Subverting the Causes of Rusting: Keeping Equipment Lasting Longer

You think that you’ve been doing everything in your power to keep your equipment well preserved for it to last long, however, no matter what you do, you can’t seem to escape rust. 

Escaping rust would be easy if we knew what the causes of rusting are. In this article, we break the cause down and also advise on the preventative measures that can be taken to ensure that all owned equipment lasts longer.

Rust and the Causes of Rusting

The causes of rusting no longer have to be a mystery. Rust is the brownish-reddish patches you see on any of your materials made from metal that contains iron. Iron oxidizes from being exposed to air and water, which is when the patches form.

Rust can be detrimental to the longevity of your equipment because it is corrosive, and over time, your equipment will no longer be of use, leaving you to invest in new machinery. 

How To Keep Equipment From Rusting

To see rust form on your equipment can be frustrating and can cause huge holes in your pocket if you don’t get ahead of it. Here are some tips and tricks to keep the rust off your materials. 

Clean and Dry

Keeping your equipment clean and dry is a great way to start attacking rust from forming. Any kind of debris clinging to the equipment can bring moisture, which is where the oxidization process can begin to form, so making sure to regularly clean equipment and dry it off.

If you live in a humid area, expect to see more rust form on your equipment. Humidity allows moisture to form, which is all rust needs to grow.  If your equipment is stored in a humid area, it essential to make wiping equipment down a routine. 

Purchase a Dehumidifier

In case you do store your equipment in a humid area, purchase a dehumidifier, which will lessen the amount of moisture your equipment gets exposed to. Continue to dry off your equipment as the extra mile in combating rust. 

Prevent and Treat Scratches

Scratches in equipment provide an area where water and moisture can cling to. Making efforts to be more careful with equipment is the first step. If you notice equipment is scratched up, try to repair them, so you don’t lose the equipment to rust. 

Apply Rust Protective Coating

There are many protective coating sprays or wipes out in the market that can be used on equipment to prevent rusting. Investing in these added protective measures will help in the long run to protect corrosion occurring on equipment. 

Regular Maintenance

Like an infection, rust spreads. When rust forms and isn’t treated, it can spread to other parts of the machinery leaving the equipment useless. The moment rust is noticed, all efforts should be made to remove it.

You can scrape it off and then apply warm water and soap to the affected area. After that, use the rust protective coating on it to prevent it from coming back. In the case that there is rust in places you can’t get to, it’s best to call in a professional who can repair it for you. 

If you feel that a part is too rusted to save, it’s best just to cut your losses and then invest in a new one. 

Start Prevention Now That You Know

So now that we know the causes of rusting, we can follow the tips above to prevent rust forming and sacrificing our machinery. Taking the time to incorporate these steps to your routine will show results of little to no rust and will increase equipment life. Rust can be destructive to machinery if not treated immediately.

Contact us for more information on how to combat rust formation!

Posted in Industrial Equipment.