Three Maintenance Reminders

It's easy (and dangerous) to get complacent when systems are running well

"main·te·nance /ˈmānt(ə)nəns,ˈmān(t)nəns/ - the process of keeping something in good condition."

- Dictionary Definition                    

Maintenance performance can decline for a variety of reasons. When company revenue is down, there may be a temptation to relax maintenance schedules. When everything is performing well, it's easier to forget about potential problems. Whatever the reason, it's always a good time to make sure your maintenance practices are sound.

Have a well-developed plan

Having a comprehensive plan for maintenance means embracing a preventive approach and becoming more aware of potential problem areas, component fatigue and the ways in which your fluid systems could be improved. A pre-emptive strategy is also important for safety because it increases the likelihood of identifying hazards early on that could result in an accident.

Swagelok uses predictive maintenance for equipment productivity 

Approach system reassembly carefully

While tube fittings generally do not require maintenance, they often are removed in order to get to other parts of a system. The more you can avoid unnecessary disassembly of fittings, the better off you will be. To avoid problems, always be sure to:

• Adhere to proper disassembly procedures when taking apart a tube and fitting system
• Protect tubing and fittings from contamination and damage during maintenance to avoid problems once the system is reassembled
• Carefully follow reassembly instructions
• Ensure no intermixing of components from different manufacturers

Tube Fitting One Inch and Under Reassembly

Give leaks the attention they deserve

Stop ignoring leaks. In non-hydrocarbon process systems, leaks are often classified as “nonessential” problems. Leaking steam, water, or nitrogen may not always pose an immediate danger, but over time it can lead to safety incidents, environmental degradation, and system damage. A site audit by a qualified expert can identify areas for improvement.

Swagelok Compressed Gas Leak Detection Program (Service Page)

More like this:

• Put Swagelok On A Search And Destroy Mission For Leaks (blog article)
• Stop Gas Leaks (Sevice Page on this Site)
• More Swagelok technical articles on analytical instrumentation (section of this site)