In addition to preventing contaminant ingression, disposable desiccant breathers can also serve as early notice of abnormally functioning equipment. Desiccant breathers are widely used in industrial applications as a means of preventing water and dirt from entering systems and wreaking havoc, but it's not as well known as to how they can point to trouble in the equipment while protecting it.

Common "alerts" include shorter or longer than expected breather lives and desiccant that changes to unexpected colors or in unexpected patterns. Knowing what to look for can tell you a bit more about the inside of your equipment and help you determine if you need to investigate further.

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