Legend Brands Cleaning | This equipment pays your salary

We all know about applying a spray lubricant to the blower each night to help keep moisture off the blower lobes. But to further limit the accumulation of moisture in the blower, I recommend keeping the waste tank lid half off when the unit is not in use. Cracking open the waste tank lid allows moisture to escape the tank instead of collecting on the blower and potentially causing damage.

One source of subtle yet potentially pricey and unanticipated breakdowns for truckmounts is hard water. Using water with high mineral content can deposit inside pumps and valves and other areas. In time, these deposits can reduce or block flow, damage pumps and valves, and cause other problems. This process – called calcification – is accelerated in truckmounts because of the high temperatures produced by these systems.

Choosing truckmounts with heat exchange systems that are less prone to hard water-related clogging can help prevent such breakdowns. And if you consistently operate your truckmount in a region where water hardness exceeds 3.5 grains, it’s best to use a water softening system. Keeping this softener properly maintained will ensure a long life for all your water-related components such as pump, heat exchanger, preheaters and chemical injection systems. You will also use less chemistry when you use soft water.

Here are telltale signs that you need to descale your truckmount. First, take a good look at your outlet quick connect (QD). Is there a white/yellowish mineral deposit on the center of the QD? If it’s showing signs of buildup, there’s a good chance that scale is present elsewhere in the system. Another place to look for scaling is the recirculation orifice. This is one of the hottest locations in the system, so mineral deposits are likely to accumulate there first.

The truckmount descaling process recirculates a mild acid through your pressure system to dissolve and flush out any possible scale buildup in the system. Procedures vary – refer to your Owner’s Manual for specifics. (Search Legend Brands truckmount manuals.)
Stay ahead of fluid and filter changes, keep fasteners properly tightened, manage moisture in the blower and descale your truckmount as needed – these basic steps will help prevent unanticipated breakdowns. Take these preventative maintenance steps regularly and your truckmounts will take care of you — they’ll keep making you money for years to come.

Read This Equipment Pays Your Salary Part 1

Adapted from an article originally published in the IICRC Newsletter.