Required Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank Maintenance

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

Below are the required maintenance steps to ensure a safe, extended servicing life for Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks with Manways and to mitigate waterborne pathogens that develop within these vessels.

• Annual Internal Inspections
• Replace Anodes every 1-3 years
• Every 1-15 years have the Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank Relined with CSA approved Pre-Krete Tankliner 61 (T-61) by Certified Technicians to ensure a proper application.

I can't reiterate enough the importance of maintenance on these vessels.  Tanks this size are usually found in a penthouse or basement boiler room, the room is built around the vessel making it extremely difficult and very costly for the vessel to be replaced.

The cost to maintain an existing DHWST with manway is a fraction of the cost of replacement, the numbers we see on average are between 1/5 to 1/10 the cost of replacement due to tank failure, the damage as a result of tank failure then the retrofit.

If you manage one of these pressure vessels...there is only one right decision, maintain what you have.  Maintaining the existing tank is the most cost effective and environmentally friendly solution that allows for a planned downtime.

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.
604.421.TANK (8265)
www.ProvTank.com

Service Required - 2012 Clemmer Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank

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

First off...let me say that Clemmer Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks are some of the best in the business but even Cadillac's need oil changes.

Today's image is from an Internal Service completed on a 2012, Clemmer Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank.  This tank was located in Greater Vancouver, BC.

Note the extensive sediment, biofilm and corrosion found within this vessel.  This is their potable water source for drinking and bathing.

Domestic Hot Water Storage Tanks 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) every 8 - 12 years to insure a safe, extended servicing life and to mitigate waterborne pathogens.

A 'Pro-Active Maintenance Strategy' will protect you and your clients from unwanted/extended downtimes, large capital expenses associated with repairs/replacement and will mitigate waterborne pathogens.

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, improve water quality 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.
604.421.TANK (8265)
www.ProvTank.com

Ignorance Is Not Bliss!

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

Look at this image and tell me that you don't need your Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank serviced.

This picture is disgusting...it was taken from a Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank in Greater Vancouver, BC. Water flows from the Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank via this outlet to your tap, the tap you use for drinking and bathing.  Ignorance is not bliss.

Note the corrosion and sediment that contributes to creating pin hole leaks in your water system. Note the biofilm which is the breeding ground for waterborne pathogens. If you have a large Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank with a manway in your portfolio...maintenance is imperative.

A 'Pro-Active Maintenance Strategy' will protect you and your clients from unwanted/extended downtimes, large capital expenses associated with repairs/replacement and will mitigate waterborne pathogens.

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, improve water quality 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.
604.421.TANK (8265)
www.ProvTank.com

Epoxy Lined A.O. Smith Hot Water Storage Tank

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

Today's visual case study is on a 6 year old epoxy lined A.O. Smith Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank.

Note the corrosion around the weld seams.

Corrosion around the weld seam and bleeding through the epoxy lining.

Corrosion around the weld seam and the fittings.

Corrosion around the weld seam and manway collar.

Biofilm/Slime found in the tank. Biofilm contributes to a wide variety of infections.

If you have an A.O. Smith Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank with a manway...it should be inspected now to mitigate:

• Unplanned downtimes.
• Large capital expenses associated with repairs/replacement.
• Breeding grounds for waterborne pathogens.

A little bit of preventative maintenance goes a long way. Knowledge is power, educate yourself and protect your assets.

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.
604.421.TANK (8265)
www.ProvTank.com

Are You Thirsty?

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

This picture is from an unmaintained Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank that was found in a large Strata/Condo building...it's their source of water for drinking and bathing.  Have you had your tank inspected lately?

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

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