FS Construction Services grain dryer pre-harvest check up

Grain Dryer Pre-Harvest Checkup

It’s probably accurate to say that there aren’t many times of the year where harvest isn’t a thought in the mind of a farmer. But as we move throughout this summer, that thought of harvest is going to grow much bigger in a short amount of time. So here at FS Construction Services we thought it would be a good idea to discuss the grain dryer pre-harvest checkup you will want to run on your grain dryers to make sure everything is operational and ready for the coming harvest.

 

FSCS Suggests a Grain Dryer Pre-Harvest Checkup

 

This first one is obvious and yet too critical to ignore. Be sure to practice all appropriate safety measures when servicing or inspecting any electrical or mechanical components.

Next, you will want to perform a thorough cleaning. Check all augers, downspouts, and dryer columns for debris and signs of animals taking up residence. Clean your control box and sweep up the floors and clear out any standing debris.

As you’re moving around your dryer, you can check for wear and tear. Inspect your belts to make sure they are not worn down and still hold proper tension. Make sure your hoses and connections are all secure and not leaking and check the burner for obstructions, nests, or anything that would prevent it from operating the way it needs to.

We know the days are busy, but if you can get to this early enough, you will also have time for a test run. Firing everything up before you need to actually start filling it with grain is an invaluable step and can save you a lot of stress down the road.

If you have questions about preseason checks for grain dyers, or if you are in need of any new or updated grain system equipment, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services Jarret Herzog parts and service

Herzog Profile: Parts and Service (#3 of 3)

Over the past couple months we have been speaking with Jarret Herzog, our Service Manager at FS Construction Services, and leaning on his 20 years of experience here to learn about a variety of topics. Jarret embodies our philosophy at FS Construction Services of a client-first approach. So this time, as we explore parts and service, you will also get a sense of how we approach our clients, even long after the point of sale.

Jarret Herzog Takes Pride in Parts and Service

Jarret puts it best when he says, “My goal is to treat people how I would like to be treated.” We know that the world of agriculture is stressful. There are, quite literally, many moving parts at all times. There is a crucial reliance on properly working machinery, often uncooperative elements, and the added stressor of time crunch. All of this means that things have to work the way they’re supposed to, and if they don’t, there needs to be a solution quickly.

For that reason, “We keep a good inventory available for all machines, including Sukup, Shivvers, and GSI. This includes pulleys, belts, bearings, and motors.” In some cases, we are able to troubleshoot and solve problems over the phone. Not only is there the internal knowledge of our team, but we also have many catalogs, books, and manuals on hand for reference.

As Jarret says, “We need to take care of our customers, or we are falling short of our commitment. We get them what they need to keep them going. This is so very important, especially during harvest. It can mean longer hours, extra work, but this is the Super Bowl for growers.”

Over the years, we have come to expect certain issues arise and have anticipated solutions. We know during harvest we will get a lot of service requests for drying systems, and we also know that we can do the math to calculate proper speeds for drying systems over the phone. We also know that we get many service requests regarding unloading in January: power sweep trouble, bearings going out in vertical unloads, and electrical motor issues.

If you find yourself in a pinch, have an unanswered question, or need a new part quickly, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services Jarret Herzog preventative maintenance

Jarret Herzog Profile and Preventative Maintenance Series #1 of 3

We work hard to ensure that the name FS Construction Services means something to those who hear it. Our ultimate goal is to make our name synonymous with hard work, quality, and great customer service. However, what truly makes FS Construction Services special are the individual employees who make up our team. Our collective expertise, experience, and skill is made strong by the wonderful employees who do this work day in and day out.

 

Preventative Maintenance Specialist

 

So we thought we would take some time to highlight our employees, explore what makes them such a great addition to our team, and give you an idea of how they might be able to help you. First up is our longtime Service Manager Jarret Herzog. Jarret is going to help us cover the topic of preventative maintenance this month.

During the almost 20 years Jarret has been Service Manager at FS Construction Services he has gained a reputation for being a quiet, modest, and knowledgeable man. Those who have the pleasure of working with him quickly learn that he is trustworthy and straightforward. Jarret’s experience really began when he was a child, growing up on a farm and learning how to work on agricultural equipment firsthand. He spent three years in the Navy on the USS O’Bannon then returned home and got an Ag degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

Since he stepped into his Service Manager role with us Jarret has been the go-to for service needs for our grain systems customers as well as our employees who serve them. “When I have maintenance issues or questions, I know I can trust Jarrett. He is always helpful, friendly and knows my operation.” stated long-time customer Wes Kuergeleis.

Some of Jarret’s top preventative maintenance tips are:

  1. Rodent control. Check wire insulation for rodent damage. Mice can eat wires right up to the motor housing. To control mice, consider mouse bait or even getting cats on the farm.
  2. If drying system heaters won’t light or burn, check to make sure no safety breakers have been tripped.
  3. Check sweeps for wear and also check center verticals and chain couplers.
  4. Inspect fans, heaters, safety circuits, bearings, and transfer augers.
  5. Schedule a professional preventative maintenance service call well in advance of harvest.

Many customers have their own “checklist” that they run down prior to harvest however, your best bet to ensure your grain storage and handling equipment is in peek working order is to have a professional come and perform a thorough inspection. Pre-harvest is always the best time to schedule these.

Next month, we will continue our preventative maintenance series and cover information about the brands that we work with.

If you have any questions you’d like to ask Jarret or any of our other experts, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services steel building winter maintenance tips

Six Tips to Winter-Proof your Steel Building

Like it or not, we are quickly approaching cold months ahead. But here at FS Construction Services, we are all about the long game. So we always advocate a little more effort here to save you a lot of trouble down the road. One way to do this is to perform some basic maintenance on your steel buildings before winter settles in. So here are six tips to protect your steel building from winter damage.

Pre-Winter Steel Building Maintenance Tips

Timing Matters

While we get that no one wants to take time out of their day to inspect their building for things that could go wrong, we certainly know that no one wants to inspect their building in the winter for things that have gone wrong. So perform your maintenance now, while you’ve got more light in the day and don’t need a heavy coat.

Check for Overgrowth

Check for trees, branches, or bushes that may hang over or grow up against your building. When the winter winds blow, you don’t want anything of these scratching your walls or your roof. Also trim any branches that could accumulate snow and break off onto your building.

Clear Debris

Check your building’s roof and remove leaves, sticks, dirt, or any other kind of debris. These materials can hold water and eventually cause problems if they’re sitting on your roof for too long. Additionally, these sorts of things tend to gather or get to stuck around screwheads and can cause corrosion.

Give it a Scrub

Mix a household cleaner with some water and give your building a gentle clean. Rinse any remaining cleaner off when you’re done.

Seal Check

When you’re inspecting your building for cracks or corrosion, be sure to check seals around vents, windows, skylights, and doors. Also check the flashing around chimneys and pipes.

 

A little goes a long way, so be sure to keep up on your building maintenance and save yourself the future headaches. If you are looking for a new steel building, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services Raynor garage door upgrades

Things to Consider With Garage Door Upgrades

If you’re anything like most people, your temptation will probably be to let your creaky, crooked, or wobbly garage door fight it out for as long as possible before finally resolving to deal with the problem. And we get it. A garage door is the kind of thing you can afford to forget about until it suddenly stops working the way it used to, and then it feels like a nuisance.

Upgrade With a Premium Raynor Garage Door

At FS Construction Services, we’re all about maintenance. A little TLC here and there can go a long way towards saving you frustration and money down the road. However, there will eventually come a day when it’s time to let go of your old garage door and purchase a new one. So we wanted to discuss some things to consider before you decide to buy.

First, can your current door be fixed with a little maintenance? Keeping your hinges and springs lubricated, making sure your tracks are clean, keeping debris off the bottom of the weatherstripping and sensors can fix a handful of garage door problems. But once those things no longer do the trick, here’s a good rule to consider: if your repair cost is going to be half the cost of a new door, it’s time to go with the new door.

Our partners at Raynor Garage Doors make high-quality doors in a variety of styles and price ranges, meaning you can find a door that not only fits your needs, but looks great at the same time. Additionally, their doors come with lots of insulation options. So if your garage is attached to your home, if you live in an area with high highs or low lows, you will want to consider more robust insulation.

If it’s finally time to upgrade your old garage door, or if you’d like to find a door that better suits your house or your style, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FSCS Construction Services electric motors

Premier Electric Motors

After well over 40 years of service, we at FS Construction Services know very well that life is unpredictable and any given day can never be taken for granted. Equipment such as electric motors break down, weather doesn’t cooperate, and the list goes on and on. While we wish we could say that we have a fix for that, obviously, we don’t and nobody does. However, with the right equipment for the right job, or a solid backup plan for when things don’t quite go your way, we feel confident that we can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Premier Selection of Electric Power Motors

It will be no surprise to anyone that we work with a lot of clients whose day-to-day work involves some heavy-duty power needs. And with our electric motors services, we are happy to find the best, most efficient means of that power. Our partners at Baldor Motors, Marathon Electric Motors, and Leeson Motors have deep product catalogs, energy-efficient motors, generators, extra parts and more. Whether you’re looking to power an auger drive, an aeration fan, a crop drier, or you need a generator to keep you going when things don’t go as planned, we’ve got you covered.

If you are in the market for a motor, we keep many of these products in stock for quick delivery. If you can’t find what you are looking for on our web page, please reach out to us and we will see what we can make happen for you.

Be ready for the job ahead and be prepared to keep going even when an unseen circumstance comes. If you have any questions or needs, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

steel building preventative maintenance FS Construction Services

Steel Building Maintenance Throughout the Year

A steel building, just like everything else, needs some care and attention from time to time. While they are strong and designed to stand through the decades, a little maintenance here and there will increase their longevity and keep them operational. Our partners over at Walters Buildings put together a handy guide for steel building maintenance throughout the year which we will take a look at here.
 

Steel Building Preventative Maintenance

 
Since we just flipped our calendars to July, we’re sure that you already have several annual summer maintenance projects started. Take a look at the suggestions below for your steel buildings to be sure you’re on track. And we don’t need to remind you that with the passing of the Fourth of July, fall is just around the corner. We have some fall maintenance tips as well.

Summer

  • Check for any sticky locks. If you find one, be sure to oil it. Check the bottoms of your windows for debris in their drain channels.
  • Look around your building for signs of pests like: termites, carpenter ants, hornets, wasps, and more. Inspect closely around the columns, splash boards, eaves, and any attic spaces.
  • Inspect your siding and trim for gaps, cracks, dents, and holes. If anything is need of repair, be sure to use the appropriate sealant.

Fall

  • Check your roof for broken shingles, gaps in flashing, etc. If you have a chimney, make sure it’s still secure.
  • Clean your gutters and check your downspouts for debris.
  • Inspect your foundation for cracks and look for signs of water damage. Make sure the dirt around your foundation is graded so it will drain water away from your building.
  • Trim back any plants that are growing up against your building and don’t spray any weed killer on or near steel panels.
  • Replace cracked or missing caulk and weather stripping around doors and windows and anywhere where brick and wood make contact. Check your attic’s insulation.
  • Oil door, window, and garage door hinges.

 

If you have any building questions or needs, or if you’re in need of any repair services, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Garage Door Safety FS Construction Services Red Bud IL

Knowing Your Garage Door Parts Can Keep You Safe

Here at FS Construction Services we always like to say that a garage door is one of those things you don’t notice until it stops working the way it should, and then it becomes something you can’t ignore. Because of this, it can also be easy to forget that garage doors are very heavy and can actually be dangerous if they are not maintained properly.

Garage Door Safety Tips

Our partners over at Raynor Garage Doors have put together a useful list of things to keep in mind with your garage door and its specific parts.

  • Section Joints are the joints between garage door sections. Think of this part of the garage door like the gap between the door and the wall when you open any standard door. It may fit your fingers when it’s open, but it certainly won’t when it’s closed. When manually opening a garage door, be sure to keep your fingers away from these section joints.
  • Corner Brackets are the brackets that are attached to the bottom corners of your garage door. The cables responsible for raising and lowering the garage door are attached to these brackets. Because of this, these brackets are under tension, and should only be removed by a professional.
  • Extension and Torsion Springs balance the garage door and provide lifting power. These springs should only be serviced by a trained technician.
  • Photoelectric Eyes and Sensing Edges are the sensors that send an invisible beam across the space of your garage door. If this beam is obstructed, by a car, a foot, etc., the garage door will stop closing. Making sure these sensors are functioning properly is necessary when it comes to keeping your stuff and you and your family safe.
  • Lift Handles and Pull Ropes allow you to manually open your door in the event of a power outage or a malfunctioning door. Make sure any ropes can’t accidentally hook onto anything when opening normally. Additionally, when opening or closing a garage door manually, be sure to keep fingers, toes, and other body parts clear of the door.

If you are in need of a new garage door or in need of garage door services, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services garage door repair

Make Sure Your Garage Door Doesn’t Let You Down

A garage door is a wonderful thing. Whether it’s an easy way into your house, a way to get your farm equipment into someplace dry and safe, or a way to allow your business to receive the supplies or goods it needs, your garage door is a necessary feature that’s all too easy to forget about when it’s working properly.

At FS Construction Services, we know how big of a deal a broken or faulty garage door can be. At best, it’s disruptive, at worst, it can be downright disastrous. On the other hand, a strong, well-functioning door can give a building a whole new look, it can provide insulation and protection, and it can allow you to easily get where you need to go.

We have been in the business of installing new garage doors for a long time, but we are also in the business of door repair and opener and operator maintenance. If you’re having garage door problems, whether it’s a residential or a commercial door, we can help you figure out what the problem is and find the right fix.

We have partnered with the folks over at Raynor Garage Doors to provide the best possible doors at the best possible prices. These doors operate smoothly and are insulated to provide thermal efficiency to keep garages warm and dry. Additionally, they come in a variety of colors and sizes to make sure your building or home looks as fresh as possible.

If you are in need of a new garage door, garage door maintenance, or simply looking to have your door tuned up, be sure to let Gateway FS Construction Services know. If you have any questions, you can always give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

 

 

Grain Bin Maintenance - FS Construction Services

Pre-Season Maintenance in an Uncertain Season

This has been a strange year so far to say the least. And with schools, many businesses, and social gatherings on hold for much of the spring, it has felt at times like the world has stopped spinning. But, of course, we know that isn’t the case. The temperatures will continue to go up and the rains will come and the crops will grow. Farmers can’t put their season on hold for a few months and pick it back up again, and so, like always, they must go on, including pre-season maintenance.

However the season may look for you, the fact remains that farming is a hard job, and farming equipment has to stand up to a bit of a beating each year. At FS Construction Services, we know that the wear and tear adds up, and few things are more disastrous than your grain system breaking down on you in the thick of harvest. Unfortunately, these things don’t come with a check engine light, but there are a number of signs that can tell you it’s time for a little pre-season TLC.

Grain System Maintenance Tips

Here are a few indicators that your grain bin might need a little pre-season maintenance.

  • Excess dirt and debris. Look especially close around roof panels, vents, and connections
  • Moisture buildup. Check manholes, caps, and any other opening to make sure everything is sealing properly
  • Unsafe electrical connections. Make sure your wiring is secure and not weathered or damaged
  • Loose anchor bolts. Tighten anything that’s loose and see if the foundation is still level
  • Rust, old grain, other junk. While you’ve still got some time and an empty bin, make sure it’s clean and free of things that could cause rot

Now most of these are pretty obvious tasks that most people are going to be able to perform on their own. But if you’re working with some older equipment or it’s been a while since you’ve had work done on your grain dryer or you’re just the better-safe-than-sorry type, you can let us know. We’ll send a trained technician out to you to perform an inspection on your dryer. Specifically, our techs look at six key areas:

  1. Burners
  2. Fan housing and blades for dirt buildup
  3. Belts for wear
  4. Bearings
  5. Electrical controls and switches
  6. Gas pressure regulators and LP gas vaporizers

It is a little bit of time and money, but we’ve seen time and time again how a little bit now can save a lot in the future. If you would like to schedule an inspection, or if you would like to browse our selection of stir dryers, counter mix-flow dryers, or counter-flow dryers, let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.