Pressure Washing Cooling Towers: How to Clean Cooling Towers With a Pressure Washer
Cooling towers are some of the unsung heroes of your commercial properties. You may not pay them much mind until they lose effectiveness and become covered in dirt and buildup, but trust us; you’ll notice them once they stop working.
To avoid overheating inside your facilities, you need to learn how to clean cooling towers. Thankfully, cooling towers can be regularly maintained as part of pressure washing commercial buildings. Because of the lightning-fast speed and easy-to-learn methods, pressure washing cooling towers is the most effective option.
We’ll teach you how to use a pressure washer on your HVAC towers, keeping your system efficient and effective. You’ll even gain a simple checklist on what to look for in a pressure washer and accessories to set you up for success taking on this task.
Why You Need to Regularly Clean Cooling Towers
The inside of your facilities can become scorching hot. Additionally, many industries require a consistent cold water supply as part of their production process.
Your cooling tower is your main line of defense to beat the heat. When you learn how to clean cooling towers with a pressure washer, you’ll maximize efficiency and prevent production delays.
Maintaining Efficiency
Keeping your facility cool and recycling heat waste is a thankless job for your cooling towers. Over time, they can become caked with dirt, debris, and limescale buildup.This will jam up your system, requiring more energy to achieve the same level of coolness.
But by learning how to clean cooling towers, you can keep your system operating at peak efficiency, saving on energy costs and reducing your carbon footprint.
Preventing Contamination
A dirty or mineral-laden cooling tower isn’t just an efficiency issue–it also poses dangerous health risks to employees and customers.
The water inside dirty cooling towers is a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. This is especially true for the Legionella strain, known for causing Legionnaires’ Disease.
Thanfully, you can turn that bacteria hotspot into a sparking, clean, bacteria-free water supply by cleaning and disinfecting your cooling tower.
This is especially vital if you maintain a facility that works with food. Any food manufacturing or restaurant pressure washing routine will include cooling tower upkeep for this very reason.
Extending Equipment Lifespan
Cooling and HVAC systems don’t come cheap. Learning how to clean cooling towers is crucial for your bottom line, as it keeps your equipment in peak condition.
Lettingt dirt, debris, and minerals build up inside your cooling tower can cause equipment to break down, leading to expensive downtime and repairs.
Just a bit of preventative care goes a long way. Your indispensable equipment will stay in top shape for years by pressure washing cooling towers on a regular schedule.
What Makes Pressure Washing Cooling Towers the Preferred Approach?
Keeping your cooling towers clean is all-important to your operations. But why is pressure washing cooling towers better than other methods?
Businesses have tried every method in the books to clean their cooling towers. Pressure washing is a clear winner given its safety, speed, and flexibility. Every field that uses cooling towers, from warehouse power washing to oil rig pressure washing, has settled on this method.
Efficiency and Effectiveness
Pressure washing cooling towers is the fastest way to get the job done. The jet stream of water carries enough force to blast away dirt, debris, and mineral buildup in record time.
Compared to manual scrubbing, which may take days to achieve the same result, there’s no contest.
Chemical treatments are faster than manual scrubbing but still come at the cost of efficiency compared to power washing. You must apply the treatments manually, wait for them to soak, and hope the chemicals don’t get into your water supply.
Pressure washing is the only method that minimizes downtime to ensure your production stays on track.
Safety
Learning how to clean cooling towers would be almost impossible without a pressure washer.
You’re dealing with hard-to-reach equipment that is often several stories high, has biological hazards, and has plenty of risk for injury.
Fortunately, you’ll be able to hit those hard-to-reach spaces without putting your body in harm’s way by pressure washing cooling towers with the help of accessories like extension wands.
Versatility
No matter the type of stains on your cleaning towers, the high forces of pressure washing are universally effective. You can tackle most stains just by switching out your detergent.
Plus, pressure washing cleans your property beyond your cooling tower. Buying or renting a machine can help you tackle your operational cleaning needs in just a few days, from pressure washing oil off of asphalt to pressure washing concrete.
Choosing the Right Equipment for Pressure Washing Cooling Towers
With several different types of pressure washers available, you need the right tools for cleaning your cooling towers. The best commercial pressure washer is Hotsy, which has been trusted by tens of thousands of brands worldwide for decades.
But choosing Hotsy is only the beginning. You must understand sizing, water temperature, engine type, detergents, and accessories.
Thankfully, we’re here to help.
PSI and GPM Requirements
Understanding pressure washer sizing is simple, as it just requires learning a couple of acronyms. Our two stars of the show are PSI and GPM.
Pressure washer PSI is how much force your water stream applies. You’ll need at least 2,000 PSI for cooling towers, but you can safely go up to 3,500 PSI for particularly heavy mineral buildup.
Flow rate is the name of the game for pressure washer GPM. It denotes how much water your machine is capable of putting out, and influences how quickly you can work. You’ll want at least 2 GPM, but 4 GPM or higher will speed things up.
Hot vs Cold Water
The hot water vs cold water pressure washer debate is simple: Hot water is more effective at cutting through oil and mineral buildup, while cold water machines are slightly easier to upkeep and more affordable upfront.
We recommend hot water machines for cooling towers to maximize efficiency, but we have both available at Hotsy of Houston.
Gas vs Electric
Both sides of the electric vs gas pressure washer debate have their merits for cleaning cooling towers.
Gas-powered models are generally more powerful than their counterparts and have extra mobility since they don’t need to be plugged in. However, they can be noisy and have a higher carbon footprint.
Electric models are quieter and environmentally friendly. If your cooling towers are close to a power source, they are a great choice in their own right.
Detergents and Other Accessories
Figuring out what soap to put in a pressure washer is crucial to pressure washing cooling towers.
Hotsy sells specially formulated biodegradable soaps to tackle the unique challenges of cleaning cooling towers.
Hotsy Verde All Purpose only contains environmentally friendly ingredients for a safe and consistent clean. Hotsy Ripper I is an excellent degreaser that is safe for use on metals. There’s also Hotsy Carbochlor, which is food-safe for restaurants and manufacturing plants.
Beyond the best detergents for pressure washers, you’ll also want to get your hands on the best pressure washer accessories. We highly recommend Hotsy’s Extension Wand, which reaches up to 40’ high to allow you to safely clean your cooling tower without leaving the ground.
Don’t forget your PPE, like non-slip pressure washing boots, goggles, and protective clothing, to ensure a safe work environment.
While our checklist is a great starting point, there’s nothing like an expert opinion. Thankfully, you have access to a team with expertise in industrial cold water pressure washers in Houston here in us!
Source the Essentials at Hotsy of Houston!
Hotsy of Houston will help you revolutionize your cleaning operations. As the #1 retailer of industrial pressure washers in Houston, our dedicated and friendly team of Houston natives has everything you need to get started.
Whether you’re looking to buy a machine or want industrial pressure washer rental in Houston, we’ve got your back. We’ll show you how to rent a pressure washer, which model you need to tackle your cleaning tasks, and even identify the perfect pressure washer detergent.
We also provide mobile pressure washer trailers in Houston, including assistance with pressure washer trailer setup and customization.
You can even rely on us long after your purchase for industrial pressure washer repair and maintenance in Houston. We offer speedy and thorough service for affordable pressure washer repair costs, helping you avoid downtime.
Let our team take all the stress out of the equation. From how to add soap to pressure washers to which accessories to buy, rely on our expertise to help you get the job done quickly and effectively.
How to Clean Cooling Towers With a Pressure Washer: Step-by-Step Guide
Once you have your equipment, it’s time to learn how to clean cooling towers with a pressure washer.
Preparation
Before blasting away at your tower, you’ll want to start by scanning and clearing the area. Inspect the tower for any damage (and repair accordingly), and remove loose debris or components that could pose a safety risk.
Applying Detergent
Once the area is clear,it’s time to start your pressure washing pre-treatment by applying soap using the chemical injection system in your pressure washing machine. Allow it to soak into the tower for 10 to 15 minutes, breaking down the minerals and making the actual cleaning go by quickly.
Using the Pressure Washer
From there, you’ll start spraying the tower with your high-powered water stream. Start from the top of the cooling tower, working your way down with sweeping motions. Adjust your nozzle (including your extension wand) to ensure you hit a broad enough area.
Pay close attention to areas that need extra love, including your cooling tower’s fill line, basin, and fan housing. You’ll also want to use an approved biocide to remove any lingering bacteria, which will help prevent the spread of Legionella.
Post-Cleaning Protocol
Once sufficiently cleaned, rinse the tower to remove any remaining detergent or debris. Give it a quick inspection, then allow it to dry.
From there, storing a pressure washer is simple! Just place your machine in a cool, dry place out of the way, and enjoy your sparkling, good-as-new cooling tower.
Tips to Keep Your Cooling Tower Clean
After going through the cleaning process, you want to ensure you keep your tower in excellent condition.
Regular Maintenance Schedule
Proactive cleaning is a vital part of this process. Clean your tower at least three times a year. This will help avoid the harsh buildup of minerals and bacteria accumulation so your tower operates at peak efficiency.
Inspect the tower monthly, as some issues may require immediate attention. This will help you catch problems before they become major headaches.
Using Water Treatment Solutions
Water treatment is essential to keeping your cooling towers in great shape. Regularly test your water as part of your monthly maintenance. You may need to adjust the PH or cut down on the buildup of limescale.
By stopping these issues at the source, you’ll have an easier time cleaning your cooling towers when it is time to pressure wash them.
Parting Thoughts on Cleaning Cooler Towers Through Pressure Washing
Maintaining your cooling tower is a must for your operational efficiency. Without regular cleaning, you’ll lose productivity and expose your team and customers to harmful bacteria.
Thankfully, pressure washing is a proven way to restore your cooling towers quickly. Hotsy’s line of commercial-grade pressure washers is the best in the business for good reason–thousands of companies have relied on their machines to eliminate stains.
The best part is that our team at Hotsy of Houston will walk you through the entire process, helping you clean your towers with personalized guidance.
We’ll help you find the perfect equipment for your business, from short-term rentals to purchases that will help you tackle your cleaning tasks.
Beyond exploring how to clean cooling towers, we’ve also covered how much it costs to start a power washing business, factory floors, fleet pressure washing, construction equipment, parking lots, can pressure washers remove paint, can pressure washers remove rust, and quoting pressure washing jobs.
Otherwise, if you’re ready to get your hands on an industrial hot water pressure washer in Houston, we’ve got you covered. Stop by our Pasadena location and talk to our team for advice on maximizing your cleaning needs today!
