A cooling tower is a powerful heat exchanger designed to regulate temperatures for various industrial processes. Unfortunately, these vital systems can face numerous issues—especially when maintenance is neglected. Without proper care and water treatment, cooling towers may become damaged, less efficient at heat exchange, and more prone to downtime and costly repairs.
With consistent maintenance and effective water treatment, you can keep operations running smoothly, cut costs, and maintain high cooling efficiency.
Cooling towers face a range of challenges, many of which are interconnected. When left unresolved, these issues can compound, creating a cycle of performance losses and frequent maintenance headaches. Below are the top five problems you’re likely to encounter:
Tip: Regular cleaning and proper biocide use help prevent biofilm and fouling.
Tip: Use side stream filtration or other advanced filtration methods to remove fine particulates.
Tip: Monitor water chemistry closely and use anti-scale agents to prevent buildup.
[Learn more about the costs of scaling here!]
Tip: Maintain balanced water chemistry and treat the system with corrosion inhibitors.
[Learn more about the costs of corrosion here!]
Tip: Address underlying water chemistry issues and use defoaming agents when necessary.
[Learn more about the costs of foaming here!]
Filtration? Chemicals? Or Both?
Many cooling tower problems stem from or are made worse by ultra-fine particles in the water. These particulates interfere with biocides, promote fouling, and even accelerate corrosion by damaging equipment surfaces. As biofilm accumulates, heat transfer declines, driving up energy costs and risking equipment failure.
To combat these issues, combine chemical treatment (to control scale, corrosion, and biological growth) with filtration (to remove damaging particles). However, not all filters are created equal. High-efficiency side stream filtration units can remove particles down to 0.45 microns—outperforming conventional screen or disc filters that only handle particles around 10 microns or larger.
Benefits of High-Efficiency Side Stream Filtration:
When filtration is paired with the right chemicals, you’ll maintain a cleaner, more efficient cooling tower system.
At ChemREADY, we specialize in optimizing cooling tower water treatment. Our particle analysis service pinpoints the exact filtration solutions you need, while our high-quality chemicals ensure the water is in prime condition before entering the filtration process.
We offer high-efficiency side stream filtration units that remove ultra-fine particles and keep your tower packing free of harmful deposits. You can choose from two base options:
Our experts will guide you through selecting and installing the right filtration system and chemicals for your unique setup. With ChemREADY on your side, you can keep your cooling tower running efficiently, reduce costs, and extend the life of your equipment.
Ready to optimize your cooling tower treatment?
Contact ChemREADY today to learn more about our comprehensive solutions—from advanced filtration to high-performance chemicals—and let us help you maintain a cleaner, more efficient cooling tower system.
Nick Piskura is the Marketing and Web Development Specialist at ChemREADY who utilizes expertise in digital marketing strategies to provide knowledgeable insights in each segment of our business. Nick provides insights through web development and multimedia resources that support ChemREADY’s full range of services, including Legionella management, ANSI/AAMI ST108 compliance, boiler and cooling tower treatment, wastewater processing, and industrial water quality solutions.
