Extreme weather conditions can seriously affect the safety and efficiency of glass, stone or cladding vacuum lifters, so extra care should be taken in windy, cold and wet weather.

Here are some simple tips you can follow to ensure you get the most from your vacuum lifter and batteries in the cold winter months.

• The battery should be removed, if not being used for a long period of time, or it should be charged up every week. As temperatures drop, the battery loses capacity in cold conditions, just like the battery in your car, so the least time the battery is running, the better.

• If you are using a machine that has several pads and taps or quick release couplings, turn them all off or release the couplings and build the vacuum up in the vacuum tanks first. You should then place the machine on the glass and open/re-connect taps and couplings one at a time, letting each pad build up and settle before you open another. You should do this until all the pads are connected and vacuum system is stable – this is especially the case with cladding lifters.

• When a vacuum lifter is used in temperatures below freezing (0° C), any water moisture entering the vacuum system may freeze, this could cause fittings to crack therefore create leaks. It is therefore important to avoid any moisture or water entering the vacuum system as much as possible.

• Always ensure that you check the load to be lifted for ice, condensation or any other form of moisture. This will ensure that the vacuum can operate efficiently without any vacuum leaks and will avoid moisture being sucked into the system.

• GGR recommends that vacuum lifters should be kept in a warm, dry place, preferably in doors and covered overnight. This avoids extreme weather conditions such as ice, rain and snow affecting the usability of the vacuum lifter and reduces the risk of vacuum leaks.

These are some general guidelines to follow when it comes to using your vacuum pad or vacuum lifter in cold temperatures, and the reasons behind them. However, individual products can be rated differently from the information given above, so check your instructions to be certain of your vacuum cup or lifter’s temperature rating in extreme weather conditions.

Our infographic below provides some more hints and tips about the usability of vacuum lifters in adverse weather conditions.

Further advice about your vacuum lifter can be obtained directly from GGR Group: info@ggrgroup.com or +44 (0) 161 683 2580.