Steam Trap Testing
Steam Trap Failures Waste Energy and Cause Corrosion.
When traps fail open, steam blows through the system unchecked — driving up fuel costs and damaging equipment as the steam cools and corrodes.
Ultrasound is a fast, cost-effective way to monitor trap condition and stop failures before they add up.
How Are Steam Trap Failures Affecting You?
Steam traps are small components with big responsibilities — and when they fail, they rarely announce themselves. No alarms. No alerts. Just rising costs, reduced system performance, and avoidable wear across your entire operation.
If your facility hasn’t tested traps in a while, there’s a good chance 30–40% are failed. These failures don’t just waste energy — they quietly compromise safety, production, and process integrity.
Here’s how failed traps affect your operation:
Energy & Steam Waste
Live steam is lost to the atmosphere or condensate system.
Corrosion and Water Hammer
Condensate buildup leads to pipe erosion, noise, and shock.
Inconsistent Steam Quality
Impacts product uniformity, process control, and thermal performance.
Boiler and Equipment Stress
Increases workload on boilers and downstream systems.
Know Your Steam Traps (and Their Failure Modes)
Use floats to discharge condensate and thermostatic elements to remove air.
Mechanically driven, suitable for moderate to high-pressure systems.
Simple, compact design ideal for high-pressure systems.
Use temperature differences to open or close the trap.
Ultrasound is a fast, simple, and reliable way to test steam traps
The inspection method is straightforward: listen upstream, on the trap, and downstream. Look for abnormal turbulence, continuous flow, or silence where there shouldn’t be. If your device includes a radiometer, use it to check surface temperature patterns as supporting evidence.
Our Solutions for Steam Trap Inspection
Our route-based data collection solutions combine airborne and contact ultrasound sensors with precision vibration analysis into versatile, multi-purpose reliability data collectors. Fully integrated with the world's most powerful predictive maintenance software, these intuitive tools streamline asset inspections, simplify workflows, and deliver superior reliability outcomes.
Learn MoreOur ultrasound and vibration permanent monitoring solutions offer industry-leading sensitivity for the earliest possible fault detection. Engineered for durability and ease-of-use, these solutions provide remote, automated diagnostics—reducing maintenance costs and delivering a comprehensive, facility-wide view of asset health.
Learn MoreImaging technologies enhance visibility into hidden problems—revealing heat, sound, and motion that the eye can’t see. From thermal and acoustic imaging to motion amplification, reliability teams can use these vision enhancing technologies to detect failures. Our imaging solutions are a powerful way to see more, understand faster, and act with confidence.
Learn MoreUltrasound-guided lubrication empowers maintenance teams to grease bearings with precision by monitoring friction in real time during greasing tasks. By comparing live decibel readings to historical baseline data, technicians can identify when lubrication is truly needed, and when enough has been applied; preventing both under- and over-lubrication.
Learn MoreHow to Test a Steam Trap
01
Inspect Upstream
Listen for turbulence and continuous flow that may indicate a failed trap discharging live steam.
02
Listen On the Trap
Evaluate trap function — intermittent operation suggests healthy cycling; silence or steady noise could point to failure.
03
Scan Downstream
Check for telltale signs like excess flow or pressure drops that indicate a leaking or stuck trap.
04
Use Temperature
If your device has a radiometer or infrared capability, verify surface temperatures as a secondary indicator of trap behavior.
Get Started in Three Simple Steps
Steam Trap Frequently Asked Questions
Steam trap testing pays for itself quickly. Identifying and repairing failed traps reduces steam loss, lowers fuel consumption, and prevents costly damage. Facilities often see full ROI in just a few months.
Yes. With proper training and the right tools, teams can perform quick, effective surveys without disrupting operations. Our specialists help set you up for success.
We do. SDT.Training offers free videos, guides, and sample lessons to get your team up to speed. Full certification programs are available for deeper learning.
While it depends on system specifics, a temperature drop of 10–15°C downstream often indicates a failed closed trap. Use ultrasound as your primary method and temperature as a supporting indicator.
Frame it in terms of energy savings, safety improvements, and avoided unplanned downtime. We can provide sample reports and templates to support your business case.
Yes. Our ultrasound software lets you trend condition data, compare readings over time, and generate actionable reports that help prioritize repairs.
Absolutely. You can build custom survey routes, assign trap IDs, and maintain digital records of every test, complete with acoustic and temperature data.
Yes. Tools like SonaVu allow you to scan large areas quickly, including insulated lines and hard-to-access traps, helping you prioritize where to focus detailed inspections.
Most operators can learn the basics in under a day with the right tools and guidance. Deeper knowledge, like interpreting complex signals, is covered in our Level One Certification.
While direct CMMS integration isn’t supported, SDT provides its own powerful ultrasound analysis software. It allows you to plan, execute, and analyze complete steam trap surveys in one platform — no third-party system required.