CO2 cleaning is a proven, practical method for removing contaminants from the insulating surfaces of energized electrical equipment rated at up to 34.5 kV. Contaminants such as dust, salt spray, dirt, and ash can significantly reduce the dielectric strength of insulating materials. These contaminants can cause increased levels of leakage current to pass over dielectric materials, leading to electrical breakdown due to surface tracking. Such conditions can result in flashovers, which often damage electrical equipment and cause unplanned service outages, as well as safety concerns. CO2 cleaning has been shown to reduce leakage current by more than 96%. The CO2 cleaning process uses solid CO2 (dry ice shavings or pellets), projected through an insulated wand at a specific nozzle pressure. These high-density dry ice particles (approximately the size of salt granules) are rapidly accelerated using compressed air through a dry air blast line, which requires a compressor that can deliver 150 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure at a flow rate of 350 cubic feet per minute. When the CO2 particles strike a contaminated equipment surface, the impact removes the surface contaminants without damaging insulating or underlying materials.