Four Important Things to Know About Industrial Plant Valve Services in Utah

The integral valves that connect and control the various aspects of your plant are strong and reliable, but are far from bulletproof. In the past, industrial accidents and fatalities have been linked to neglected valves, and this has brought a renewed attention to proper maintenance and service.

All too often, the fast pace of work in industrial operations and mounting expectations to meet seemingly insurmountable quotas pushes service programs to the back burner. This can lead to serious equipment damage and the potential for the loss of human life. If you’ve been avoiding it, here are four key things to know about industrial plant valve services in Utah and what to address immediately.

Frequently used valves

When it comes to daily operations, some plants may take an “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” approach. Despite heavy daily use, many valves are not serviced or inspected as often as they should be. What this means is that the mechanical device meant to start or stop critical functions may not operate as intended. This lack of function can be the difference between a critical failure in another part of the plant, or worse, the injury or death of plant staff. For example, if the valve meant to stop the flow of a flammable chemical cannot be shut off when damage is discovered in another part of the facility, the consequences could be disastrous.

Emergency shutoff valves

Perhaps more essential for regular inspections are the emergency shutoff valves located throughout your facility. These valves, because they are not used as frequently, may rust open or closed or have other issues when they are needed most. Imagine trying to stop a larger catastrophe only to find the emergency valves were compromised. Sometimes, a lack of regular use can be as damaging to industrial components as frequent use. Regular inspection and service should help to ensure that these critical components will not fail when they’re needed most.

Check those actuators

Whether you employ manual, mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic valve actuators, ensuring their function is just as critical as the valves themselves. Things like a failed seal in a pneumatic actuator can reduce the effectiveness of valve operations. Similarly, electrical components in electricity-operated valve actuators can be susceptible to damage caused by electrical fluctuations or shorts. In plants where actuators are computer-controlled, false readouts and actuator malfunctions may prevent operators from getting the full picture on what is happening on the plant floor.

Regular service and maintenance

Regardless of how experienced you are in the industrial plant environment, you may not have the ability to determine the true health of your valves or their critical components. All too often they must be disassembled or inspected by camera to have their function properly gauged.

The subject of industrial valves may be foreign to many people, but it’s not to the team at Intermountain Valve Services, Inc. We have been in the business a long time and can answer all your questions. Contact us to learn more about professional industrial plant valve services in Utah!

Categorised in: Industrial Valve Services

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