Steam Trap (Queens) on Spotify | May 2023

It started innocently enough: a friend who moved from California to Illinois to work for a gas utility came to visit and asked, “what are you doing with steam traps?”.  The answer was nothing.  Slowly, over the years seam traps kept popping up--it happens when you work with a gas utility I guess--and went from being a niche deemed measure to our own legend.  Talk about steam traps coincided with a wild twitter thread that became a movie (different type of trapping), the Fetty Wap masterpiece Sam selected below, and the zenith of trap music. But it took another few years until Kelsey shared with us that every Christmas she put up a “trap tree” that we connected all the pieces, and magically #steamtrapqueens was born! It’s a hashtag, a group text, a bracelet, a way of life…truly.  What matters in all of this is it’s ours. 

So, what the heck is a steam trap? In the simplest terms a steam trap is an automatic valve. But leaks in that system cost money and reduce operational efficiency.  As in all things energy efficiency related, when you waste energy you don’t need to you pay money you don’t have to.

The heat of steam holds the bulk of the energy and holds more energy per pound than water.  As steam releases its latent energy it converts back to water—condensate—it needs to be separated and removed from the system to prevent damage and minimize inefficiency in the steam system.  The best use of that condensate is to return it so it can be reused as energy in the production of steam. Steam traps remove the air, condensate, and noncondensable gases from the piping or equipment while preventing steam loss. Separating these allows the system to reach its operating temperature more quickly, thereby using less energy. Depending on the operations, steam traps have a useful life of approximately six years, while those not well maintained can fail as early as three years.

It costs money to lose energy and steam is energy. In California, our utilities are motivated to reduce the amount of energy lost through electric and gas processes. Fortunately, whatever type of commercial customer you are, our friends at SoCalGas have your traps covered! (And, while it seems obvious, do keep in mind to participate in a SoCalGas program you need to be a SoCalGas customer in good standing)

If you run a commercial facility with more than 50,000 therms of annual natural gas use Willdan and their Large Commercial Program (LCP) offer steam traps as an easy option included in their rebate catalog! Replacement steam traps are currently available with a rebate of $145 per unit to replace existing steam traps that have failed.

Ag customers are covered through AgEE program with ICF. Their rebate on steam traps for agricultural operations (NAICS code 11), including greenhouses, cannabis, dairy animal and non-dairy animal production, and wineries and vineyard runs from $150-300.

With an average cost of labor and materials for a steam trap replacement running $800-900, the SoCalGas supported rebates help bring that cost down. So, the running joke of #steamtrapqueens may be something we love with a certain level of ridiculousness, the actual opportunities to use efficient steam traps to save energy and money is very much real.

Courtney’s Picks:
Steam traps may have an effective useful life of six years, but Steam Trap Queens live forever!
Ric Flair Drip, Offset, Metro Boomin
Hustlin’, Rick Ross
I Did It, Boogie Wit da Hoodie
SICKO MODE, Travis Scott

Sam’s Picks:
Some days you just need to rap alongside certain songs, and you feel better…maybe it is just me. Well either way I hope you enjoy my choices for trap music.
Trap Queen, Fetty Wap
Blow the Whistle, Too Short
I’m Different, 2 Chainz
Down Below, Roddy Ricch

Kelsey’s Picks:
Your favorite steam trap queens decided to take May’s Spotify theme quite literally this month. Drop the steam and you have our favorite trap songs for this playlist. The list is endless from my perspective, but these four songs are the ones that were top of mind, enjoy!
4 am Bay Bridge Music, Andre Nickatina
It’s A Vibe, 2 Chainz, Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz, Jhene Aiko (Pretty Girls Like Trap Music)
Ghost Face Killers, 21 Savage, Offset, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott
Froze, Meek Mill, Lil Uzi Vert, Nicki Minaj

Rochelle’s Picks:
Many people will never know what a steam trap is and why it is so important. For this reason, the steam trap is a metaphor for the SJVCEO and the work we do. The ongoing joke is that those around us, in our closest circles, don’t really understand what it is we do and how our work is pertinent to our community’s shift to clean energy. Therefore, Steam Trap Queens is such a fitting title. Oh, yeah, and it helps that we love trap music! :P
Jumpman, Drake & Future
Keys to the City, Nipsey Hussle
N95, Kendrick Lamar
Drip Too Hard, Lil Baby & Gunna

Photo credit to: https://www.jrburnsplumbing.com.au/