Why Does My Golf Cart Sometimes Leak on the Floor?

If you own a golf cart, chances are, the batteries have leaked acid onto the floor of your garage or patio at some point in the past. This can be an alarming sight, particularly if it’s your first time encountering battery acid. Thankfully, this is a relatively common error, and is an easy one to avoid. The key to avoiding golf cart battery spillage is simple: avoid over-watering your golf cart batteries.

Watering batteries is the act of replacing water that naturally evaporates from within the battery casing, either due to excessive heat or daily use. Water accompanies the acid that facilitates energy storage within your battery, and makes the storage and transfer of energy possible. While water naturally evaporates out of a battery and needs to be replaced, acid does not evaporate. You should rarely, if ever, need to add more acid to a battery.

Depending on where you live and how you use your golf cart, you may find yourself watering your batteries as seldom as every few months, or as often as every other week. You can ask your local battery supplier in Houston, TX for their recommendations.

What causes leakage?

Battery leakages are the result of over-watering a battery. One of the most common mistakes golf cart owners make is watering a discharged battery during the summer season. When batteries are fully charged, the water is warmer, and the liquid levels are higher, because the acid is drawn out of the plates. If you water your battery when it’s discharged, when you charge it or use it, the liquid levels will rise and the battery water and acid will spill out onto the ground.

To avoid this, only water your battery when it’s fully charged. You can also invest in specialized pieces of equipment that make the act of watering your battery easier.

Here are a few other tips to follow regarding golf cart battery maintenance:

• Use distilled water: Only ever water your batteries using distilled water. Tap water contains trace salts and minerals that adversely affect your battery’s performance, or cause it long-term damage.
• Charge regularly: Be sure to charge your battery regularly, and according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Each battery is made differently, so it’s important to pay attention to the recommended charging regimen for your specific battery. Also, never charge a frozen battery.
• Disconnect when not in use: If you’re not using your battery, unplug it! Disconnecting batteries when they aren’t being used is a great way to preserve their lifespan and ensure that you’re making the most out of your investment in energy storage technology.

Texford Battery Co. has been a premier battery supplier in Houston, TX since 1931. With more than seven decades of industry experience, we are proud to be among the region’s most trusted suppliers of commercial and residential power storage solutions. To learn more about our extensive inventory of batteries and our full range of battery care and maintenance services, contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives today.

Categorised in: Battery Supplier

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