Dry Ice Blasting is a Solution for Cleaning Electrical Panels
Most of the time, cleaning is a fairly straightforward process. But when it comes to electrical systems, great care and precision must be taken in order to ensure there’s no harm, damage, or unintended consequences. This is especially true when it comes to electrical panels.
What Are Electrical Panels?
Electrical panels, also known as distribution boards or breaker boxes, are enclosed steel boxes that house an electric system’s circuit breakers. These circuits distribute the power provided by the electrical source throughout the home, building, or equipment.
An electrical panel might seem like a small part of a larger system, but it’s arguably one of the most important elements. It’s one of the last points of control between the power source and the application. If a circuit becomes overloaded or in danger of malfunctioning, the breaker trips and interrupts the flow of power. This keeps the system, building, and individuals in the building safe.
Precautions Needed When Cleaning Electrical Panels
While few people take the time to pause and consider electrical panels, it’s important that they’re regularly maintained and cleaned. However, certain precautions must be taken to ensure cleaning processes and methods don’t negatively impact the panel.
Dust, dirt, and grime are the biggest issues in electrical panels. When cleaning, you want to make sure you don’t inadvertently force these particles further into the panel. It’s also important to avoid using water and moisture (for obvious reasons). While this severely limits cleaning options, there is one method that consistently performs at a high level: dry ice blasting.
Benefits of Using Dry Ice Blasting to Clean Electrical Panels
A dry ice machine works much like a sandblaster. However, it’s much cleaner, less abrasive, and more effective. Instead of using pressurized air to shoot sand particles out of a fine-tipped nozzle, the ice blaster projects minuscule dry ice pellets toward the intended surface. As soon as these dry ice particles hit the surface, a reaction is initiated. The heat from the surface causes the pellets to instantly transform into carbon dioxide gas. This causes dirt, dust, and buildup on the surface to loosen and break free.
Benefits of dry ice blasting include:
- Unlike other cleaning methods, which require careful preparation and precise setup, a dry ice blasting system can be used quickly and effectively – even in the tightest of spaces.
- Most cleaning systems leave behind residue that must be carefully disposed of after the cleaning is done. With dry ice blasting, the dry ice simply sublimates into the air.
- Non-abrasive. As mentioned, dry ice blasting is non-abrasive. This means there are no scratches, gouges, or other physical ramifications.
- Safe. Safety will always be a primary concern anytime you’re dealing with an electrical panel. Dry ice blasting is one of the least dangerous options. This enables you to clean electrical panels with greater peace of mind.