Steam traps may be small, but when they fail, the energy loss can be huge. For dry-cleaning businesses, that means higher bills and harder-working boilers.

Chris Kim, owner of HD Machinery, has made it his mission to help business owners spot and fix steam trap problems before they become costly. “You could be wasting a lot of money without even knowing,” says Kim.

By replacing faulty steam traps and upgrading pipe insulation in a single visit, Chris helps customers cut energy waste and improve equipment performance.

Recently, HD Machinery worked with two dry cleaners to make high-impact upgrades:

• Cascade Cleaners installed 19 new steam traps and insulation, earning nearly $7,100 in incentives and saving an estimated $4,700 annually.
• Heritage Cleaners replaced 16 steam traps, receiving over $6,500 in incentives and saving about $5,400 each year.

Upgrading steam traps and insulation at the same time not only helps customers save energy, but it also reduces wear on their gas boilers and minimizes repeat visits. Businesses can qualify for Energy Trust cash incentives that often cover the entire project cost, making it an easy sell for your customers.

Encourage your customers to check for steam leaks, temperature fluctuations or noisy boilers – signs it’s time for repair or replacement.

Visit www.energytrust.org/existingbuildings to learn more about incentives for steam trap and pipe insulation upgrades.