Case Study: Yale Cleaners

The Opportunity

Steam traps are an integral but often overlooked component of many industrial steam systems. In poorly maintained systems, typically as many as 30% of the steam traps fail—resulting in costly leaks, potential performance issues and unnecessary wear and tear on equipment.

The Project

Yale Cleaners, a Tulsa-based dry-cleaning service with 12 locations, took advantage of Oklahoma Natural Gas’ steam leak and trap survey to improve their steam systems’ energy efficiency and performance. Offered to qualifying commercial customers through the Direct Install Program, the survey identifies and replaces any failed steam traps at no cost.

"Using this program, we have been able to achieve our goal of using fewer natural resources as a company, while still providing our customers with a quality product and fast, efficient service. Thank you for a truly great service experience and incentive program, it couldn’t have been easer.”

Jimmy Rothrock
Vice President of Operations
Yale Cleaners

“Oklahoma Natural Gas, along with CLEAResult, helped us identify every failed open steam trap and steam leak that were wasting steam energy at all our locations," said Jimmy Rothrock, Vice President of Operations, Yale Cleaners. "They also assisted us with the entire incentive process through Oklahoma Natural Gas. This enabled us to replace all the defective steam traps and repair the steam leaks. Using this program, we have been able to achieve our goal of using fewer natural resources as a company, while still providing our customers with a quality product and fast, efficient service. Thank you for a truly great service experience and incentive program, it couldn’t have been easer.”

The Results

To cover the cost of the new steam traps, Yale Cleaners received a $76,250 incentive check from Oklahoma Natural Gas. The replacements also had an immediate impact on the cleaners’ bottom line. By preventing steam from leaking into the condensate return system, the new traps have significantly reduced energy waste while improving overall dry-cleaning performance.

Altogether, Yale Cleaners is now saving an estimated 9,696 dekatherms a year—reducing their annual greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount as taking 111 cars off the road.*