Whether you're a hydraulic pro or just found out seals aren't only at the zoo. Here is my A-to-Z guide to breaks down everything you never knew you needed or wanted to know about hydraulic seals—what they do, what they're made of, and why your equipment throws a tantrum without them.
A – Application
Choosing the right seal starts with understanding your Application—pressure, temperature, motion, and fluid compatibility all matter. Using the wrong seal? That’s like trying to fix a leak with chewing gum—temporary at best and definitely not the right application!
B – Breakdown Prevention
Seals play a major role in preventing breakdowns by keeping contaminants out and hydraulic fluid in. Regular maintenance is key to make sure your Seals are up to par.
C – Compatibility
Material and design must be compatible with the fluid and system conditions to prevent early failure.
D – Dynamic Seals
These seals manage movement, these include piston seals, rod seals, wiper seals and wear rings are constantly subjected to wear and friction.
E – Extrusion
A common seal failure caused when pressure forces the seal material into gaps between metal components—watch those tolerances!
F – Friction
The right Fit is important as well as having the proper seal design to minimize friction, helping components move smoothly and efficiently without heat buildup.
G – Gaskets
Well these are kind of different but they still count, gaskets are static seals used in hydraulic systems to prevent leaks between stationary parts.
H – Hardness
The Durometer—or hardness—of a seal plays a big role in how flexible it is and how well it holds up over time. Think of it like Goldilocks: too soft and it wears out fast, too hard and it won’t seal properly. You need it JUUUST right—because in hydraulics, leaks aren’t cute, and there's no fairy tale ending for blown seals
I – Installation
Incorrect Installation is one of the top reasons seals call it quits early. Let be real nothing says “I give up” like being shoved in backwards and expected to perform miracles.
J – Joint Integrity
Seals are the behind-the-scenes MVPs, keeping hydraulic Joints snug, systems leak-free, and everything running so smoothly you'd think the laws of physics were taking the day off.
K – Kits
Because of the important of seals within your hydraulic systems, there is more likely than not a Seal kits available that offers all the necessary components for servicing cylinders or pumps, great for maintenance and repair work.
L – Leakage
The #1 killer of hydraulics systems. GOOD SEALS = zero leakage = Continued productivity of your hydraulic system while maintaining safety.
M – Materials
Depends where and what the seal is being used for, the material is very important. From nitrile to Viton to PTFE, seal materials determine heat resistance, chemical resistance, and lifespan.
N – Nitrile (NBR)
A widely used sealing material due to its affordability, flexibility, and resistance to oil-based fluids.
O – O-Rings
The KING of the seals. The most common type of seal. O-rings are extremely versatile and are used in both static and dynamic applications.
P – Piston Seals
Piston seals keep pressure on one side of the piston where it needs to be and prevent fluid from crossing over to the other chamber.
Q – Quality Control
Quality of seals is important as not all are made with the same standards. We source seals from suppliers with strong quality control. A poor seal can mean major downtime and can be hazardous to your work environment.
R – Rod Seals
No one wants a fountain of hydraulic fluid flying out of the top of your cylinder. As mentions these are located in the cylinder head, rod seals keep fluid from leaking out as the rod moves in and out.
S – Static Seals
The glue between stationary surfaces, these seals don’t move and are used in joints, flanges, and covers to create a leak-proof seal.
T – Temperature Resistance
Hydraulic systems can get hot! Seals must maintain performance across a wide temperature range and many factors are taken into account to make sure this happens.
U – U-Cups
One the popular kids in the yard, this seal provides a tight, self-energizing seal under pressure—used for both rod and piston applications.
V – Viton
Just like a true Albertan, this material can handle all the weather curveballs we throw its way—whether its rain, snow, or desert heat, it’s unfazed. A premium sealing material renowned for its chemical and temperature resistance, it’s built tough to perform flawlessly in the harshest environments.
W – Wipers (Scrapers)
The janitor of the seals. These remove dirt and debris from the rod before it re-enters the cylinder—essential for seal protection.
X – eXtruded Seals
UH OH!! This isn’t supposed to be like that. Watch for extrusion damage on seals under high pressure—back-up rings can help prevent this.
Y – Yield Point
Again, regular maintenance is important, as well as making sure you are using your hydraulic systems correctly. Materials used for sealing must stay flexible within the system's yield point, exceeding this leads to deformation and failure.
Z – Zero Downtime
At Northland Air Hydraulics Ltd., we’re here to help you seal the deal, literally. From making sure the seals used are the right ones for the job to keeping them in tip-top shape, our mission is to keep your hydraulics flowing, your seals happy, and your downtime so close to ZERO it might as well be a rounding error.