What are you using to clean with?

[mahans]

We receive several calls a month from customers wanting to use stainless steel heat exchangers in applications where there are chlorides. This could be an application where chemicals containing chlorides are directly introduced into the heat exchanger or applications where the customer may not realize that the source contains chlorides.

Some customers ask for stainless steel when sea water or brackish water is involved, but beware, sea water contains chlorides.

We had a customer send in a PHE that they had cleaned with a product that is marketed for the cleaning of heat exchangers. The problem with this cleaner is that it contains hydrochloric acid. You can see in the photo below that the cleaner and the acid got behind the gasket and attacked the plate in the gasket channel.

Make sure you know what you are cleaning with!!!

Drop us a note and let's discuss it.