As the weather starts to cool down, it’s time for property owners to begin preparing for the seasonal shutdown of cooling systems. Properly shutting down your cooling system before freezing temperatures arrive can save you from expensive repairs and damage.
This property owner’s manual provides a step-by-step guide to safely and efficiently shutting off your cooling system for the winter. As a property owner or building manager, it is important to understand the various steps and protocols involved in shutting down these essential systems for your building.
This guide provides a 5-step shutdown guide focused on critical components like cooling towers, chillers, and fluid coolers. Be sure to work with a trusted professional who can perform these steps for you.
Tower Cleaning
Thoroughly cleaning the cooling tower is a critical shutdown step to maintain efficiency and prevent deterioration. Over the operating season, scale, sediment, algae and other contaminants accumulate in the fill, sump, nozzles, and other tower components.
Carefully brushing, hosing, and flushing away this buildup protects the tower from corrosion damage during downtime and allows the system to operate at peak performance when restarting. Industry best practice recommends a professional cleaning once before winter shutdown and once before peak summer season to remove contaminant accumulation.
Drain The System
Completely draining all water from the cooling system is the most vital shutdown step for preventing freeze damage. As temperatures drop below freezing, any residual water left in condenser barrels, pump casings, pipes, or other components can expand and rupture.
Opening all drain valves and once empty, flush the system with clean water to remove sediment and stagnant water that can corrode pipes or promote microbial growth during downtime. Thorough draining and flushing removes moisture and contaminants and helps preserve the system over the off-season.
Inspection
Once the system has been completely drained and flushed, a thorough inspection of all equipment should be conducted. Looking for damage, leaks, wear, and other deficiencies after removing water allows owners to identify necessary repairs.
Inspecting the now accessible components like pump seals, condenser tubes, controls, and tower fill at this stage prevents unexpected failures upon restarting and ensures the system can operate efficiently next season.
Add Lay Up Chemicals
Once cooling equipment is drained, flushed, and inspected, lay up chemicals should be introduced to preserve components during downtime.
Proper lay up involves adding formulated inhibitors to lubricate pumps, protect metals from corrosion, and prevent microbial growth in stagnant water. Taking time to correctly lay up the idled cooling system avoids deterioration over the shutdown period.
Seal The System
After lay up chemicals are added, it is important to seal off all cooling system openings. Using plastic sheeting, insulation, blind flanges, and duct tape helps protect idled equipment from pests, debris, and moisture during shutdown.
Taking steps to seal the tower basin, condenser boxes, and other vulnerabilities prevents deterioration over the winter and ensures components remain in optimal condition for restart.
How Can Tower Water Help You Beat The Winter Freeze?
Properly winterizing your cooling system requires carefully executing several key steps. Following these winterization steps will save you from freeze damage and ensure your system restarts efficiently next season. While this provides a comprehensive overview, there’s no substitute for hands-on expertise.
From its humble beginnings as a family-owned venture, Tower Water has grown into a regional stalwart while never losing its personal touch along the way. Our adept professionals are poised to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your chiller functions seamlessly during those scorching summer months.
At Tower Water, we don’t just offer services; we build enduring relationships, providing tailored solutions designed to address your specific needs. As a family-owned company, we view each customer relationship like a partnership. Our team has the expertise to help.
We see maintaining your cooling system not as a task, but as a way to enhance the comfort and value of your property long-term. Contact us at 212-518-6475 or click here to schedule a consultation and discuss a custom plan tailored to your building’s needs.
