Pipe Leak-Repair Tips
Our society depends on the proper functioning of our industry, and industry depends on the proper functioning of its parts. That is why avoiding and fixing leaks at industrial plants is so important. In fact, the market for leak detection and repair is worth nearly $20 billion!
There is a vast body of knowledge that we have acquired over the years to manage leak-repair. So the question is, how can you take advantage of this knowledge to repair your own leaks as effectively as possible?
Read on to learn all about how the experts manage leak-repair!
Leak Sealing Techniques
The piping systems in industrial plants are huge and expensive. It is almost always preferable to repair them than it is to replace them. That is why piping leak repair techniques are essential.
Early techniques for water leak repair depended on injecting powerful compounds into the space through which water and other materials could escape. Later techniques included wire wraps.
The wire wrap technique adds a layer of brass to a seal. This holds the sealing compound in place.
Interestingly, the layer of brass is actually applied first. Sealing compounds are then applied on-line through holes in the brass. This powerful on-line leak repair technique can manage leaks that older techniques cannot.
Machining
In some cases, it is necessary to replace pipes, valves, and other parts. In the worst-case scenario, such pipes have to be removed and shipped off to be repaired.
The travel time of shipping a part far away and waiting for it to come back can add weeks to a repair job. Things can go even worse if shipping is delayed. That can translate to thousands and sometimes millions of dollars of lost productivity.
If possible, on-site machining is a much better approach. Pipe beveling, drilling and tapping, polishing, and more can be performed right next to the pipe that needs to be repaired. This can allow a repair job to take only hours or a couple of days instead of weeks.
Tracking Fugitive Emissions
Sometimes the most important part of repairing leaks is knowing that they are there in the first place. If you are waiting for a leaking material to fall on your head, then your leaks will be seriously developed before you ever begin to repair them.
Fugitive emissions monitoring allows users to detect leaks much more quickly. It can detect tiny concentrations of materials escaping from pipelines. This allows both for faster repairs and for decreased loss of product.
Make Sure That You Know You Are Stuff When It Comes to Leak-Repair
We hope that you were able to learn something helpful about just a few of the ways that experts have discovered to manage leak-repair. Like many other problems, leaks can start small but turn into bigger problems if they are not quickly repaired.
To learn more about the best practices in repairing leaks or how to prevent them in the first place, you can get in touch with us at any time!
