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The Corrosive Culprit: Sugar’s Impact on Commercial Piping

pipes-with-wrench

Commercial facilities often overlook a hidden menace that lurks within their pipes: the corrosive power of sugar. Whether you’re in the confectionary business, work with any product that involves sugar, or even if your establishment often sees soda flowing down the drains, it’s crucial to understand the damage sugar can have on your commercial piping. 

Below, we’re going to examine the corrosive nature of sugar and provide some insights on detecting and preventing sugar-related pipe damage. It’s important to choose the right commercial plumbing partner to safeguard your process piping and commercial piping in Chicago, IL—and we’re the local contractor with more than six decades of experience you can trust!

Understanding the Corrosive Nature of Sugar

Sugar may seem harmless, but it can wreak havoc on your commercial piping systems. Sugar is hygroscopic, which means it attracts and holds onto moisture. When sugar-rich substances find their way into your pipes, they create a sticky residue that clings to the inner walls. Over time, this residue can build up, corroding and weakening the pipes.

This issue is especially common in industries like confectionery, bakeries, and soft drink manufacturing. If your business falls into one of these categories, you need to understand the corrosion risks of sugar in your facilities and what to do about them.

The Soda Factor

While sugar poses a significant threat, soda is another corrosive culprit to watch out for. Soda is acidic and accelerates corrosion. When soda goes down drains, it reacts with the pipe material, making the problem even worse. If you have a business that uses both sugar and soda, the potential for corrosion is even higher. 

Detecting and Preventing Sugar-Related Pipe Damage

To safeguard your commercial piping, you need to schedule regular inspections every couple of years to check for signs of corrosion. If you catch sugar-related pipe damage early, it might be possible for us to line the pipes instead of replacing them, saving a significant amount of money.

Camera inspections are a valuable tool we use to detect sugar-related corrosion. Our specialized camera equipment explores the inside of your pipes to identify any issues. We can use this information to act fast and target the areas that need repairs and replacements.

Contact Our Experts Today

The corrosive nature of sugar can pose a significant threat to commercial piping in various industries, especially in Chicago, which has many confectionery and soft drink manufacturing companies. By understanding the risks associated with sugar and soda, conducting regular inspections, and partnering with a reputable commercial plumbing company like ours, you can protect your business’ valuable piping systems from costly damage.

We recommend you take action today, especially if you haven’t had regular inspections or maintenance for your process piping in several years. Contact us to schedule a pipe inspection and assess the condition of your pipes. That way, you can save your business from the potentially destructive effects of sugar-related pipe corrosion. We have extensive experience working with process piping just like the pipes in your facility.

Rely on Althoff Industries, Inc. for all your commercial plumbing needs. Challenges Accepted! 

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