Electrical machine (motors & generators) storage will affect the life of the equipment. Over time, conditions such as moisture, dirt, dust, rodents and general vibration will have a negative impact on the electrical and mechanical condition of the equipment.

When storing machines for any significant amount of time, a number of requirements should be considered:

1. Store the electric motors away from sources of significant vibration, contamination, and moisture.
2. Rotate the shaft of the motor at least quarterly, if not monthly.
3. If the storage area ever reaches the dew point, install heaters or dehumidifiers to prevent condensation.
4. Perform motor circuit analysis periodically, to ensure the winding degradation has not occurred. Some plants place a tag on each motor showing the last dates for inspections on condition of the motor, with different colors representing the schedule for turning the shaft (green for the first month of each quarter, red for the second month and yellow for the third).