If you’ve ever dealt with replacing industrial piping, you know that the process can be both labor-intensive and expensive. The best way to avoid replacing your pipes is to make sure they last – and doing so does require a bit of work on your part. Below are four steps you can take to make sure that your industrial piping lasts longer.
Get Winter Insulation
Industrial pipes may not be as prone to freezing as typical pipes, but the danger still exists. As such, you need to ensure that your pipes are properly insulated so that changes in the temperature don’t lead to catastrophic damage. Ensuring that any exposed pipes are insulated can go a long way towards helping your pipes to make it through the coldest parts of the year.
Get Galvanized Materials
When you’re looking at your steel supply provider, make sure that you find galvanized materials for your piping. Galvanized materials are less prone to breakage, last longer, and typically cost a fair bit less than some other types of steel. Though galvanized materials can certainly still have their problems, using them should set you up for less frequent maintenance cycles and the general ability to rely on your piping for a longer period of time.
Flush Them Regularly
A major source of problems in industrial piping is buildup. Regardless of what’s flowing through your pipes, there will be deposits left behind. If you want your pipes to last, you’ll need to flush out your pipes every so often to ensure that the buildup doesn’t cause your pipes to back up and burst. Make sure to make this a normal part of your maintenance cycle to improve the durability of your pipes.
Regulate the Temperature
Finally, you’ll want to make sure that you monitor the temperature both of what’s flowing through the pipes and the area around your pipes. Wild swings in temperature can be very problematic, as can sustained periods of extreme heat or extreme cold. If you can reduce the variability of the area’s temperature and make sure that everything flowing through the pipes is within the tolerance of the material, you’ll have fewer problems.
Use the Right Equipment
If you’re working with polyethylene piping, especially in high-stress environments, using a fusion machine for HDPE pipe is essential for creating strong, leak-resistant joints. Properly fused connections improve long-term durability and can prevent failures that occur at connection points, which are often the weakest part of a system.
Making your pipes last longer really is just a matter of knowing what’s going on with your pipes. Choose the right materials for the job, then clean them and ensure that you’re not putting undue stress on the pipes. With the right care, your pipes can last far longer than you might imagine.
