240 Pinks and Blues: Cooling Towers, Part 2

On the last Pinks and Blues episode, Episode 237, we had a listener ask about “all things Cooling Tower cleaning”. Well, in true Trace Blackmore fashion, I took you on the scenic route, and we never got to talk about actually how to clean a Cooling Tower; instead, we focused on WHY we clean Cooling Towers, what they are, and how they work. If you haven't listened to episode 237 yet, I encourage you to go back and listen to that one first before listening to this episode.

Now, back to the original listener’s question, today I promise you that we will talk about HOW to clean when it comes to a Cooling Tower. There is so much we need to know as water treaters, and it’s always my hope that you learn something new with each episode. 

 

Bottom line: In this Pinks and Blues, we are going to learn the steps it takes to clean a Cooling Tower.

Your roadside friend, as you travel from client to client. 

-Trace 

 

Timestamps: 

Cooling Towers, Part 2 [0:35]

Upcoming Events [02:14]

What to consider before scheduling the offline Cooling Towers cleaning [4:20]

Partnering with your customer [11:45]

Technique tips when cleaning [13:30] 

Don’t forget the pump strainer [22:49]

The last steps to get a clean and shiny basin [26:30]

Schedule your next cleaning with the customer before you go [30:00]

I’m a water treater, should I be the one to clean the Cooling Tower? [31:20]

Thinking On Water With James [34:00]

 

Thinking On Water With James:

In this week’s episode, we’re thinking about chlorine-tolerant softener resin. Chlorine can have a negative impact on softener resin over time, causing it to break down and lose its structural integrity. At normal free chlorine levels, you may not have ever noticed it, but at higher levels, you may have seen the impacts on softener resin. One option available is what some refer to as “chlorine-tolerant” softener resin, but what does this really mean? Is the resin made of tougher material than before, or is the resin just made of more of the same material so it can last longer in its harsh environment? Take this week to think about the impact of chlorine on softener resin and what a chlorine-tolerant resin ultimately is. 

 

Quotes:

“If you put a badly fouled Cooling Tower louver into a basin of a Cooling Tower, your water treatment products will clean it for you, you can hose it off, and it will look brand new.” - Trace Blackmore

“If you have to order a new Cooling Tower louver… order 2, and rotate through which one is in use and which one is being cleaned in the basin with your water treatment products. Work smarter, not harder.” - Trace Blackmore

“It is also not a bad idea that about a week before you clean the Cooling Tower you increase your dispersant and biocide from a normal feed.” - Trace Blackmore

“We want to be water treatment professionals. We want to make sure customers see the value in everything we do.”  - Trace Blackmore

“If you have 5 inches of dirt on the bottom of your Cooling Tower then you’ve waited way too long to clean it and I promise you you have far more problems in your heat transfer system than just 5 inches of crud on the bottom of your basin.”  - Trace Blackmore

“A pressure washer is my least favorite tool to use in a Cooling Tower. My favorite tool is a fire hose because you can have a high volume and wide disbursement.”  - Trace Blackmore

“If we are not getting all the crud out of the pump strainer, then we are starving the pump for flow, and you didn’t fully finish the job.”  - Trace Blackmore

“If you want to get a photo of the clean Cooling Tower, take it before you put water back in it and turn it back online, not after the water is in there.” - Trace Blackmore

 

Connect with Scaling UP H2O: 

Email: corrine@blackmore-enterprises.com (podcast producer)

Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea

Scaling UP! H2O on LinkedIn: company/scalinguph2o

Scaling UP! H2O on Facebook: @H2OScalingUP

 

Links Mentioned:

The Rising Tide Mastermind

Submit a Show Idea

AWT (Association of Water Technologies)

237 Pinks and Blues: Cooling Towers, Part 1

Goodway Tower Cleaning Devices

 

Events:

2022 AMWA’s Water Policy Conference – March 7 to 9 

7th IWA Young Water Professionals BeNeLux Conference 2022 – April 4 to 6