Fouling of plant equipment results in increased cost of operation. Fouling costs vary depending on the process, location and manpower. Major costs include:

• Loss of energy (due to heat transfer problems)
• Reduced flow
• Increased pressure
• Loss of throughput (reduced production)
• Increased investment (use switchable exchangers)
• Replacement of equipment
• Frequent change of catalyst bed
• Cleaning and disposing of toxic wastes
• Increases safety hazards (fires)
• Use of costly chemical additives
• Frequent furnace tube decoking