Spent a whole shift chasing a leak on a 40-year-old steam drum

We had a small weep on a seam weld that just wouldn't show up on the hydro test. Tried soapy water, chalk dust, the whole deal. Ended up having to let the system cool, then pressurize it with air and use a stethoscope to finally hear it, took about 10 hours total. The old girl just had a hairline crack you couldn't see. Anyone else have a leak that ghosted them for that long?

2 comments

2 Comments

nelson.finley3d ago

I mean, 10 hours for a weep that small seems like a lot. Idk, maybe it's just me but I'd probably just monitor it unless the spec was super tight.

cole_bailey853d ago

Totally get it, had a leak hide from me for two days once... @nelson.finley is right, sometimes you just gotta live with a small weep if the spec allows.