As the cold winds begin to blow, it’s time to make sure you are maintaining the proper environment in swine barns for keeping pigs healthy and promoting productivity. Austin Zimmerman, sales engineer for Automated Production Systems, offers five tips for getting barn heaters ready for winter.

1. Clean up. Blow dust and debris out of heaters with compressed air or a leaf blower tool. This will help promote efficient as well as safe operation of the units.

2. Check for hazards. Make sure the ignitor, sail switch and flame sensor are not covered with carbon or dust. Carbon can build up as a byproduct of the burner. 

3. Check function. Move the flame probe ground wire to the burner to ensure the heater functions properly.

4. Check communication. Activate the heater from the room ventilation controller, which is important to make certain that the controller is communicating correctly.

5. Make a test run. Watch the heater with the service door open to confirm the proper start-up sequence: The fan motor starts and sail switch engages; the ignitor starts and glows red hot; the flame ignites when the gas valve opens; and the ignitor turns off.

“If any part of the start-up sequence does not successfully complete, producers should troubleshoot the failure or if necessary, contact their dealer,” Zimmerman says.

In addition to heaters, he recommends producers check barn curtains to make sure they are in good physical condition and that the curtains reset to their open or closed position to properly calibrate the curtain machine. Zimmerman also reminds producers to update their environmental control systems with the latest software so they can access new enhancements and maintain optimal conditions within their barns.

For additional information, contact your AP dealer or visit automatedproduction.com.

Automated Production offers a full line of feed storage and delivery, watering, ventilation, environmental controls and alarm systems. AP is a part of GSI, a global brand of Agco.

Source: Automated Production, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.