Steam traps can be tested by going to each steam trap and listening to the operation by using an ultrasonic instrument and/or using a sophisticated heat gun to check the temperature. In order for these two methods to be accurate valuable time must be spent at each steam trap to ensure a “rush” evaluation isn’t made.

When installed on an inverted bucket steam trap, the monitoring system detects conditions inside the trap, indicating if it is ”OK,” ”blowing-through,” or ”cold.” A ”cold” signal indicates temperature reduction because the trap is flooded and condensate may be backing up.