Pre-Season “Maintenance Checklist” for Humidity Control System Startup
Regularly scheduled maintenance is the best preventative maintenance procedure to minimize unexpected breakdowns. Learn to watch for signs from your pump station operation which may indicate maintenance may be needed. The most common signs of needed maintenance are: a drop in pressure, fluctuating pressure, vibration, unusual noises, external leaking of water or oil, excessive pump heat, water in crankcase oil, and premature wear of parts.
The typical seasonal period for adding humidity begins around Oct 15 and ends around April 15. Typically, there are two procedures for “year round” operation of the humidity control system.
- End of Season Shut Down: Shutting down (turning off) the total operation of the humidity control system for the off season requires all high pressure lines drained of water, OR;
- Leave the system operational all year, and during the off season, run the system for ten minutes once every two weeks to maintain fresh water in the lines – Note: You will need to set the humidistat(s) higher than indoor humidity levels in order to operate the system during the off season.
PRE-SEASON MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST:
- Maintain a maintenance service log with date and maintenance performed.
- Make a record of total pump hours as recorded on the pump hour meter at beginning of season.
- Change the pump 5 micron sediment pre-filter at least once per operating season or clean as needed.
- Check oil level and change once per year or every 500 hours of pump operation, whichever comes first.
- Service Pump Packings and Seals every 2-2500 hours.
- Check pulley belt which should have no more than 1/2” flex.
- After system startup, check all nozzles for uniform spray pattern. Some nozzles may need to be cleaned and reinserted. Tip: a simple procedure for cleaning nozzles – the head of the nozzle unscrews and the spring and ball with the valve can be removed. Soak all pieces in warm vinegar and water solution or soak in “Works” toilet bowl cleaner for 60 seconds, rinse and reassemble – you should have a new working nozzle with restored performance.
- Note: In all cases where system operation may be malfunctioning, the first place to check are the fuses.
