energy efficiency. Committing to regular preventative facili-ty maintenance will save energy costs and increase the overall energy efficiency of your building. In addition, annual cleaning can prevent a host of other expensive malfunctions. Soot and other deposit buildup over time can damage tubes, cause overheating, reduce capacity and raise emission levels — all of which are potentially costly prob-lems to remedy once they occur. Annual boiler cleaning is a great method for saving energy costs and avoiding expensive repair or additional losses caused by an emergency shutdown. Perform An Annual Steam Trap Survey Steam traps are an often overlooked com-ponent of a facilityʼs energy system. Faulty steam traps can result in the loss of thousands of dollars a year in wasted energy. Clogged, sticky or worn steam traps can also result in the destruction of equipment. The lack of proactive preventative main-tenance frequently results in dirt buildup and pipe scaling. This dirt and debris eventually plugs the trap or, in many cases, prevents the trap from sealing, resulting in lost steam, wast-ed energy and a variety of equipment, humidity, condensate and paint issues. An experienced steam trap survey team will provide managers with a detailed map of the facilityʼs steam traps. After the initial survey and tests, facility managers will know where all of their steam traps are located and how each is performing. Failed or underperforming steam traps will be identified and can then be cleaned and repaired, rebuilt or replaced as appropriate. Subsequent yearly inspections and executing needed cleaning or repair will maintain efficiency gains and result in continued energy savings, increased system efficiency and lower plant operating costs. Proactive preventative maintenance is essential during difficult economic periods. Many organizations make short-sighted budget cuts, which often include scaling back or eliminating important preventative maintenance programs. These short-term budget cuts will ultimate-ly be overshadowed by long-term losses. Making a few quick payback investments that lead to reduced energy requirements, greater efficiency and reduced energy costs will accelerate demand reduction, efficiency gains and energy cost reductions while reducing equipment repair costs and extending equipment service life. While implementing the energy saving steps above requires some upfront invest-ment, the short-and long-term benefits of proactive preventative maintenance will result in reduced plant operating expenses and “found” money that can benefit your entire organization. CM The Science Of Fresh And Clean Don’t miss the new Dust and Odor Control e-Newsletter. cmmonline.com/dust-odor.asp Sponsored by Procter & Gamble. Circle Product Information no. 217 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com 35
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