Posted by Joe Lambert on September 11, 2001 at 05:26:22:
In Reply to: PERIODIC MAINTENANCE OF STEAM TRAPS posted by ZAIB on September 10, 2001 at 06:21:50:
Steam traps need to be fixed when they fail. They can fail open blowing through steam that wastes money or fail closed backing up condensate that may halt a process or be a safety hazard.
It is recommended to periodically check all of the steam traps in the facility and repair or replace the failed traps. The frequency of this check depends on pressure, cleanliness of the steam, and other factors, but should take place AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. There is always a good return on investment by checking and fixing failed traps.
The best way to check traps is to use ultrasonics and temperature. This will find both failed open and failed closed traps in the system. You can do this in-house or hire a contractor. Contact me at the e-mail and I can get you more information. I used to do these trap checking projects as a career.