NH3 Coolers Safety and Maintenance
By: Brian Miller | Equipment & Precision Ag Sales
NH3 is one of the most stable and concentrated forms of nitrogen and still probably the most popular form of nitrogen to use across the Corn Belt. We’ve all heard the stories of close calls and disasters. Try not to become one of those stories in the attempt to save a minute or two. NH3 coolers safety, maintenance ahead of time, and a little common sense in-season can go a long way. Let’s look at a couple of ways to make sure we can have a safe fall when using NH3 coolers like the Raven AccuFlow.
Bleeders, bleeders, bleeders
If you must work on an NH3 toolbar or do any maintenance in-season, it always takes longer than you think to bleed down a bar before you can work on it. If you have multiple bleeder valves in different locations, it can drastically reduce the amount of time it takes before you can do your work. Just don’t forget to shut them all! Another good option is to visit us in Hills and pick up a few pass-through bleed valves. They operate just like normal but have a hose barb on the outlet where you can attach a hose and run it somewhere else on the bar and away from the operator. You can also find other NH3 parts and accessories on shopstutsmans.com.
Look over your dated and non-dated hose
Any hose that would be deemed “pressurized” should be dated hose. If it isn’t, that should be changed. If it is a dated hose, check the hose to see if it is out of date. NH3 causes normal hose to become more prone to cracking due to the product and the constant heating and cooling. Any “non-pressurized” hose should also be visually checked for wear and brittleness. The white and clear row hose is especially prone to this. We have black EVA hose that is sun-wear resistant and kink resistant, making it a good, economical replacement hose.
Finally, just use common sense. Try to park upwind when you are changing tanks, always drive defensively when going from farm to farm, and do any tests and procedures you can while the NH3 toolbar is not under pressure. You may not be able to save the extra minute that the guy across the fence can, but that extra minute following these NH3 coolers safety tips may save your life.