Sometimes the smallest action can ?create large savings. For example, Oaks suggests that when part of a plant is shut down, it's a good time to periodically exercise the valves and actuators. "Don't shut down the process and then two years later start it up and expect that automated Valves in place for two years will operate flawlessly as if it's been operated regularly," he says. Grumstrup agrees, but points out that it depends on the process. "If you've got a steam line and there's no steam in it, I don't think it's a problem," he says.

Knox adds that it's also a good idea to go out and occasionally hit the zerk fittings with some lubricant. He explains that one of the problems with actuators and gear operators on Valves occurs because dirt gets in between the stem and the bushing. "This stuff gets as hard as a rock, and the next thing that happens is they end up damaging the stem," he explains. A little attention before that can occur is certainly less expensive than spending $5,000 on a new stem. But with lubricated plug valves, in particular, some people "don't read the fine print that says every time you use them you need to relubricate them, so they come back a year later and try to operate the valve, and they can't because the lubricant that was in there is all hard," he says.