Both approaches remove fouling, but they do different jobs. Choosing the right one depends on the type of fouling, how difficult the unit is to isolate, and what else the unit needs.
What clean-in-place does
Clean-in-place (CIP) circulates a cleaning solution through the exchanger while it stays installed and assembled. It suits units that are difficult to isolate or remove, and duties where a known, relatively soft fouling type builds up at a predictable rate.
What CIP can’t do
- Remove heavy, hardened or burnt-on deposits reliably
- Clean gasket grooves and port areas as thoroughly as individual plate cleaning
- Find cracked or pinholed plates
- Replace worn gaskets
What a workshop service adds
In a workshop service, each plate is removed, cleaned individually, crack-tested and fitted with new gaskets if needed, then the pack is rebuilt and tested. It takes longer and the unit has to come out of service, but it deals with everything at once. See workshop servicing.
How to choose
- Light, regular fouling and a unit that’s hard to isolate — CIP may be enough
- Performance not recovering after CIP — time for a workshop clean
- Leaks, suspected cracked plates or old gaskets — workshop service
- Brazed units — CIP is the only cleaning option, as the pack can’t be opened
Many sites use both: routine CIP between services, and a workshop service at longer intervals or when performance stops recovering.
Not sure which approach suits your unit? Request a quote or call (02) 9897 7371.