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What Is Substation Painting (And Why Do I Need It?)

Substations are a big part of the energy system in America. They transform high and low voltage and direct the flow of energy to where it needs to be. But frequently, they are unattended and uninspected.

Owners of substations range from utility companies to commercial customers. They all have a responsibility to ensure the safety and performance of their substations.

Read on to learn about substation painting and why it’s important!

All About Substation Painting

Substation painting is a maintenance process that keeps substations and transformers working well. This is especially important because electrical infrastructure is designed for a 50-year lifecycle. The paint doesn’t hold up that long.

This is specialized work since the equipment is high voltage. It requires safety precautions and trained workers to paint a substation.

For some parts of the equipment, like radiators, workers use special painting ideas to get the best coverage. One technique is flow coating. This allows the paint to flow down equipment into a reservoir to get an even coat with no buildup.

Substation painting also includes services like rust treatment and insulation treatment.

Why It’s Important

An unmaintained substation could lead to failure. This may cause power loss for many people. Regular painting is one way to keep a substation working better for longer.

Without upkeep like painting provides, substations become more dangerous. They are at risk for corrosion from rust, and even the insulation could wear away.

Pollution collects on the outside of substation equipment to cause these problems. Even modern steel is at risk of corrosion.

Natural weathering also creates a need for painting. But, fresh paint can restore equipment. It even makes it run at a lower temperature by deflecting sunlight.

Cleaning and painting substations keeps them in top working condition. It also prevents expensive unscheduled downtime and repairs. Substations need to be repainted as soon as rust appears to prevent larger problems and ensure reliable power.

Substation Painting Process

Substation painting is more than painting with a twist – the process is quite involved. The first step is scheduling. Painting a substation requires downtime that interrupts the flow of electricity.

The first on-site step is cleaning. Most painters use a pressure washer to remove grime, oil, and old paint. Transformers are also prepared by taking down signs and wrapping sensitive equipment.

Then, it’s finally time to paint. After priming, workers will perform flow coating on radiators to ensure a proper even coating.

The final coat is not simple spray paint or acrylic paint. It’s a poly-silicone coat that will protect the transformers for years to come.

Professionals, like those at Utilityservice.net, are experts at substation painting. They can complete the job quickly to limit downtime!

Learn More About Substation Painting

The regular upkeep of substations is important for the continued function of the electricity grid. Painting is one way to ensure that substations stay updated.

There’s more to learn about the electrical grid and other fascinating topics. Take a look at the industry page of this site to discover interesting information, or to find something new!

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