There Is Always Someone Who Will Do It Cheaper.

Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc.

The other day I was captivated by a conversation on Linkedin which was titled:

"Is the lowest bid process still a way of life in the commercial buildings industry? "Join the Movement".....Remember the lowest bid doesn't necessarily mean the best value." ~ Sandra Gomes, President at FIDELIS Facility Service Group.

The gist of the comments suggested that the lowest bid was not the best option, for multiple reasons.

Here's just a few: 

1. Costs more in the long run. 
2. Inferior product. 
3. Inferior service. 
4. Encourages business to compromises quality and integrity to compete.
5. Creates unsafe environments.
6. Businesses are offering services that they are not qualified to provide, in order to gain an edge on their competition. 

I share concerns with all of the above comments and many more. 

In our industry we have witnessed competition offer plumbing services in which they are not certified plumbers, but to the customer, it offers an appeared added value over our company which does not include this service because we are not willing to place our clients in a compromising situation.

We have also had competitors offer services with products that are not CSA approved for use in potable water applications.  These products are not designed to handle the harsh temperature environments of a Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank and will compromise the integrity of the vessel.

Application is key to the success of proper protection for Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks.  We have competed with companies offering slurry coats of portland cement which actually does more damage to the Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank and system than good.

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" – Benjamin Franklin

I want to leave you with an image and video to think about the potential consequences associated with the 'Lowest Bid'.

Call Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections for more information and/or to discuss a preventative maintenance plan for the Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks in your portfolio.  

Jason

Jason Rusnak
Director of Business Development
Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc.
C: 519.387.2635
www.ProvTank.com

Don't Wait Until The Engine Is Knocking!

Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc. - Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank Maintenance

If I had a dollar for every time we've spoke with customers, who have told us that the cement lining protecting their Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank looks good...I'd be rich!

When you know what you're looking for, a visual inspections of a cement lining can provide you with some important information, however...to the untrained eye...it's like looking at your vehicle's dipstick and feeling good because the oil is registering full.

We know that just because your engine oil is full, it does not guarantee engine protection.  In order to protect our engine properly; we trust the information given to us from manufactures and/or mechanics (professionals in the field).  We fully acknowledge that waiting for your engine to knock, is not the appropriate time to change oil because engine damage has more than likely already occurred.

CSA approved cement linings in Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks are the equivalent to oil in a car, the cement lining protects a steel vessel from the corrosive elements of hot water.  Like a vehicle; waiting until a cement lining falls off or corrosion is bleeding through the lining or you can stick the back of a hammer into the cement lining...none of these examples are opportune times to reline your tank because damage has already been done.

Below are some images from a Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank recently Relined in Vancouver, BC.  While on site the customer said that the cement lining in the tank looked good, once inside we quickly found otherwise.

Before the new lining was installed.

The image above highlights a few concerns:

• There are areas of corrosion bleeding through the cement lining.
• There is quite a bit of flaking.
• The colour and texture of the cement lining was not the same on the top 3rd of the tank.

We were told that the tank was relined by someone about 20 years prior but what we saw was proof of an improperly installed lining that did more damage than good.  To be honest...it wasn't a lining that was installed, but a slurry coat of cement that was probably not CSA approved for use in a potable water applications.  The tank was 11 feet tall on the inside and it was quite evident that the individual that performed the "lining", could only brush to about 8 feet as the top portion the tank was not slurry coated.

Note the corrosion bleeding through the cement lining.

Note the corrosion bleeding through the cement lining.

Note the area in which we were able to sink the back of hammer into.

Tank with newly installed, CSA approved, Pre-Krete T-61 cement lining to a working final thickness of 1/2" to 5/8".

Don't wait until the engine is knocking...be proactive, enjoy a planned down time and save huge capital dollars by having your Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank maintained today. 

A 'Pro-Active Maintenance Strategy' will protect you and your clients from unwanted/extended downtimes and large capital expenses associated with repairs and replacement.  When running a 'Reactive Maintenance Strategy' repairs and replacement can be in excess of $100,000.00 with unwanted downtimes of 2 weeks plus.  That's 2 weeks without hot water.  A "Preventative Maintenance Strategy" will cost less than 1/10th the price of repairs/replacement and will allow for planned shut downs.

Call Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections for more information and/or to discuss a preventative maintenance plan for the Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks in your portfolio.

Regards,

Jason

Jason Rusnak
Director of Business Development
Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc.
C: 519.387.2635  www.ProvTank.com

Failed Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank Cement Lining

Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc. - Required Hot Water Storage Tank Reline

The images below highlight the importance of a preventive maintenance plan for Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks (DHWSTs).  You wouldn't wait until you hear your engine knocking before you do an oil change so why wait until your tank is corroding to 'Reline' it.

These images are from a recent Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank 'Reline' in British Columbia, Canada.

NOTE: I just want to remind you folks that this is potable water, which means, the water source for bathing and drinking.  If I filled a cup of water from this tank, would you drink it?  If you live in or use facilities with large DHWSTs you very well could be drinking from a source that resembles this.

Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank with a failed cement lining.

Note the corrosion, flaking and sediment.

This inlet/outlet is full with corrosions and debris.

The floor drain on this tank was not visible due to the loose debris.  This debris can contribute to pinhole leaks in pipes and pumps.

The old cement lining had to be completely removed before apply a new Pre-Krete T-61 Cement Lining.

DHWST with new Pre-Krete T-61 cement lining.  Pre-Krete T-61 is CSA approved for use in potable water.

By relining this tank with Pre-Krete T-61 we were able to save this customer 10's of thousands of dollars in capital expenses due to repairs and replacement.  Industrial grade Domestic Hot Water Tanks are designed to outlast a facility, and can if they are properly maintained.

DHWSTs with manways should be inspected annually, have their anodes replaced every 1 - 3 years and the tanks should be relined with Pre-Krete T-61 (CSA approved for use in potable water) approximately every 10 years to insure a safe, extended servicing life.

A 'Pro-Active Maintenance Strategy' will protect you and your clients from unwanted/extended downtimes and large capital expenses associated with repairs and replacement.  When running a 'Reactive Maintenance Strategy' repairs and replacement can be in excess of $100,000.00 with unwanted downtimes of 2 weeks plus.  That's 2 weeks without hot water.  A "Preventative Maintenance Strategy" will cost less than 1/10th the price of repairs/replacement and will allow for planned shut downs. 

Call Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections for more information and/or to discuss a preventative maintenance plan for the Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks in your portfolio. 

Regards, 

Jason 

Jason Rusnak
Director of Business Development
Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc.
C: 519.387.2635 
www.ProvTank.com

8 Minutes That Could Save You $100,000.00!

Required Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank Maintenance

This video discusses the benefits associated with a preventative maintenance strategy versus the cost/hazards associated with a reactive maintenance strategy.  Preventative maintenance strategies for Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks with manways will save $100,000.00 plus in repairs/replacement and prevent unwanted downtimes that can exceed 2 weeks.

Call Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections for more information and/or to discuss a preventative maintenance plan for the Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks in your portfolio.

Regards,

Jason

Jason Rusnak
Director of Business Development
Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc.
C: 519.387.2635
www.ProvTank.com

Size Does Matter!

Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc. - Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank Drain Size

Does size matter?  Well in the case of drains for Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks...a resounding YES!

1/2 inch drains equal extended periods of downtime.

1.5 to 2 inch drains are ideal for draining large Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks.

I can't tell you how many times Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc. has been into service a Domestic Hot Water Storage tank and found that the tank is not ready to service due to drain size.  When you have a tank that is 300 US Gal plus and you're draining it via a garden hose...you are literally watching your money go down the drain.

It takes exponentially longer to drain a tank when the drain size is 1/2 inch vs 1.5 to 2 inches.  I know...this isn't rocket science, but we come across tanks everyday in which Mechanical companies or Engineering firms install 1/2 inch drains on these large DHWSTs.

Recommendation:

Have your plumber install a 1.5 to 2 inch drain the next time your water system is down.  This will greatly reduce the amount of downtime when inspections or services are required.  I want to reiterate that this is strictly for large Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks (300 US Gal plus).

Call Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections for more information and/or to discuss a preventative maintenance plan for the tanks in your portfolio.

Regards,

Jason

Jason Rusnak
Director of Business Development
Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc.
C: 519.387.2635
www.ProvTank.com

Don't Let Your Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank Get To This Point!

Corroded Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank

I hate this situation...no matter how much effort we put into educating people concerning the importance of preventative maintenance on Hot Water Storage Tanks...there will always be people we have not reached or people who have chosen not to heed our call.

The other day I came across a tank and found that I was to late, the tank has a leak on the back dish.  This Domestic Hot Water Storage tank is 5' x 15' in size and is located in a basement boiler room, it's so large that the room would have been built around it.  Unfortunately now the customer is at a place where they are going to have to spend money to see how much they have to spend.

A preventative maintenance plan would have prevented this leak from taking place and would have saved this customer unwanted downtimes and now huge capital cost associated with repairs and replacement.  In the past we have seen 2 weeks plus in downtimes and repair/replacement costs exceed $100,000.00.  This could have been prevented at a fraction of the cost and with a planned shut down.

The solution is simple folks:

1. Anode Replacement - Have your 'Sacraficial Magnesium Anodes' replaced every 1 to 3 years depending on the quality of water.  This will protect all the unlined areas of your tank.
2. Tank Reline - Have your Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank Relined every 8 to 12 years with Pre-Krete T-61 which is CSA approved for use in potable water.

By completing these 2 services, a large DHWST with a manway should outlast the life of building.

Call Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections for more information and/or to discuss a preventative maintenance plan for the tanks in your portfolio.

Regards,

Jason

Jason Rusnak
Director of Business Development
Provincial Tank Lining and Inspections Inc.
C: 519.387.2635
www.ProvTank.com