Winter Maintenance & Downtime Prevention
Keep Your Hydraulic Systems Running Through the Cold Season
As temperatures drop, hydraulic systems face greater stress — thicker oil, moisture in tanks, increased seal wear, reduced efficiency, and higher risk of breakdowns. With many businesses planning a Christmas shutdown, now is the ideal time to service, replace, and restock hydraulic components to avoid costly downtime in the new year.
At VHS Hydraulic Components, we supply one of the UK’s largest ranges of hydraulic products from industry-leading brands — all available from stock in Sheffield with next-day delivery.
This winter maintenance guide explains what to check, what to replace, and how our stocked components can help keep your systems performing at their best.
Why Winter Causes More Hydraulic Problems
Cold weather impacts hydraulic systems in several ways:
- Oil thickens, reducing flow efficiency and increasing start-up strain
- Condensation forms inside tanks, contaminating oil
- Metal contracts, affecting tolerances and seal integrity
- Filters clog faster, especially if systems run in dusty, wet or cold environments
- Hoses stiffen, leading to cracking or leaks
- Pumps run under higher load, increasing wear rates
Preventing downtime now is always more cost-effective than repairing failure later.
Key Winter Maintenance Actions
1. Check & Replace Filters
Contaminated oil is the number-one cause of hydraulic failure. Winter makes this worse due to condensation and cold starts.
VHS Hydraulic Components is an official UK dealer for Ikron Fluid Filtration. We stock and supply Ikron Suction Filters, Ikron Return Line Filters, Ikron Spin-On Filters, Ikron Medium Pressure Filters and Ikron High Pressure Filters, as well as a variety of accessories and reservoir components.
Click to view the Ikron Hydraulic Filter range.
Tip: Always stock spare filter elements before the Christmas shutdown so staff can perform quick swaps as needed.
2. Inspect Pumps for Wear Before the Cold Hits
If a pump is already worn or cavitating, winter temperatures amplify the problem.
Pump brands stocked and click to view our range online:
- Casappa – gear pumps, piston pumps, flow dividers
- Sunfab – high-performance hydraulic pumps and motors
- Brevini – heavy-duty pumps for industrial machinery
- Rexroth Bosch – gear pumps, vane pumps and piston pumps
Look for signs such as:
- Noisy start-ups
- Reduced flow
- Increased heat
- Leaks around seals
- Slow actuator speeds
3. Check Hoses, Fittings & Connectors
Cold weather makes hoses more brittle and vulnerable to cracking. A quick visual inspection before shutdown can prevent major oil loss or downtime when operations resume
4. Assess Valves & Control Components
If a machine is slow to respond in winter, valves are often the cause — deposits, contamination or cold oil can restrict performance.
We stock a vast number of valves from many leading hydraulic brands. Click to view.
Make the Most of the Winter Shutdown
Your Christmas shutdown is the perfect window for:
- System inspections
- Replacing worn components
- Upgrading outdated parts
- Completing any outstanding maintenance
- Stocking emergency spares for January restart
We hold thousands of parts ready for fast dispatch — pumps, filters, valves, hoses, motors, adaptors, power pack components and more.
Why Choose VHS Hydraulic Components This Winter?
✔ Huge stock from premium hydraulic brands
✔ Next-day delivery across the UK
✔ Knowledgeable technical support
✔ Competitive pricing
✔ Custom hydraulic power packs available
✔ Based in Sheffield for fast, reliable service
Prepare Now, Prevent Downtime Later
Winter always exposes hydraulic weaknesses — but with the right preventive maintenance and the right components in stock, you can avoid costly failures.
Beat the pre-Christmas rush.
Restock now.
Prepare your systems for a strong start to the new year.
Need advice? Contact our technical team on 0114 2764430.
Ready to order? Visit: www.hydraulic-components.co.uk, email sales@hydraulic-components.net or call.
