Checklists by equipment
2 lists · 7 items · 9 photosAir and dirt separator maintenance checklists
Air and dirt separator maintenance checklists for the quarterly and annual rounds: 2 free lists, 7 items and 9 photo requirements, each item naming what to look for and the photo that proves it. Work is commonly verified against IMC (mechanical code); the edition in force is the AHJ's call on each project.
The air and dirt separator rounds
Air and dirt separator QuarterlyAir and dirt separator quarterly maintenance checklistAutomatic air vent, blowdown discharge, system pressure and any weeping observed at the air and dirt separator each quarter4 items5 photosAir and dirt separator AnnualAir and dirt separator annual maintenance checklistCoalescing element cleaned or replaced, air vent serviced and system pressure and expansion confirmed on the annual service3 items4 photos
Where each walk sits in the schedule
- Air and dirt separator quarterly maintenance checklistquarterly
- Every quarter, and more often on a loop that's been opened or refilled, since air the separator misses collects at the high points and dirt it doesn't drop settles into the pump seals and control valves. Run by: The HVAC or building maintenance tech checking the separator on the quarterly mechanical-room round, venting air and blowing down the collected dirt.
- Air and dirt separator annual maintenance checklistannual
- Once a year, paired with the rest of the loop service, the pass that opens the separator to clean the coalescing medium the quarterly blowdown can't fully clear. Run by: The hydronic service tech on the annual mechanical service, isolating the separator to clean the internal element and service the vent.
What most often fails on an air and dirt separator
- Automatic air vent stuck or fouled, so air stays in the loop and the pumps cavitate or a high point air-binds and starves a coil.
- Blowdown valve never opened, so the dirt the separator collects packs the bottom and carries back into the loop instead of dropping out.
- Air vent weeping and left dripping, so make-up water keeps feeding the loop and drives fresh oxygen and scale into the system.
- Element left in place and only blown down, so a medium packed with magnetite and sludge keeps shedding dirt back into the loop.
- Separator isolated for service and the isolation valves left throttled or the vent capped afterward, so air collects with nowhere to go.
Verified against
Families only, never clause numbers. Adoption varies by jurisdiction; confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
Common questions
- Which air and dirt separator maintenance rounds do these checklists cover?
- Air and dirt separator quarterly maintenance checklist (quarterly): Every quarter, and more often on a loop that's been opened or refilled, since air the separator misses collects at the high points and dirt it doesn't drop settles into the pump seals and control valves. Air and dirt separator annual maintenance checklist (annual): Once a year, paired with the rest of the loop service, the pass that opens the separator to clean the coalescing medium the quarterly blowdown can't fully clear.
- Who runs the air and dirt separator maintenance round?
- The HVAC or building maintenance tech checking the separator on the quarterly mechanical-room round, venting air and blowing down the collected dirt. The hydronic service tech on the annual mechanical service, isolating the separator to clean the internal element and service the vent.
- What most often fails on an air and dirt separator?
- Automatic air vent stuck or fouled, so air stays in the loop and the pumps cavitate or a high point air-binds and starves a coil. Blowdown valve never opened, so the dirt the separator collects packs the bottom and carries back into the loop instead of dropping out. Air vent weeping and left dripping, so make-up water keeps feeding the loop and drives fresh oxygen and scale into the system. Element left in place and only blown down, so a medium packed with magnetite and sludge keeps shedding dirt back into the loop.
- Which standards is air and dirt separator work verified against?
- IMC (mechanical code), published by the International Code Council. Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
- Can I run these checklists in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace and load any of the 2 lists (7 items in total). The Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached, and approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.