- Maintain - and update - installation and
maintenance records. Complete documentation will allow you to verify completed
system tests, original electrical values and performance changes.
- Check heat tracing components. Damaged components
can result in water ingress, corrosion, or the loosening of electrical
connections.
- Check your insulation. Insulation plays a critical
role in the overall heat tracing system. Also, perform an insulation resistance
test on all heat tracing circuits.
- Check your power distribution panel and secondary
wire and conduit. Visually inspect the conduit distribution system for openings
in the conduit, damaged or missing components, or low-point drains.
- Test all ground-fault breakers according to the
manufacturers’ instructions.
- Check your thermostat or control system. They
allow you to run automatic tests and capture alarm and fault information, which
is useful if troubleshooting your heat tracing system becomes necessary.
- Energize each heat trace circuit to ensure that no
short circuits or ground faults exist and that RTDs are functioning properly.
- Stock critical spare components and cable. If your
system still fails after all your checks, stocking spare components and cable
will allow for timely repairs or replacements.
- Don’t wait until winter to check your electric heat tracing system! Or if you have, don’t skip maintenance checks just because you “don’t have the time now.”
Linda Becker, Associate Publisher and Editor, BeckerL@bnpmedia.com