Valve Maintenance: Essential Tips for Maintenance Managers

Any system that needs to regulate the flow of water, oil or gas requires a valve to keep control. Proper valve maintenance is important to function as intended and extend their lifespan. If not cared for properly, there can be many undesirable, costly, and potentially dangerous consequences.

Routine preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, and inspections can identify issues early on that may lead to valve malfunction or failure if not addressed. These services help avoid unplanned system breakdowns, loss in productivity and reduce safety risks.

Despite the wide variety of valves that exist, there are some simple, general, overarching tips for maintaining them.

Three Tips for Valve Maintenance

1) Cleaning Valves

One of the most important things to remember when dealing with valves is that they need to be cleaned. Valves are used for water, oil, and gas. They are used in applications such as home, brewing, and food processing.

This means that what is flowing through the valves could end up being consumed by other people. This is one reason why it is important to clean them.

There can also be dust particles and contaminants that can prohibit a smooth flow of liquid or gas. This can slow down your process and/or harm your pipes.

There are a variety of cleaning products that you can use to purify your valves. You can also wash them by running them through hot water.

2) Storing Valves

If you have some spare valves but do not plan to use them for a period of time, then it is important that you have a clean space where you can store them.

It is imperative to store them in a place that is protected from the weather, dirt, etc. Additionally, it is best to store them with a protective covering to help guard against bacteria and dust.

3) Inspection of Valves For Leaks

In the world of valves, leaking is a problem. As soon as you detect a leak you should determine what the root cause is.

It is not always the valve that is the problem so it may be necessary for you to inspect the pipes, connectors, or other pieces of the infrastructure. If it is determined that the valve is the problem, it should be fixed immediately. This may seem like an obvious point, but it is something that is easily overlooked. Small leaks can lead to big problems.

Regular inspection of valves will help you in the long run. It is always better to catch the issue early on before it turns into something more serious.

The lifespan of a valve depends on its ability to function properly. If you take care of your valves, they will take care of you and your business. Routine valve maintenance is critical to the overall health and efficiency of your systems and to minimize safety risks. That is why these essential tips should be included in your valve maintenance program. 

Ahern’s Inspection & Preventive Maintenance Services

Minimize unplanned breakdowns and reactive, costly emergency work orders with Ahern’s inspection services and preventive maintenance programs. We help you be proactive in ensuring your valves and systems are operating efficiently. 

At Ahern, we offer function and condition testing of water heaters, boilers and valves, including safety and shut off valves, inspection of pipes, sewer, and drainage for leaks and damage and many other multi-trade services. 

From design to installation, maintenance, inspection, and repair, Ahern has a team of NICET-certified designers, in-house fabrication resources, and experienced field teams to meet your project requirements.

We have 16 locations throughout the Midwest. Find a location near you and contact us to schedule an inspection or discuss your preventive maintenance needs.