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MAINTENANCE
OF
CONDENSATE DRAIN SEALS
Trent
Technologies
Tyler, TX
Warren
Trent, PE, CEO
Copyright
© 2000 Trent
Technologies, Inc., Tyler, TX
All Rights Reserved
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Among the myriad of problems facing facilities
managers, some of the most insidious and relentless are those caused by
use of the condensate p-trap as a drain seal. The p-trap is one of the
most deceptive, trouble-prone and costly components in the HVAC system.
When installed in a draw-through system (the most common commercial and
industrial type), it causes numerous problems, which—during the life of
the system—may cost building owners and managers more than the system
itself.
Many within the industry are aware of the deplorable
conditions of HVAC systems in this country, but few have identified the
true cause. For example, ASHRAE, EPA and OSHA attribute these conditions
to poor maintenance by the building owners and managers. Moreover, each of
the agencies has proposed elaborate and expensive maintenance management
programs to be imposed on building owners and managers. These programs are
well meant but misguided, and they will be costly for the building owners
and managers to implement. The fact is that successful maintenance of
draw-through HVAC systems, which use p-traps, is neither realistic nor
practical. Indeed, under many common operating conditions, it is virtually
impossible to keep the interior of these systems dry and clean regardless
of the maintenance.
Table 1
excerpted from the HVAC
Maintenance and Operations Handbook, McGraw-Hill Companies, New York,
1998, p654, shows why. This table prepared according to the ASHRAE
Guidelines 4-1993, outlines the routine and preventive maintenance
procedures required for a conventional condensate p-trap. It enumerates
the steps necessary in the maintenance procedures and shows why such a
program is time consuming, expensive, and under certain conditions
impossible to implement.
Clearly, a more effective, reliable and maintenance
condensate drain seal is needed. The CostGard™
Condensate Drain Seal is
such a seal. See: Product Overview .
The effectiveness and reliability of the CostGard™
Condensate Drain Seal has been proven in operation. Thousands are in the field. Some have been
in operation for more than six (6) years. Not one has failed to perform
successfully. See: Product
Reliability
Table 2, also excerpted from
the HVAC Maintenance and Operations Handbook, McGraw-Hill
Companies, New York, 1998, p653, enumerates the minimal maintenance
required for the CostGard™
Condensate Drain Seal, and illustrates the
reasons for its demonstrated effectiveness and reliability.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCH OF AUTHOR
 Warren
C. Trent, M.S. Purdue University, is a Registered
Professional Engineer and CEO of Trent Technologies, Inc., Tyler, Texas.
He is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and
Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and a Fellow in the American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
He is a co-author of chapters on “Condensate
Control” for two McGraw-Hill Handbooks: HVAC Systems and Components
Handbook, and HVAC Operations and Maintenance Handbook. He is
also the author of A New Approach to Understand and Selecting
Personnel, Gateway Press.
He has had more than 30 years
experience in fluid flow research and development, including pioneering
work in the development and application of the geothermal heat pump. He
served as Director of Engineering Technology for the McDonnell Douglas
Corporation, where among other projects, he directed the design and
development of the propulsion system for the F15 fighter aircraft.
As an Evaluator for the Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), from 1983 to 1989, he
visited and evaluated 12 university Mechanical Engineering Programs for
academic accreditation.
He is a patentee and is listed in Who’s
Who in Science and Engineering and Who’s
Who in America.
He has
been the CEO of
Trent Technologies, Inc., since 1993.
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