b'Best PracticesKettle Repair and MaintenanceKelly LeaTexas Roof Management, Richardson, TXK eepingi and mainta ning roofing kettles can be a complicated and costly operating expense. These expenses can reach into the thousands of dollars whether you choose to maintain kettles in-house or outsource to a qualified repair company. We are fortunate in the Dallas Fort Worth area to have a company called Superior Equipment that not only has the expertise to disassemble and repair kettles, but also keeps all the replacement parts needed to do the job, for multiple manufacturers.Growing up, we did not have the luxury of outsourcing kettle maintenance and had to clean our kettle ourselves. Kettlelists to ensure that you are disassembling and reassembling cleaning requires heating and draining as much of the residualyour kettle correctly.asphalt as possible, disassembling the top covers and lid, andSuperior Equipment gave me some pointers on helping finally removing the flues. Next is to start the removal of themake this process cheaper and quicker for contractors. buildup of burnt asphalt and debris that has accumulatedHeres what they said:inside the kettle. Not a fun job with gooey hot asphalt in the heat of a West Texas summer! At times, we would add A fully trained Kettle Man is the start. He not only needs to water to harden the debris asphalt mixture and then chipkeep the exterior of the kettle clean, but should constantly it out with pick axes or a chipping hammer. That said, pickfilter or screen off any burnt debris and byproducts from axes and chipping hammers can damage the interior liningthe top of the asphalt. of the kettle if not carefully and properly used. It is easy Be careful not to overheat the kettle. Overheating could to create further damage requiring additional repairs andcause damage to the flues and the interior lining of the perhaps even damage the kettle beyond repair. Given thekettle, along with possible warping of portions of the kettle.likelihood of damaging a kettle in the cleaning process, my suggestion is to use a qualified company that specializes in When not in use, make sure the flue exhaust is covered kettle cleaning if they are available in your area. We haveto keep rain and moisture out of the flues. Moisture in found that outsourcing kettle maintenance is more efficientthe flues can create rust and weaken the flue over time. and, in the long run, cheaper and quicker than cleaning and Check fluid levels in all motors and keep all grease repairing kettles in-house. ports full.Once a kettle is torn down and the interior liner is clean, Check chains and drive daily.the flues should be cleaned and inspected for holes or soft Have the kettle operator complete a daily inspection spots. In most cases, these can be repaired by cleaningform when the kettle is in use. and preparing the steel, then welding a new steel plate to the damaged or weak area. The same can be completedRoofing Kettles can cost as much as a new car, so these on small areas in the interior lining of the kettle. Its best tosteps should always be taken to make sure you are properly reassemble your kettle using new bolts and washers and alsomaintaining your kettles. Superior Equipment recommends with a new gasket and seals at the various connections ofcleaning kettles yearly, stressing that proper maintenance the pump and the lid. Replacement parts are available forand cleaning of the kettle while in use will lessen the costs all kettle manufacturers. and time spent repairing your kettle at the end of the year.While performing these repairs, its advantageous to checkTexas Roof Management INC has been providing quality roofing that the pump is in good operational condition. Disassembleservice options for commercial clients for over twenty years.and check all the moving parts, and replace any damaged728 Lingco Drparts with new ones. Manufacturers can provide detailed partsRichardson, TX 75081(972) 774-5728www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer 17'