The Cleaning Process for Cooling Towers in Six Steps
In buildings and facilities with significant heating and cooling requirements, such as data centers, hospitals, retail malls, and industrial facilities, cooling towers are an essential part of the HVAC system. On the other hand, a cooling tower’s operating status does not guarantee its effectiveness or safety. For any building owner or manager, doing routine cooling tower cleaning is an essential component of equipment maintenance.
Read More: Cooling Tower Cleaning
Why Should Cooling Towers Be Cleaned Often?
Giant air scrubbers known as cooling towers require frequent cleaning to maintain maximum performance and the safety of locals and guests. In an improperly managed cooling tower, dangerous microorganisms can accumulate and cause disease or even death. Furthermore, a cooling tower tarnished by corrosion or sludge will not transfer heat effectively, increasing operating costs while sacrificing performance. Generally speaking, cooling towers need to be cleaned twice a year, but particularly before the warmer months to guarantee that the system emerges from its winter hiatus in good working order.
Steps In The Cleaning Process Of A Cooling Tower
Cleaning a cooling tower is a procedure rather than a one-time event. Make the most of your time by checking the following areas when cleaning the tower. A knowledgeable cooling tower cleaning firm can help you with this procedure and create a cleaning program that is suitable for your particular tower’s condition.
First, examine the tower
Examining the cooling tower is the first step in cleaning it. Not only should this be done on cleaning day, but preferably, at least once a month, as well. The examination will highlight areas that require extra care while cleaning; examine the hot water basin for sludge and pay close attention to the fill medium to determine if anything has become contaminated by buildup.
Step 2: Take Self-Protection
Don’t overlook your own safety once you’ve determined which areas require your attention. OSHA lockout/tagout procedures should be followed to switch off the tower’s fans and pumps before proceeding. These devices are incredibly strong and have the potential to kill or seriously injure people. Additionally hazardous may be the heat and moisture originating from the tower, particularly if Legionella bacteria are present. You must use respiratory safety devices, such as masks with the proper filter grade, in addition to eye protection.
Step 3: Handle any bacteria.
Before washing and misting the tower’s surfaces with water or other chemical component, it is vital to disinfect with the appropriate chemistry since the bacteria and fungi that can form in cooling towers can injure or sicken people. This will discourage future excessive growth and make cleaning safer and simpler.
Step 4: Get Rid of the Mud
The most frequent location for sludge buildup is the cooling tower basin, and sludge can affect the cooling tower’s lifetime and effectiveness. To cope with the sludge found in cooling towers, specialized cooling tower vacuums have been developed; if you don’t have one of these systems, a cooling tower cleaning firm may offer one for you.
Step 5: Clear Clogs and Fouling
The fill material in a cooling tower conducts the majority of the heat exchange that occurs there. The fill is what guides the system’s flowing air to effectively remove heat and generate cold water. Because air cannot come into touch with the heat source as planned, cooling does not occur when fill media become clogged or contaminated. Higher electricity prices are the outcome of this. Make sure you use detergent to clean the fill and replace it completely if necessary.
Step 6: Arrange for the Upcoming Cleaning
After the tower has been cleaned, you can determine how quickly it gets fouled or dirty again, which will help you plan when to give it another cleaning. In addition to routine water treatment, most cooling towers operate best when cleaned at least twice a year to prevent problems like algae development and Legionella. Speak with the professionals to get your cooling tower inspected and its specific dangers recorded if you’re not sure how often it should be cleaned.
Assist the Cooling Tower Cleaning Professionals
Choose professionals with years of experience handling some of the most common cooling tower hazards, such as Legionella bacteria, if you’re seeking a second opinion on the level of cleaning your cooling tower has received or if you just need someone to clean it for you. The experts at Duct Dynasty are the industry leaders in water treatment and are able to provide advice on the condition and safety of your cooling tower. Get in touch to arrange a consultation with a specialist.
In buildings and facilities with significant heating and cooling requirements, such as data centers, hospitals, retail malls, and industrial facilities, cooling towers are an essential part of the HVAC system. On the other hand, a cooling tower’s operating status does not guarantee its effectiveness or safety. For any building owner or manager, doing routine cooling…