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Winter Guardian: Expert Winter Care for Slurry Pumps – Keep Them Protected All Season Long!

Published:

Dec 18,2025

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Winter Guardian: Expert Winter Care for Slurry Pumps – Keep Them Protected All Season Long!

Before developing a maintenance plan, we first need to understand the potential issues that low-temperature environments may bring:

Medium freezing risk Residual slurry inside the pump can freeze and expand at low temperatures, potentially causing the pump body and impeller to crack.
Sealing system failure Low temperatures cause mechanical seal rubber components to harden and become brittle, losing their elasticity.
Lubricant performance degradation Conventional lubricating oils increase in viscosity and exhibit poorer fluidity at low temperatures.
Increased brittleness of metallic materials Under extreme low temperatures, metal components are prone to brittle fracture.
Motor operation abnormal The motor bearing grease has solidified, and the windings may become damp and freeze.

1. Comprehensive maintenance before shutdown

If the equipment is scheduled for a long-term shutdown, please follow these steps:

Thoroughly clean

Completely drain the slurry medium from the pump chamber, pipelines, and associated equipment.
Rinse repeatedly with clean water until the effluent is clear and free of particulate matter.
For deposits that are difficult to clean, consider using a specialized cleaning agent.

Freeze-proof drain

Open all drain valves and vent valves, ensuring that the pump body, sealing chamber, and cooling water lines are completely drained.
Remove the low-level pipeline to prevent water accumulation in the “U”-shaped section.
For parts that cannot be completely drained, consider adding antifreeze.

Critical area protection

Apply anti-rust grease to the pump shaft and threaded connections.
Disassemble the mechanical seal, clean it thoroughly, and store it separately in a warm, dry place.
Place a desiccant inside the motor junction box to prevent moisture condensation.

2. Protective Measures During Operation

For slurry pumps that require continuous operation, the focus of protection differs:

Insulation and Heating

Install insulation layers on the pump body and inlet/outlet pipelines, with particular emphasis on protecting the flange connections.
For areas prone to freezing, consider installing electric heating tapes to keep equipment above 5℃.
Equipment installed indoors must ensure that the ambient temperature is no lower than 0℃.

Lubricant replacement

Switch to low-temperature lubricants/lubricating greases to ensure good fluidity even at the lowest ambient temperatures.
Check whether the fuel tank heating device is functioning properly.
Increase the frequency of lubricant oil inspections, and replace the oil immediately if emulsification or deterioration is detected.

Particular attention to the sealing system

Check the mechanical seal flushing pipeline to ensure that the flushing fluid is circulating properly.
Consider switching from a room-temperature flushing solution to an antifreeze flushing solution.
Regularly check for seal leaks; even minor leaks at low temperatures can quickly escalate. Big

3. Key points of daily inspection and maintenance

Daily Mandatory Check Items

Is there any abnormal vibration or unusual noise from the pump body?
Is the motor current fluctuating within the normal range?
Is the bearing temperature normal (compared to the ambient temperature)?
Has the sealing leakage situation changed?

Weekly Key Inspection

Tightening condition of anchor bolts and connecting bolts (low temperatures may cause fasteners to loosen).
Pipeline supports and expansion joint status
Accuracy of instrument indications such as pressure gauges and thermometers
Flexibility of turning the spare pump (more than 120° per rotation)

After a prolonged shutdown or exposure to extremely low temperatures, the following preparations must be made before starting up:

Gradually warming up Avoid sudden heating; instead, allow the device temperature to rise slowly to above 5℃.
Manual turning of the shaft Before starting, the motor must be manually turned 2-3 times to ensure smooth rotation without any jamming or obstruction.
Step-by-step testing First, jog the machine to confirm the rotation direction. After running idly for 5-10 minutes, gradually begin loading.
Parameter Monitoring After startup, closely monitor parameters such as vibration, temperature, and current for at least 30 minutes.

Misconception 1 “The device will not freeze during operation.”
Fact: Even when operating at low flow rates, areas with excessively low local velocities can still freeze.

Misconception No. 2 “The thicker the insulation layer, the better.”
Fact: Over-insulation can lead to poor heat dissipation from equipment; it’s necessary to strike a balance between insulation and heat dissipation needs.

Misconception Three “Antifreeze can be added at will.”
Fact: You must choose an antifreeze that is compatible with the medium and material to avoid chemical reactions.

Even with thorough preparation, sudden extreme weather can still pose challenges. Please be prepared with the following emergency measures:

Prepare mobile heating equipment to deal with sudden power outages.
Stock critical spare parts, especially vulnerable seals.
Develop an emergency response procedure for freeze-up and train operators to master defrosting methods.
Establish a winter equipment monitoring and duty system, and strengthen nighttime patrols.

Winter equipment maintenance is not merely a routine task—it’s a crucial investment that ensures production safety and extends the lifespan of your equipment. A comprehensive winter maintenance plan not only helps avoid financial losses caused by unexpected downtime but also significantly reduces equipment failure rates and boosts productivity when operations resume in spring.

Winter is here—have you prepared your slurry pump for the cold season yet?

Immediately check your device’s condition according to this guide.

Lay a solid foundation for continuous, safe production during the winter!

Friendly Reminder This article provides general maintenance guidelines; for specific procedures, please refer to the equipment manufacturer’s recommendations and the actual on-site conditions.

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We offer one-stop customized solutions that precisely match your needs.