A Checklist for Preparing Your Greenhouse for Winter

By LLK Greenhouse Solutions|December 3, 2022

The first day of winter is right around the corner, and preparing your greenhouse for the changing of the season is both an inexpensive and effortless way to maximize profits and limit potential damage. Preparation is the key to reducing equipment failure and improving equipment efficiency. Did you know that every degree of accuracy in heating or cooling can save an operation 3% to 5% of its energy costs?

It is no secret that proactively addressing small problems in your operation can improve your product yield in the long run. To prepare for the winter and its unpredictable weather, greenhouse operators should develop and follow a maintenance checklist for their greenhouse structure, environmental control equipment, and irrigation systems.

Your greenhouse checklist should include the following:

Examine concrete piers/structure for deterioration: structure/bench foundation, walkways
Glazing: punctures, inflation, light transmission, cracking, general conditions (also check update replacement history)
Gutters: cleaning and inspecting for rust and leaks. Examine downspouts to make sure they are clear
Vents: lubrication, operation, and motors. When it comes to vents, check along the entire length of each closed vent to ensure a tight seal and, if necessary, adjust for gaps. Clean the rack with a cloth to remove all dirt and apply a small amount of lubricant. Manually run the vent machines to make sure the rack and pinions are aligned and running smoothly. Some growers may also elect to lock down vents and turn off toggle switches if not needed for winter ventilation.
Plumbing: drainage, leaks, rust
Wiring: corrosion, damaged wires
Fire Safety: extinguishers, smoke detectors, exit plans, locating and removing potential hazards
Safety Equipment: eye protection, first aid
Heating (this should be the prime focus for your fall/winter tune-up): Furnace cleaning, pilot lights, electrical, gas lines, venting, and energy curtain. Check for tears or poor seals in energy curtains and consider programming your curtain system to pause as it uncovers to avoid rapid chilly air quickly penetrating the crop.
Lubricate pumps and motor bearings. Consider setting all walkways/doors to cooler temperatures than the greenhouse to save energy.
If applicable, test your backup generators and temperature alarms. Utilize logs to review greenhouse temperatures from various periods of time, weeks, months, and previous years to measure how your equipment is functioning.
Cooling: fans, evaporating cooling systems, vents, shade system, electrical. This is the ideal time to empty all pump tanks, wet vacuum them out, flush and clean lines, and completely clean your tanks
Sensors: calibration, damage, power connection.
Misting Equipment: valves, motors, fluid flow, filter cleaning, punctured liners
Drippers: clog/kink check, fluid flow, filter cleaning
Fertigation system: monthly flush, injector cleaning, emitter testing
Monitoring for Biofilms

While a winter storm can be unavoidable, you can protect your greenhouse operation more than you may think. Preparation is an operator’s best bet to battle the winter and the weather it brings with it.

As always, remember that safety comes first in everything you do.