Winter Maintenance Guide for Water Treatment Equipment: Follow These Steps to Prevent Freeze Damage and Save Trouble

As winter arrives, low temperatures pose an invisible threat to water treatment equipment. Improper maintenance can easily lead to frozen pipes, component failures, and other issues that directly impact operational efficiency and equipment lifespan. Mastering scientific maintenance methods is key to ensuring stable equipment performance during winter.

Winter Freeze Prevention Tips

I. Core Protection: Freeze Prevention is the Top Priority for Winter Maintenance

Low temperatures cause water inside equipment to freeze and expand, potentially rupturing pipes, membrane elements, and other critical components. Therefore, freeze prevention measures must be implemented first.

1. Environmental Insulation: If equipment is installed outdoors or in unheated areas, wrap the main unit and pipes with insulation material, focusing on vulnerable areas like joints and valves. Small units may be housed in insulated shelters, while large systems should install heating cables to maintain ambient temperatures above 5°C (41°F).

2. Drain Residual Water: For extended shutdowns (e.g., holidays), completely drain all pipes, tanks, and membrane housings. First close inlet valves, then open drain valves. After full drainage, use compressed air to remove residual moisture and prevent ice formation.

3. Continuous Operation: For equipment requiring 24-hour operation (e.g., industrial reverse osmosis systems), if ambient temperatures approach freezing, appropriately reduce the water flow rate to maintain circulation. Simultaneously monitor the equipment's operating temperature and activate the built-in heating function (if available) when necessary.

II. Key Components: Targeted Inspection and Maintenance

Different components exhibit varying tolerance to low temperatures. Conduct thorough inspections and address potential issues promptly.

Membrane Elements: As the “core heart” of water treatment equipment, membrane elements (e.g., reverse osmosis membranes, ultrafiltration membranes) must avoid exposure to low temperatures and dry conditions. During winter, regularly inspect membrane housing seals to prevent cold air ingress. If equipment is shut down, soak membrane elements in specialized protective fluid rather than plain water to prevent protective fluid freezing or membrane damage from dehydration.

Pumps and Valves: Low temperatures may cause pump seals to harden and valves to seize. Before daily startup, manually rotate the pump shaft 2-3 turns to check for binding. Valves require periodic opening and closing operations with lubricant application to prevent the valve core from freezing and becoming inoperable.

Gauges and Sensors:

Glass faces of pressure gauges, flow meters, and similar instruments may fog due to temperature differentials, affecting readings. Wipe them regularly. Ensure temperature and liquid level sensor probes remain ice-free to prevent data distortion that could trigger erroneous shutdowns.

III. Daily Operations: Details Determine Equipment Stability

Winter operation carries higher loads, demanding meticulous attention to detail in daily procedures to minimize failure risks.

1. Preheating Before Startup: In low-temperature environments, verify power supply and circuit integrity before starting equipment. Activate the main power supply for 10-15 minutes of preheating (if no auto-preheat function exists, activate cooling fans or heating modules first), then initiate the main operation program to prevent motor damage from excessive inrush current.

2. Regular Drainage and Cleaning: Slower water flow in winter accelerates impurity buildup in pipes and filters. Shorten backwash cycles for pre-filters (e.g., quartz sand filters, activated carbon filters) from the standard 3-5 days to 2-3 days. Also advance chemical cleaning intervals for reverse osmosis systems to prevent accelerated membrane fouling.

3. Emergency Response: If minor pipe freezing occurs, never pour boiling water directly onto the affected area. Instead, use lukewarm water for gradual thawing while closing the equipment's inlet valve. After complete thawing, inspect pipes for leaks. If abnormal noises or sudden pressure spikes occur, immediately shut down the equipment and investigate whether component freeze damage is the cause.

Winter maintenance for water treatment equipment centers on “prevention” and “inspection”—implementing advance freeze protection measures and regularly inspecting critical components minimizes freeze damage risks. Adhering to these practices not only ensures stable winter operation but also extends overall equipment lifespan and reduces future maintenance costs.

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