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Thermal Fluid Heater Maintenance: How To Keep Your Equipment Up & Running

It’s every facility manager’s goal to keep things in the plant running smoothly at all times. In order to achieve this, routine thermal fluid heater maintenance is key.

Regularly inspecting plant equipment and promptly servicing machinery whenever necessary is one of the most important things a facility or plant manager can do. So what does that entail?

Here are a few items you should be incorporating into your typical maintenance protocol if your industrial heating system includes a thermal fluid heater.

Maintenance for Industrial Thermal Fluid Heaters

1. Yearly Inspection

At least once a year, you should have your thermal fluid heater inspected by a professional. Hire Enerquip’s burner specialists to visit and thoroughly inspect the system and tune the burner. We’ll ensure everything is running at peak efficiency.

2. Insulation Check

Efficient thermal fluid heaters must be well insulated to operate effectively. Your heater’s insulation should be checked regularly to ensure it is still in place and in good condition.

3. Piping Check

Thermal fluid systems are typically composed of a significant amount of piping. Your system’s pipes should be regularly inspected for weak spots, leaks or any other flaws that might indicate replacement or repair is necessary.

4. Routine Visual Inspections

Visually inspecting your facility’s thermal fluid heating system on a regular basis is an easy way you can keep an eye out for any issues that might crop up. Familiarizing yourself with the heater’s features and performing a routine visual inspection of the exterior of the heater, keeping an eye out for hot spots, can help you identify potential problems and address them before they require large scale repair.

When Problems Arise Despite Routine Thermal Fluid Heater Maintenance and Inspections

For the most part, no matter who you buy a thermal fluid heater or heating system from, the routine maintenance and regular inspection protocol will be essentially the same.

The difference in heaters – and in manufacturers – becomes much more evident when problems arise and heater repairs or service are necessary.

Key Things to Keep in Mind When Resolving Problems that Arise with Thermal Fluid Heaters

Here are a few key things to remember when you’re faced with the task of repairing or servicing industrial heating equipment in your plant or facility.

Helical coil heater repairs can be more involved than serpentine coil heater repairs

Helical coil thermal fluid heaters can be more difficult and expensive to repair than serpentine coil thermal fluid heaters. This is because the entire helical coil will often need to be replaced, causing weeks of downtime while a new part is manufactured, shipped and installed.

By contrast, serpentine coils can often be repaired while in place, resulting in less downtime and lower repair costs. (Learn more about the benefits of serpentine coils here.)

Check out our more in-depth look at the differences in serpentine coil heater repairs and helical coil repairs here.

Sometimes replacement is better than repair

Depending on what repairs are necessary, sometimes replacing the entire thermal fluid heating system is a favorable alternative to repairing your existing system.

You can learn more about replacement vs. repair in this helpful article.

Buying all heating system components from one supplier can make repairs easier

When you are shopping for industrial heating equipment, keep in mind that repairs are often easier if you’ve chosen to purchase an entire system from one manufacturer.

Check out some of the other benefits of purchasing your entire thermal fluid heating system in one place.

A spare parts management system is well worth it

No matter what type of thermal fluid heating system you have in place at your facility, it is in your best interest to stock spare parts so you are prepared if something goes wrong. While having a spare parts management system in place may not help you every time a malfunction or breakdown occurs, it can help to expedite repairs in many situations.

Find out how stocking spare thermal fluid heater parts could save your plant thousands in the end.

The Bottom Line: You Want an Industrial Heating System That Requires Minimal Maintenance

If you are looking to invest in a new thermal fluid heating system that requires minimal maintenance, be sure to keep Enerquip in mind. Our industrial thermal fluid heaters are built using an innovative serpentine coil design that is efficient, durable and ideal for use in a variety of industries.

We pride ourselves on designing and manufacturing high quality systems that require minimal maintenance and repair. We build some of the longest lasting equipment in the industry.

Learn more about what sets Enerquip equipment apart!

Wondering if an Enerquip industrial heating system might be right for your business? Give us a call today at (715) 748-5888 or contact us online to learn more. We’d love to get the conversation started and explain how our equipment could benefit your business.

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