Here’s a question I’ll bet you’ve been asking yourself:  How often are my steam traps being tested?

Creepy how I read your mind like that, isn’t it? If don’t know the answer, you probably don’t have a trap management program in place. We often find that the reason steam traps are not routinely tested is due to lack of resources. You have a limited amount of manpower and money to maintain your system. How is testing traps worth the investment?

Let’s explore this question.

A steam system which has not had its traps tested in the past three to five years will typically experience a trap failure rate of 10 – 20%.

“So what?” You ask. “That means 80-90% of the traps are working just fine. If this were a test in school we probably got a B.”

The real problem lies in cost. Failed traps equal wasted steam. Which means wasted money. In a low pressure system (15 psig) including 100 steam traps, a 10 – 20% failure rate amounts to approximately $10,000 – $20,000 in energy loss during a single six month heating season.

Is your system bigger than that? Higher pressure? Running year round? Pretty soon we’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars of energy loss in one year.

For the past 58 years Merlo has been working with clients to lower their steam energy losses by implementing steam trap system management programs. Our client base includes (but is not limited to) these industries: automotive, food, paper, power, chemical, steel, hospitals and universities. We can proudly say we have helped our clients save millions of dollars.

Need more incentive? Michigan Utilities are currently offering rebates for getting your traps tested, repaired, or replaced.

Not sure where to start? We can help. To schedule a Steam Trap Survey with one of our specialists, just give us a call at 800-877-6289 or send us an email.

Comment Corner: Are your steam traps being routinely tested? Has a trap management program helped your facility save money? Post your thoughts below in the comments section.