No matter what you are using your cooling tower for, keeping it running properly during the peak of summer heat is essential for maintaining performance and preventing downtime. Creating a maintenance plan ahead of time can ensure that you check all of the necessary boxes and skip the headaches that can come from miscalculations or unpreparedness.
Not performing the proper due diligence in this area can lead to huge costs down the line resulting from malfunctions, excessive energy demands due to blockages, or even complete replacement due to improper care and maintenance.
Why Warm Weather is Tough on Cooling Towers
Cooling towers can be key parts of the infrastructure for any process that requires a consistent environment during the hot summer months. Whether you need cool water for your industrial lab operation or just want to maintain high-quality air conditioning within your building, cooling tower maintenance is critical.
While the towers are responsible for keeping things cool during warm weather, the heat makes the cooling process requirements much more demanding. Along with this extra demand for cooling comes a tax on the mechanism itself, which can shorten the lifespan of the cooling tower and lead to malfunctions if it is not properly cared for.
Here are some tips for keeping your cooling tower running with maximum efficiency all summer long:
Routine Cleaning and Disinfecting
The minimum guidelines for keeping your cooling tower clean and disinfected is twice a year, so realistically this should be performed 3-4 times per year or as much as needed based on the state of the cooling tower.
The buildup that naturally accrues inside cooling towers can impact the efficiency of the tower’s output capabilities and lead to long-term deterioration. Not only that, but Legionella bacteria (and other harmful pathogens) can also populate the tower if algae are left unaddressed. Legionella can cause fatal illness and can also result in blockages that will cause serious damage to the unit.
Calibration
How your equipment is calibrated determines the level of efficiency you will be able to achieve during the summer. Calibrating your fans, pumps, and other aspects of the cooling tower will help to ensure that your tower is operating at its highest efficiency and also will ensure that its lifespan is maximized.
Errors in calibration can lead to confusion surrounding capacity and result in miscalculations that lead to either errors or damage to the machinery. Be sure to document the proper calibrations and routinely check to make sure they are within the proper range for maximum efficiency.
Targeted Maintenance
Depending on the type of water treatment processes you are running, your machinery may require a unique maintenance program. It is crucial to stay up to date on your scheduled routine maintenance and to keep a close eye on the health and functionality of the system. This includes inspecting the water pumps for accuracy, ensuring consistent airflow and more.
Water Quality Management
One of the main responsibilities for ensuring a well-functioning water during warm weather is to maintain great water quality. The most common method for doing this is often through a water treatment system that keeps the water free of harmful buildups and at the right consistency.
This ensures that the cooling mechanisms can function at their best and will also prevent buildups and malfunctions. Keeping your water quality maintenance procedures in check will also reduce your overall water and chemical usage and help you meet those important sustainability goals.
Check Automation Systems Regularly
One of the most overlooked cooling tower functions is the tower’s automation. This includes the automated valves that open and shut at certain stages of the process. It is very common for these automated valves to become stuck, or to only open or close at a fraction of their intended scope. These overlooked malfunctions can cause costly wear and tear and buildups over time.
Create a Personalized Summer Maintenance Plan
If you want your cooling tower to operate at its best all summer long, and also hope to reduce energy costs and avoidable malfunctions, let our team of experts help you design a maintenance plan created specifically for your unique cooling tower operation.
We understand that every cooling tower is unique and can help you create the maintenance plan and routine checklist to improve longevity and keep your cooling tower running cost-effectively all throughout the hot summer months.
For more information, reach out to our team of cooling tower professionals today at Tower Water.