There’s a reason why the global vacuum pump market is worth an estimated $5.14 billion. If you work in a lab setting, then you’re probably familiar with these devices.
They drive a large number of lab processes, from distillation to the transferring of potentially hazardous waste. And, as anyone who works with an industrial vacuum pump knows, when the pump goes down so does everything else.
That’s why it’s vital to regularly maintain your industrial vacuum pump to make sure that you’re getting the most out of both its lifespan and efficiency.
That’s why we made this article. In it, we’ll go over some helpful maintenance to keep your vacuum pump running for as long as possible. Let’s get started!
Maintenance Tip #1: Take a Look at the Surrounding Area
Often, the problem doesn’t lie with the industrial vacuum pump itself. Instead, it’s found in the surrounding area. First, make sure that nothing nearby is blocking any airflow.
To work properly, there must be unblocked space for the air to flow through. Next, make sure there are no potential contaminants in the area that could affect the performance of the vacuum pump.
You should also make sure that the weather isn’t affecting the vacuum pump. If the pump is near a heating unit or thin wall, then condensation of cold or rainy days could damage it.
Maintenance Tip #2: Perform Regular Oil and Filter Changes
When running with clean oil and a fresh filter an industrial vacuum pump can operate at peak efficiency. As such, you should change them regularly to ensure that you’re getting the most performance out of it as you can.
We recommend checking the specific maintenance manual that you’re using to learn how to change the oil and filter. It can differ from model to model. If you’re using a dry pump, then we recommend changing the oil at least once a month.
You should change the filter more or less frequently depending on how much use it gets. Also, remember that if your pump uses a radiator to air-cool, then you will need to clean the radiator regularly to keep it from getting plugged with dust.
Maintenance Tip #3: Prevent Leaking With Leak Testing
You want to make sure that the seal on your pump remains vacuum-sealed. And, the best way to do this is through leak testing.
The procedure will differ from system to system, but it generally involves checking problem areas on the pump that could potentially leak. Remember that leak testing helps keep foreign elements out of your vacuum pump.
That translates to a prolonged lifespan for the industrial machine. As such, it just makes sense financially to perform leak testing once a week or so.
Maintenance Tip #4: Get in the Habit of Routine Visual Inspections
A visual inspection is a great way to do a quick check-up on the functioning of the vacuum pump, as well as the oil status. As such, it helps to get in the habit of making routine inspections a part of your day or week.
The good news is that most vacuum pumps are equipped with sight glass. This is a little viewport that makes it easy to quickly perform a visual inspection. First, make sure that the oil is all right. It should be the color of vegetable oil.
As it gets dirty with contaminants it will take on a darker color. You should also look around for water leaks and listen for any potentially unusual sounds.
Maintenance Tip #5: Think About Potential Redundancies
The reality is that if you want your industrial vacuum pump to run at its optimal level of efficiency, then you’re going to need to give it a break. Downtime and maintenance are necessary to improve performance.
However, this can be a problem for companies that rely entirely on their industrial vacuum pumps. As such, we recommend adding redundancies to your plan.
For example, if you know the vacuum pump will be undergoing maintenance, then make sure to keep a spare one on hand. That way, you can use it to pick up the slack while the other one is being tended to.
What Should You Do If Your Industrial Vacuum Pump Breaks?
Even the best industrial vacuum pump will eventually break down. However, the rate of degradation varies from part to part. As such, you can often save a lot of money by keeping an eye out for wear and tear.
When you start to see some early signs of it failing, then either rebuild it or replace it. Sadly, not everyone is as prudent with their maintenance observations. So, what should you do if your industrial vacuum pump completely breaks down?
The good news is that there are a variety of services out there that can fix them. Standard service will usually replace any part that has broken down. Or, if that’s too expensive, then they might recommend a replacement.
However, the best types of services can offer a vacuum pump rebuild service. In many cases, it might make more sense to rebuild are part instead of replacing it. As such, these services can offer a greater degree of flexibility.
Want More Content? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you learn some helpful industrial vacuum pump maintenance tips. At the end of the day, the best advice we can give is to perform all of these steps as often as possible. Make a routine out of performing them.
That way, it becomes second nature and you never have to worry about forgetting. Because forgetting to perform maintenance is a sure-fire way to end up with a broken industrial vacuum pump.
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