Tower Maintenance Checklist

Keeping your cooling tower in good shape requires more than just the annual inspection before startup. Stick to a regular maintenance schedule to reduce the risk of Legionella and prevent premature failure, recommends Dan Glover, technical services group manager for Southland Industries, a national mechanical engineering, construction, and service firm.

Daily

• Be sure all equipment is operating and safety systems are in place.

• Physically clean the screen of all debris.
• Operate float or electronic make-up to ensure proper operation.
• Check for excessive vibration in motors, fans, and pumps.
• Check for loose fill, connections, leaks, rust, corrosion, etc.
• Check all belts and pulleys and adjust as needed.
• For an open cooling tower, test the water for proper concentrations of dissolved solids and chemistry.

Monthly

• For a closed tower, adjust blowdown and chemicals as necessary.
• Check motor supports and fan blades for excessive wear and secure fastening.
• Inspect motor alignment and coupling.
• Inspect drift eliminators for proper positioning and scale build-up.

Quarterly

• Inspect the condition of pulleys and/or belts.
• Check gear reducer box for lubricant level and add if needed.
• Assure that all bearings are lubricated per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Inspect and clean nozzles as needed.

Annually

• Inspect fan blades for cracks and clean as needed.
• Remove and clean strainer in sump.
• Change gear reducer lubricant with factory-recommended oil.
• Clean gear reducer sight glass and check shaft thrust and play.
• Power wash tower hot deck and cold deck.
• Power wash tower fill and use scale remover as needed.
• Check bottom of hot and cold decks for corrosion and rust.
• Check the condition of the fan motor through temperature or vibration analysis and compare to baseline values.
• Perform meg-ohm test motor windings.
• Change oil in gear box if applicable.
• Inspect vibration safety device.

Credit: Southland Industries