Piping
Top-Notch Industrial Piping Solutions
Industrial piping is the backbone of most heavy-duty facilities in Chicago, IL and the Midwest. It controls the movement of steam, water, chemicals, gas, and other process media from one point to another. Get it right, and your facility runs efficiently for decades. Get it wrong, and you’re looking at leaks, pressure failures, and production losses that no one can afford.
Choosing a qualified industrial piping contractor ensures compliance, safety, and long-term reliability. At Hayes Power Services, we handle all aspects of industrial piping projects from design to installation and maintenance. Let’s explore the key considerations for your next project.
What Are Industrial Piping Systems and Why Do They Matter?
Industrial piping systems are engineered networks of pipes, fittings, valves, supports, and related components designed to transport fluids and gases within a facility. Industrial piping operates under high pressures, handles aggressive media, and must comply with strict regulatory standards, including ASME codes. These systems are found across a wide range of industries, including:
- Power and energy
- Chemical and petrochemical processing
- Food and beverage manufacturing
- Water and wastewater treatment
- Manufacturing and fabrication
Types of Industrial Piping
Not all industrial piping is built the same. The right system for your facility depends on the media being transported, operating pressure and temperature, and industry-specific requirements. Here are the types of industrial piping:
Process piping connects production equipment, transporting product or process media through the facility. These lines often work under significant pressure and require precision routing, code-compliant welding, and rigorous testing before startup.
Common in power plants and manufacturing facilities, steam and condensate systems move high-temperature steam to equipment and return condensate back to the boiler. These systems must be designed to handle thermal expansion and extreme pressure.
Utility piping includes compressed air, natural gas, chilled water, hot water, glycol, and HVAC-related piping. Though these systems don't always interact with the product directly, they support the infrastructure that production relies on every day.
Found in power generation and energy environments, high-pressure piping systems require specialized materials, advanced welding procedures, and strict ASME code compliance to operate safely under extreme conditions.
Food and beverage facilities require stainless steel sanitary piping designed for easy cleaning, contamination prevention, and regulatory compliance. Proper drainage design and material selection are critical in these environments.
These systems handle process water, non-potable water, chemical feed lines, drain systems, and pump discharge piping. They often involve retrofit conditions, corrosion concerns, and tight coordination with treatment infrastructure.
Our Industrial Piping Installation Process
A successful industrial piping installation starts with planning. At Hayes Power Services, every installation follows a structured process designed to minimize disruption, meet code requirements, and deliver a system ready for reliable long-term operation. Here’s what our industrial piping installation process looks like:
Before any work begins, our team conducts a thorough review of your facility's needs. This includes examining existing infrastructure, identifying routing challenges, confirming tie-in points, and understanding your production schedule constraints.
Our experienced engineers develop a piping system design that meets both operational requirements and regulatory standards. For complex projects, this includes 3D modeling and constructability planning to prevent field conflicts before installation begins.
Our team performs custom steel pipe fabrication and heavy rigging tailored to your project specifications. Where possible, pipe assemblies are prefabricated off-site in a controlled environment. Shop fabrication improves fit-up accuracy, reduces field welding time, and limits disruption to active plant areas.
Our certified pipefitters and welders execute the installation with precision. All welding is performed in accordance with ASME code standards, and our team coordinates closely with other trades and plant personnel to stay on schedule.
Before any system goes live, we perform hydrotesting and system verification to confirm integrity. Valve replacements, expansion joint installation, and final inspections are completed before turnover.
Maintenance of Industrial Piping Systems
Even a well-installed piping system requires ongoing attention. Corrosion, wear, thermal cycling, and pressure fluctuations all take a toll over time. A proactive maintenance program is the most cost-effective way to extend system life and prevent unplanned shutdowns. Key maintenance activities for industrial piping systems include:
- Routine Inspections – We check for corrosion, leaks, joint integrity, and support conditions.
- Hydrotesting – Our technicians perform periodic pressure testing to verify system integrity.
- Valve Maintenance – Valve maintenance includes exercising, lubricating, and replacing valves before they fail.
- Insulation Checks – We ensure thermal insulation on steam and condensate lines remains effective.
- Expansion Joint Inspection – Our technicians identify wear or failure in flexible connections that absorb thermal movement.
- Cleaning and Flushing – We remove scale, deposits, or contamination from process lines.
When You Need Industrial Piping Repair
Some piping issues are gradual, such as a slow leak that worsens over time or a corroded section flagged during inspection. Others are sudden, such as a pressure failure, a burst line, or a system that can’t pass a hydro test. Knowing when to call for industrial piping repair is critical. Here are some common signs your piping system needs attention:
- Visible leaks or moisture around joints, welds, or fittings
- Pressure drops in compressed air, steam, or gas lines
- Unusual noise such as water hammer or vibration
- Inspection failures during regulatory audits or internal checks
- Corrosion or rust visible on pipe exteriors or in system fluids
- Reduced flow capacity affecting production output
- Age-related deterioration in systems approaching or past their design life
How to Choose the Right Piping Services Provider
Selecting the right industrial piping contractor is one of the most consequential decisions a facility manager or plant engineer will make. The wrong choice can lead to installation errors, code violations, production delays, and long-term reliability issues. Here’s what to evaluate when choosing industrial piping services:
- Certifications and Code Compliance – Look for contractors with ASME certification for piping and vessel work. Code-compliant welding and documentation are non-negotiable for industrial environments.
- Industry-Specific Experience – A contractor experienced in food and beverage sanitary piping may not have the expertise needed for high-pressure power plant systems. Confirm that the contractor has direct experience in your industry and with your system types.
- Fabrications Capabilities – Contractors with in-house fabrication capabilities can prefabricate spool sections, reduce field time, and improve installation accuracy. This is especially valuable for projects with tight shutdown windows.
- 24/7 Availability – Industrial facilities don’t always fail during business hours. A contractor offering round-the-clock emergency response is an important consideration for facilities that can’t afford extended downtime.
Why Choose Hayes Power Services for Industrial Piping?
Hayes Power Services brings more than 100 years of experience to industrial piping solutions across Chicago and the broader Midwest and East Coast. That depth of history translates into practical expertise that comes from solving complex piping challenges across power plants, petrochemical facilities, manufacturing operations, and more. Here’s what sets Hayes Power Services apart as industrial piping contractors:
- Century-Long Track Record – We have over 100 years of successful project delivery across demanding industrial environments.
- Certified Workforce – Our expert pipefitters and welders are trained to the highest industry standards.
- ASME Code Compliance – We’re certified for piping and pressure vessel work, ensuring full regulatory compliance.
- Full Lifecycle Support – We offer comprehensive support, from initial industrial piping installation through ongoing maintenance, repair, and 24/7 emergency response.
- Custom Fabrication and Heavy Rigging – Our tailored solutions are built to your facility’s exact specifications.
Locations We Serve
With offices strategically located across the country, Hayes Power Services offers expert industrial piping solutions to a wide range of markets. Our teams are ready to deploy from the following locations to serve your facility’s needs:
- Chicago, IL
- Pheonix, AZ
- Omaha, NE
- Export, PA
- Louis, MO
- Minneapolis, MN
- Saginaw, MN
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know if I Need Industrial Piping Repair or Full Replacement?
The decision depends on the extent of damage, the system’s age, and repair costs relative to the system’s replacement value. Localized corrosion or a failed joint may be repaired, while widespread deterioration, repeated failures, or aging systems past their design life typically warrant full replacement.
What Materials Do You Specialize in for Industrial Piping?
Our certified pipefitters and welders are proficient with a wide range of industrial piping materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, chrome-moly, and other specialized alloys. We select the appropriate material based on your system’s specific pressure, temperature, and fluid compatibility requirements.
Can You Work Around Our Active Production Schedule?
Yes. We specialize in planning and executing industrial piping projects to minimize disruption to your operations. Our team coordinates closely with your facility managers to schedule work during planned outages or off-peak hours whenever possible, ensuring a seamless installation or repair process.
Get Your Industrial Piping Right From Day One
Industrial piping systems are too critical to leave to chance. Whether you’re planning a new installation, dealing with an aging system, or facing an emergency repair, the quality of your industrial piping contractor determines how well your facility performs and for how long.
Hayes Power Services has spent more than a century earning the trust of industrial facilities across Chicago and the Midwest. With certified expertise, ASME-compliant processes, and full lifecycle industrial piping solutions, Hayes Power Services is positioned to handle your most complex piping challenges with precision and reliability. Contact us today to discuss your project and schedule a site assessment.