Steam Trap Diagnois?

Ed. W.

Any recommendations for a Thermal imagining Camera for steam trap diagnoses?  Does anyone have experience in them?  How do they compare with IR point and shoot units?  Any recommendations would be appreciated on which IR unit to get?.  What about Tempil Sticks, what temperature stick to use before the trap and what temperature after the trap?

Thanks

Ed. W.

Hap_Hazzard

Click on "Search the Wall" and

search for "thermal imaging." Lots of guys here have used them and posted pictures.

Rod

Checking Steam Traps

Hi Ed-  The IR camera is by far the best way to go however a good one is fairly expensive.

I don't have any experience using one but have been very impressed by the pictures I've seen. Here is a link to Gerry Gill's website  http://www.gwgillplumbingandheating.com/webapp/GetPage?pid=496

The other way to go is to use an IR thermometer. I use the Ryobi Tek4 Model # RP4030 which is available from Home Depot.  It takes a bit of getting used to but will tell you the good traps from bad. Take the readings from up close. The farther away you take them the wider the sampling area.

For a pro the IR camera is the way to go as you can use it for many other things besides finding bad traps. It gives you a far better picture of what is taking place which you can then show the customer which helps you sell the job. If you just need to find bad traps the IR thermometer will do the job.

- Rod

- Rod