbon or dust build up. - Curtains
Check your curtains for any holes or tears, and patch or replace as necessary. Go over the storm ropes to see if any should be tightened or replaced. You want to make sure everything has a good seal before winter arrives. Lange Ag has curtain repair parts in stock! - Soffits and Doors
Never close soffits completely. Closing soffits completely is not useful. Best practice is to leave the soffit open on none prevailing wind side. If you close inlets completely air is restricted from entering ceiling inlets. A good prodigal to check is if an outside door going into the room slams then there is not enough air coming through the inlets. It can be not enough inlets in the room or not enough soffit openings. - Shutters
If you have winter shutter covers for your fans, it’s time to locate those and get them ready to be installed when you need them. Only put shutter covers on fans that are never used during winter. - Insulation
Take a look up in the attic to check insulation depth and location. Check to make sure insulation has not blown away from the area closest to the sidewalls. Summer winds coming through the soffit may have moved insulation away from ceiling near the sidewalls causing heat loss and condensation during the upcoming cold months ahead. Replace or redistribute insulation as necessary. - Watering and Feeding Systems
Water and feed systems should consistently be checked to make sure everything is in good working order. Your heaters should keep you from having a freeze issue inside the barns, but changes in the weather has an impact on all your processes, so give them a little extra attention as you look over the rest of the operation. - Back Up Generators
Make sure your back up generators are ready. If you aren’t already doing regular generator checks, heading into winter is an important time to get everything tuned up and ready to start and run if needed. Generator weekly startup checks are ideal throughout the year as it’s important to make sure everything is running, if needed.
A Quick Tip on Cool Cells
Before it gets cold, make sure you get your cool cells drained and the pumps cleaned up and stored away. In some areas, they may be just fine, but in areas that see low temps in the winter months, make this a priority.
Please give us a call at 320-231-1470 to purchase your winter parts and speak to a professional.
If you call by 2:00 pm we can usually ship the same day.