Leaking pipes can cause extensive damage, whether they’re in homes or factories. In this article, we’ll focus on manufacturing facilities, where pipes can transport dangerous chemicals, gas, and untreated water. Pipe leaks in these instances can cause damage to the environment and people’s health. Therefore, putting measures in place to prevent pipe leaks is essential. You will find more information on this below.
Causes of Leaky Pipes
Before preventing leaky pipes, it’s important to understand the causes, which include:
- Loose fittings
- Freezing temperatures
- High pressure
- Rust
- Corrosion
- Heat
- Vibrations
Typically, these issues start small and build up over time, which means you need to be vigilant and carry out regular pipe inspections. As soon as you notice any pipe damage, call in the professional. Now that you know the causes of pipe leaks, let’s take a look at the best prevention tactics.
Seal Joints
No matter what substance is being transported, a leading cause for leaking pipes is poorly sealed joints. You should have all joints regularly inspected and tighten up any bolts, which will likely call for a professional touch. If your facility has pipes traveling through walls or into vats, joints between the wall and pipe need sealing. To do this, you should install the correct pipetite wall boot, which will prevent any unwanted spillage.
Measure Pressure
When transporting liquids through pipes, there’s only so much pressure they can take before they will inevitably burst. Typically, you’re aiming to keep all water pressure below 60 PSI. In your manufacturing facility, you can easily check water pressure by looking at the gauge – this should form part of your daily checks. If you come across irregular water pressure, the best course of action is to contact a professional.
Water Softener
In some cases, all that’s being moved is straight-up water, which comes in different mineral strengths. When the mineral count is high, it’s referred to as hard water. Over time, high mineral levels in water can corrode pipes and cause unexpected leaks. To help your pipes last longer, we recommend installing a water softener, which involves salt tanks and ion exchange.
Insulate Pipes
Liquids are susceptible to freezing during the winter, which can cause expansion and pipe leaks. To avoid this issue, the easiest solution is to insulate pipes. There are countless different insulation materials, but the industry standard includes fiberglass, flexible foam, calcium silicate, aerogel, and cellular glass.
Regular Inspections
No matter how many prevention tactics you put in place, leaks happen over time. Therefore, it’s essential to have all pipe systems inspected regularly. An expert will have a trained eye for spotting small leaks and holes. If there are any leaks found, fixing the problem before a burst is much more cost-effective.
There’s nothing worse than leaking pipes leading to extensive damage, especially in the manufacturing sector. Preventing leaks is essential, and many of the tactics are directly transferable into home settings. Remember, regardless of your leak prevention measures, your pipes need regular professional inspections.
