When Troubleshooting Steam Traps Look For the Simple Things First

Steam traps are reasonably simple devices that are designed to discharge cold water, air and non-condensable gasses on startup; discharge steam condensate as it arrives to the trap; and close to prevent the discharge of live steam. These tasks are accomplished via mechanical, thermostatic or thermodynamic methods. Troubleshooting steam traps requires some basic knowledge of how a steam trap operates and Marspec along with our TLV partners are here to help you determine the condition and the appropriateness of steam traps that you may be experiencing trouble with.

But, there are some initial steps that steam trap users can take that may help eliminate the cause of an operating problem. They include:

• Flow direction. Does the flow arrow on the device match your understanding of the direction of steam/condensate flow? This sounds basic, but it happens and it is easily corrected.
•  Installation orientation. Is the steam trap installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions? Steam traps are designed to accommodate condensate flows from side to side, bottom to top, top to bottom and in/out on the same side of the trap. Verify that the trap is installed as intended.
• Upstream strainers. Is the strainer that protects the tight-tolerance internals in the steam trap blocked with debris? A blow down valve on the discharge port of the strainer will permit the line pressure to push that blockage out of the screen. In some cases, disassembly of the strainer may be required.
• Block valves. Are all valves open? Yes, closed valves on the steam supply or condensate return will prevent the steam trap from operating. We run across this issue occasionally when troubleshooting steam traps.  
• Orifice size. Mechanical steam traps have discharge orifice diameters designed to provide condensate flow at a maximum stated pressure differential. If the maximum pressure differential is exceeded, the steam trap will not operate correctly- if at all.

If you’ve been through these steps and you still experience difficulty, give us a call. Our service and sales team can help you track down the underlying issues with your steam trap operation. And we have backup from TLV’s application engineering staff that help you tackle the tough issues you may face with condensate removal, process heat exchangers and pressure regulation. We look forward to hearing from you.