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The winter weather can create challenges when shipping temperature sensitive products, but planning ahead helps avoid problems. Keeping an eye on the local temperatures is important, but it is a good idea to be aware of where your orders originate as the temperatures there can be much different. As we move into the winter months we have many people ask what products can be safely shipped in cold weather, and what products cannot?

While the large majority of our products can be safely shipped year-round, some of our products can be damaged when they are subjected to temperatures at or near freezing. One example of a product that can be damaged by cold temperatures is our N&V Expansion Liquid. The liquid is a solution with the particles suspended in water and it remains completely stable under normal temperatures. However, when it is subjected to temperatures at or near freezing the density changes and the materials will separate. Once the liquid has separated it cannot be used, and no amount of shaking the bottle will help.

We are often asked about the temperature sensitivity of other products like Insta-Peg Refractory Material, HydroSmooth Debubblizer and Cera-Mix Porcelain Modeling Liquid. While these products can be shipped throughout the winter we have seen problems if they are frozen and thawed multiple times. The expansion and contraction caused by the freezing and melting can cause separation of the ingredients, and can also cause bottles and lids to crack. While it is certainly a good idea to stock up on all your liquid products if you live in a colder region of the country, for the most part the problems are few and far between.

Another thing to keep in mind during the winter months is when you receive an order from us you should allow the products to warm to room temperature before using them. If the one of the products gets frozen during transportation it needs to be allowed to completely thaw before you try to use it. Also, it is important to allow our Quickcheck product to warm to room temperature before trying to spray the can.

These are just a few examples of ideas that can help avoid problems, but if you have a question about a specific product please drop us a line.