The following are examples of components that may be subject to fouling and the corresponding effects of fouling:

• Heat exchanger surfaces – reduces thermal efficiency, decreases
  heat flux, increases temperature on the hot side, decreases temperature on the cold side, induces under deposit corrosion, increases use of cooling water.
• Piping, flow channels – reduces flow, increases pressure drop, increases upstream pressure, increases energy expenditure, may cause flow oscillations, slugging in two-phase flow, cavitation; may increase flow velocity elsewhere, may induce vibrations, may cause flow blockage
• Ship hulls – creates additional drag, increases fuel usage, reduces maximum speed.
• Turbines – reduces efficiency, increases probability of failure.
• Solar panels – decreases the electrical power generated.
• Reverse osmosis membranes – increases pressure drop,
  increases energy expenditure, reduces flux, membrane failure
  (in severe cases).
• Electrical heating elements – increases temperature of the element, increases corrosion, reduces lifespan.
• Nuclear fuel in pressurized water reactors – axial offset anomaly[3], may need to de-rate the power plant.
• Injection/spray nozzles (e.g., a nozzle spraying a fuel into a furnace) – incorrect amount injected, malformed jet, component inefficiency, component failure.
• Venturi tubes, orifice plates – inaccurate or incorrect measurement of flow rate.
• Venturi tubes, orifice plates – inaccurate or incorrect measurement of flow rate.