Prevent Frozen Drum Drips

Have you experienced frustrating burst sprinkler pipe calls? Did your sprinkler contractor indicate that it was caused by a burst drum drip or auxiliary drain that froze because it was not drained?

As an industry leader in servicing and maintaining fire sprinkler systems, Ahern has been dealing with these types of issues for years, especially in the Midwest, where temperatures plummet in the winter months. Some of our customers extend their service contracts to ensure the frequent and proper maintenance of these drum drips during the winter months to avoid a catastrophic event.

The purpose of the drum drip is to collect moisture that condenses in dry and pre-action fire sprinkler systems. As we transition from summer to winter months, a lot of moisture is created in these systems because of the dramatic temperature changes, sometimes overnight.

If you have a drum drip or auxiliary drain located in an unheated area or need to install a drain line in an unheated area, Ahern can work with you to offer a solution. These come in the form of a boxed solution, which is effectively a heated cabinet that keeps the pipe and its contents above freezing temperatures. Different models offer different levels of add-ons for the user to be as hands-off as they desire, starting from just receiving a signal to the building automation system to let you know the system is full and needs to be drained to as far as selecting the full or semi-autonomous packages, which will auto-purge to a pre-defined floor drain location.

There are no adverse effects to adding these units to your system, which would result in any redesign or hydraulic calculation issues. The only other services required to put them in operation are the electrical 120v supply for the power and the monitoring of the signals to and from the units.

Taking proactive measures to protect your fire sprinkler system from the harsh winter elements is essential to avoiding costly damage and system failure. At Ahern, we understand the unique challenges that colder climates bring and offer tailored solutions to ensure your system functions efficiently year-round. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help maintain your system’s reliability in every season.