Mueller Steam Specialty Launches Strainers with Differential Pressure Monitoring and Automated Blowdown Options

­Mueller Steam Specialty, a Watts brand, announced the availability of differential pressure monitoring on duplex basket and wye strainers, with automated blowdown functionality also available on select wye strainers. These expanded smart and connected capabilities are designed to help facility and process teams maintain system performance and reduce unplanned downtime.

“Facility and process teams depend on consistent system performance to protect uptime and avoid costly disruptions,” said Jennifer Victor, Senior Product Manager at Mueller Steam. “By combining real-time monitoring with automated blowdown on select wye strainers, Mueller Steam is helping teams move from reactive maintenance to a more proactive and efficient approach.”

In traditional strainer setups, debris buildup can go unnoticed between manual inspections. This can lead to restricted flow, pressure loss, and increased risk of downstream equipment damage. The latest smart strainer enhancements help address this challenge by providing real-time visibility and transparency into strainer conditions and enables more proactive maintenance options and strategies.

Pressure sensors come pre-installed on Mueller Steam duplex basket strainers and are available on wye strainers when specified at the time of order. When paired with an add-on connection kit, the system enables continuous differential pressure monitoring, tracks basket fill levels, and transmits alerts and notifications to a facility’s BAS/BMS or Watts’ Nexa system, an intelligent water management platform that combines connected hardware (sensors and Watts equipment), cloud software, and water systems expertise.

For wye strainers, automated blowdown is delivered by an optional motorized ball valve. When a pre-configured threshold for debris accumulation is reached, the system has the ability to automatically flush the strainer basket into a pre-piped drain, and it will send notifications to confirm the action has been taken. This capability helps support transparency and uninterrupted operation in HVAC and process water applications where maintaining consistent flow and pressure is critical.

These smart strainers are powered by a new, easy-to-configure sensor control monitor that provides local system status information through an integrated display, while also supporting connectivity to centralized monitoring platforms. By delivering greater visibility into strainer performance and automating maintenance tasks for select applications, the system helps reduce manual inspections and supports more predictable maintenance planning.

For more information, please visit the Smart Strainer Differential Pressure Monitoring landing page.