The colder, wetter winter months are approaching and it is important you prepare your chiller for the harsh, wintry conditions by following these regular maintenance steps.
Winter Checklist for your Water Chiller
The colder, wetter winter months are approaching and it is important you prepare your chiller for the harsh, wintry conditions by following these regular maintenance steps.
- IMPORTANT - Turn the equipment off and isolate electrically before taking the following steps.
- CHECK THE GLYCOL STRENGTH (if applicable) which at this time of year is extremely important. If the water in your system freezes, this could damage the equipment and stop production.
- CLEAR AWAY DEBRIS AND DIRT from the components in your chiller i.e., heat exchangers and condensers. Doing this daily will prevent components being clogged causing damage and down time. This step should be taken all year round but particularly during winter when rain, snow and wind will bring in dirt and debris.
- CLEAN YOUR FILTERS – any filters and strainers should be cleaned or replaced regularly to remove dirt and debris to ensure good water quality is maintained.
- CHECK YOUR PIPEWORK– frozen liquid in your pipework can cause it to fracture or even burst. Check your insulation for damage and replace if necessary to avoid burst pipes.
- INSPECT FOR LEAKS – check your pipework for water and refrigerant leaks. Should you suspect a refrigerant leak, this must be reported immediately and repaired by a qualified F-Gas technician.
- REGULAR SERVICING & MAINTENANCE – it is important that your water chiller is regularly maintained and a service is carried out at least once or twice per year by a professional, qualified technician. Regular maintenance will ensure the equipment is operating efficiently keeping energy consumption and operating costs to a minimum.
It is mandatory that equipment using ozone-depleting refrigerants such as R407C, R410a, R134A etc. with a charge equivalent to 5 tonnes CO2 or more must be checked annually for leaks by a qualified person.
For further information or to book an engineer please contact F&R Products Ltd on 01823 663281 or sales@fandrproducts.co.uk.