From the Hoover Dam to offshore oil platforms, high-rise buildings and waterworks systems throughout North America, Cla-Val Field Service provides expert on-site maintenance, repairs and start-up services for automatic control valve installations. Our technicians have even serviced Cla-Val products aboard US Navy ships and aircraft carriers.
Cla-Val Field Service Capabilities
For more than 30 years, Cla-Val’s Field Service team has provided the following types of control valve related services:
- Start-up assistance
- Periodic maintenance
- Troubleshooting/Diagnostic services
- Valve repairs
- Field retrofits
- Actuator repair and maintenance
Cla-Val Service Technician Qualifications
Cla-Val Field Service Technicians have an average of over 14 years of industry experience and all are confined-space certified. Their in depth knowledge of Cla-Val’s product line allows them to diagnose and resolve issues quickly, with minimal downtime.
Cla-Val’s Field Service Technicians are also skilled troubleshooters who can assess and advise when the addition of ancillary products such as H-Style Pipeline Strainers, anti-cavitation trim or special stems can significantly extend the service life of a control valve and minimize easily preventable performance issues.
Brand specific training is important, too. Having a field service technician who is well versed in the care and upkeep of Cla-Val control valves can make all the difference when an emergency repair is needed. Not only can Cla-Val trained technicians resolve current issues, they can also make recommendations for periodic maintenance tasks that prevent future problems from occurring.
Cla-Val Field Service Equipment and Facilities
Our fleet of service vehicles, most equipped with cranes for heavy lifting, are fully stocked with every part for every type valve in all sizes up to 24-inches. Spare parts are readily available from the factory or at warehouses throughout the country. Each truck also has all the tools, both common and special, that are needed to service a valve.
Cla-Val Field Service Locations
Cla-Val’s dedicated service centers in Southern California, Northern California and Elgin, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, are able to meet the service requirements in their immediate area and surrounding states. For service needs outside those regions, many of our factory authorized Sales Agents offer similar field services and a high level of expertise in servicing Cla-Val products, backed by the factory and a network of direct Cla-Val Salesmen and Sales Engineers throughout North America. We’ve worked hard to ensure that a field service solution is never more than a phone call away.
What are the most common service issues in automatic control valves?
Performing regular preventative maintenance can help ensure that your Cla-Val control valves operate for years with few or no issues. Annual inspections and cleaning of body ports, strainers, and stems should generally be enough to keep your valves operating smoothly.
One of the most common service issues occurs when the pilot system strainers become plugged by mineral build-up or debris. The solution is simple: Periodically inspect and clean or change-out the strainer mesh. Using the correct strainer for the application is also important.
For systems where there is a potential for larger debris in the flow, an H-Style Pipeline Strainer is an ideal solution. Installed upstream of a control valve, an H-Style Strainer is an especially beneficial preventative measure because it stops debris from reaching the valve and becoming lodged under the main valve stem, impacting valve operation or damaging internal components.
There are a myriad of other preventative maintenance steps that can be taken to keep your control valves operating efficiently and ensure years of superior performance. When and if issues occur, enlisting the troubleshooting skills and expertise of a Cla-Val factory trained, factory-backed service technician will get your control valves back in tip-top condition and your distribution system running again at peak efficiency.
What about the rubber components in my control valve?
As a preventative measure, Cla-Val Automatic Control Valves should undergo a complete “rubber rebuild” every three years. This entails removing and replacing the diaphragm and disc in both the valve and its pilot control.
In some cases, a complete rubber rebuild may be performed more frequently, either as preferred by the water company as a preventative measure, or by necessity in systems with exceptionally high pressure and flow or very harsh water.
How do I contact the service center or service provider in my region?
On call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year, Cla-Val Field Service is there when you need it, backed by nearly 80 years of valve design and manufacturing experience. Visit our website at www.cla-val.com and click on Field Service Providers to locate the provider nearest you.
Cla-Val Field Service contact information: