Whether you have a commercial pottery studio or a school art department to run, you need to pay attention to your kiln. It’s not just a standard piece of equipment, it’s a key part of pottery, with everything coming to a halt if it fails. But, despite how important a kiln is, maintenance is something that’s often overlooked. In fact, a lot of people don’t give kiln inspections a second thought until something goes wrong. When something goes wrong with a kiln, solving the problem can be time-consuming and costly. This is why regular pottery kiln inspections are so important.
What to Look for in Pottery Kiln Inspections
Though commercial kilns are built to endure extreme temperatures, they’re not immune to wear and tear, especially if they’re used regularly. Over time, a lot of use can lead to problems with your kiln, including complete failure when you least expect it. But, with regular art kiln inspections, you’ll be able to keep on top of things.
- Catch Small Issues Before They Become Major Repairs – A small crack might seem like a small problem, but there’s no guarantee that’s the case, especially as small cracks can quickly develop into bigger, more serious problems. A pottery kiln inspection will help you to spot these small issues before they escalate into expensive replacements or full equipment failure.
- Minimise Unexpected Downtime – Regardless of whether you’re in a school DT department or a commercial workshop, nothing disrupts workflow like kiln failure during a big project or student assignment. But, with maintenance and regular art kiln inspections, you can reduce the likelihood of sudden malfunctions. Instead of scrambling for repairs and delaying schedules, you can relax, knowing your recent art pottery kiln inspection will have made you aware of any potential issues.
- Ensure Consistent Firing Results – A kiln that’s out of calibration or has uneven wear won’t heat evenly, leading to unpredictable results. Regular kiln inspections help to ensure uniform heating throughout the chamber, ensuring high quality, reliable results. You don’t want to risk the outcome of a pottery project, simply because you didn’t organise a professional inspection.
- Extend the Lifespan of Your Kiln – With proper care, a kiln can last many years, ensuring you get the most out of your investment. But, failing to maintain the equipment can shorten that lifespan dramatically. Maintenance is a small price to pay to protect a much larger investment.
When to Call an Art Kiln Inspection Professional
While some kiln maintenance tasks can be done yourself, others require the help of a professional. If you’re dealing with repeated firing errors or control issues, uneven heating or unexplained firing failures, or even significant downtime, it’s time to organise a kiln inspection. If you’re not currently dealing with a kiln issue, but you want to ensure that remains the case, organising a kiln inspection is key. You might not know what’s causing an issue or if there’s anything wrong, but a specialist will.
A kiln is a powerful, complex machine that requires regular care. By building a simple maintenance routine and scheduling professional inspections, you can avoid emergency repairs and extend the life of your equipment. Get in touch with the DCE Commercial team to find out more.