The Steam Trap Isn’t Too Small — You’re Looking at the Wrong Problem!

RayWohlfarth

In this video, I talk about being called and asked to replace a 3/4" steam trap with a much larger one, even though the old one worked for fifty years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkU54RaT8dc

Forever_Student

Counterintuitively, one extra problem stems from energy saving programs.

Some utilities have targets. Contractors want programs and measures that are easy to calculate savings, and easy to incentivize fixes, we sometimes call these "prescriptive." Calculating the savings from replacing a bad steam trap and not changing any other parameters about the system is relatively simple, so contractors and utilities love this.

Conversely, as Ray points out, steam systems rarely have only one problem. Also, when there is a problem, a lot of supers or maintenance folks will turn up the steam pressure, maybe temporarily hiding the problem, but really making things worse.

Many fixes require multiple steps, like turning down the steam pressure, fixing or replacing air vents, insulating pipes, or other issues that require really understanding steam systems. Calculating savings from these fixes is really complex, unpredictable, and requires custom work. It's not prescriptive. It's not easy. So one problem becomes, if you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. If the only thing utilities and programs will incentivize is steam traps, then every problem becomes a steam trap problem.

Customers get work done at a huge discount. Contractors get free money from utilities. Utilities get to claim lots of savings. Everyone's happy.

Except the fact that no one actually solved any real problems.