devices are self-cleaning and require very little maintenance. However, in some applications, measuring flow with a weir is a much better choice. While weirs are also very accurate, they do require regular maintenance in order to function properly.
If you’ve never had to perform weir maintenance before, you should learn about a few of the most common maintenance tasks and their purpose. Here are a few tips and tricks for weir maintenance that you can use to maintain the success of your flow management operation.
Weir Pool
There are a wide variety of maintenance task that you or your operator will need to perform to preserve the integrity of your weir. However, the most important tasks are related to your weir pool and upstream channel.
Because of the natural damming function of a weir, it’s possible for solids to accumulate in your weir pool. Eventually, this will interfere with your flow and the accuracy of your weir. Periodically, your weir pool will need to be cleaned to remove excess sedimentation. You can also remove vegetation and other debris from your upstream channel, which should protect your weir pool from solid build-up.
Inspect Your Weir
In addition to your weir pool, your weir itself will need regular attention to make sure that it’s working correctly. For instance, your operators need to regularly inspect your weir to make sure that it is not experiencing any leakage. If there is leakage, this needs to be repaired very quickly, as it can drastically impact the accuracy of your measurements.
Similarly, if you use clean-out doors on your weir, the need to be checked to make sure that they are sealed tightly. Otherwise, flow may be able to escape your weir, causing errors in your readings.
Check the Crest
A weir maintenance task that is commonly overlooked is ensuring the integrity of your weir crest. The weir crest must be maintained so that flow can spill freely over the top. If the weir crest becomes blocked, it can stop free spillage and reduce the success of your operation.
You should regularly check your weir crest to make sure that it is free from debris. In addition, you should make sure that your wear crest is level, that it is undamaged, and that there is no grease or oil present. Regularly checking your weir crest should allow you to detect small problems before they have a chance to interfere with your operation.
Tools for Weir Maintenance
If your water management operation relies on weirs for long-term success, then you need to be sure that your weirs are receiving regular maintenance. Fortunately, weir maintenance is relatively easy as long as you do it frequently. Before you perform weir maintenance, you need to purchase high-quality weirs from Tracom, FRP.
Tracom manufactures the fiberglass tools that your operation depends on, and we can help you find the weirs or flumes that you need. Request a quote from us today and make sure to browse the Tracom catalogue to learn more about our exciting line of products.