Welding plays a crucial role in everyone’s lives, whether they recognize it or not. So many things we use all the time depend on welds for their sturdy construction and ability to function, like cars or interior construction of commercial buildings.
But not all welds are created equally and some aren’t built to last, which is why you may occasionally need welding repair to keep your structure strong.
Fixing issues with your welds can make all the difference in the durability of the construction and also extend its life tremendously. It’s difficult to know what to look for if you’re not very familiar with welding. If you’re in that camp, don’t worry, we’ve created this guide to help you know when it’s time to look into “welding near me” to get some repairs done.
1. Obvious Breaks in Connection Points
As you’re inspecting your welds on a regular basis, the most obvious signs of needing repairs are if you can see breaks in the connections. Welding is one of the best ways to link two different pieces together, when done right those connection points should be as strong as possible.
If the welding job wasn’t done correctly or there’s been a shift in the entire build, those connections may become severed. There’s no way to fix those connections without having the welds redone.
Luckily, these problems are usually a simple fix that just involves removing the remaining weld and reattaching everything.
2. Visible Holes and Cracks
Sometimes those breaks in the connection points aren’t as obvious as the pieces not being attached anymore. Instead, they can come in the form of cracks or small, porous holes in the welds.
A well-done weld will be smooth and consistent throughout the entire connection. Those holes and cracks mean the metal isn’t as strong as it could be. It leaves the whole construction vulnerable to further damage as things can get in and wear down the metal as well.
These are clear signs you need to call in your welding professionals as soon as possible.
3. Parts are Loose
There are times when the weld itself looks as it should from the outside, the metal is smooth and it looks like the parts are secure together. But the connection can still be insufficient underneath the surface.
An easy way to tell if this is the case with your construction is to feel if the object feels loose at those connection points. There should be no give or shaking when you move the object. Regularly testing the connections can help make sure everything you can’t see is as strong as it should be.
4. Wrong Techniques were Used
As we mentioned earlier, not all welding is the same and it’s important to make sure your welding was done the correct way. There are several different welding techniques that can be used to complete a build depending on the specific needs. When you’re inspecting your welds, you may come to realize the wrong technique was used.
This can mean that the bond isn’t as strong as it could be and you may choose to have the whole thing redone the right way to save the structure.
5. Gaps Where the Metals Meet
The whole point of using welding during construction is to make the strongest links you can between pieces of the final object. When you can see gaps in the connection it means the pieces weren’t held together as close as they should be.
This can happen either during the construction phase and the weld is as good as it could be. Or it could mean the weld has weakened over time and allowed the pieces to move apart. Either way, the weld should be redone to close those gaps and secure the pieces more firmly together.
6. Change in Function
Generally, when something is made the function is taken into account and plans are made to ensure it can meet the needs of that task. But sometimes the function of an object can change or evolve over time and that can mean the construction choices may not fit anymore.
This mostly happens in the cases of machinery or vehicles and when it does mobile welding services are a great choice to get the problems fixed. Professionals can come and evaluate what was done and what has changed to give you the best weld possible.
7. Looks Inconsistent
A lot of the welding that is done in construction is hidden when the project is finished. But there are times when that isn’t the case and the weld is fully visible, which is when you want it to look as clean and professional as possible.
If you realize later that the welding you’ve had done has splatters, is rough, or distracts from the final product, you may want to consider having it redone and repaired to be more visually appealing.
8. Significant Time has Passed
It’s not likely that something can last forever, no matter how great it was done in the first place. That’s why it’s sometimes a good idea to have weld redone as a preventative measure.
Even if there isn’t currently a problem, your weld could be weakening without you noticing leaving it vulnerable to a major problem.
Securing them before there’s a problem allows you to avoid needing emergency repairs and hauling whatever projects are being done until the machinery can get back up and running.
Signs It’s Time to Look Into Welding Repair
Once you’ve noticed one (or more) of these signs in your welds, it’s time to get those welding repairs done as quickly as possible to avoid further damage or major problems. The key to having a successful welding project is to work with a professional company.
They’ll be able to use their knowledge and expertise to diagnose the root of the problem, come up with a plan for repairs, and meticulously make those improvements. With our experts, you’ll be able to feel confident that your welds will last and you’ll have no further issues in the future.
If you’re interested in learning more about our welding & fabrication services, contact us today!