Cooling tower cleaning & disinfection
A proper clean and disinfection at least every six months, as HSG274 Part 1 expects. Planned around your operations, with before-and-after records for the log book.
Chemistry can't shift what's already settled.
Even with a good treatment programme, towers collect sludge in the pond, scale on the fill and biofilm in the places water doesn't move much. That's why HSG274 Part 1 expects cooling towers to be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a year, and more often if your risk assessment says so or the system is particularly dirty.
We follow the sequence the guidance describes: disinfect the water before anyone opens the tower up, so the clean itself doesn't throw contaminated spray around; then physically clean; then disinfect again before the system goes back into normal service.
We plan the work with you, which matters a lot on sites where the cooling can't simply be switched off. Not sure how often your system really needs doing? Our article on how often a cooling tower should be cleaned covers it.
Pre-clean disinfection
Online chlorination (or a suitable alternative) to cut the bacterial load before the tower is opened.
Drain down and physical clean
Pond, sump, strainers, distribution, fill and drift eliminators cleaned and debris removed.
Inspection while it's open
Condition of the fill, eliminators, casing, fan and pipework noted, with photos for your records.
Refill and post-clean disinfection
The system is disinfected again, then flushed and brought back to normal treatment levels.
Resilient-site planning
For sites that can't lose cooling, we plan around N+1 towers, cell-by-cell isolation or quieter periods.
Certificate and report
A record of what was done, chemical levels, contact times and findings, ready for the log book.
Cleaning & disinfection: common questions
How often does a cooling tower need cleaning?
HSG274 Part 1 says cooling towers should be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a year. Your risk assessment may call for more frequent cleaning, for example in a dusty environment or if monitoring shows problems.
Can you clean one cell while the others keep running?
Often, yes. On multi-cell towers or sites with standby units, we can isolate and clean one at a time. We'll look at the layout and plan the safest way to do it.
Do evaporative condensers need cleaning too?
Yes. They need regular cleaning and disinfection as part of the written scheme. The frequency should come from your risk assessment, taking account of the guidance in HSG274 Part 1.
What happens if you find damage while the tower's open?
We'll record it with photos and tell you what we've found and how urgent it is. Repairs or replacement parts are quoted separately, so there are no surprises.
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Related articles
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Cooling tower or evaporative condenser? What it means for Legionella control
How cooling towers and evaporative condensers differ, why both carry a Legionella risk, and what changes for treatment, cleaning and monitoring.
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Data centre cooling towers: water treatment without risking uptime
How data centres can stay on top of cooling tower water treatment, cleaning and Legionella control without putting uptime at risk.
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Bringing a cooling tower back into service after a shutdown
Restarting an idle cooling tower? Why stagnant water is a Legionella risk, what HSG274 Part 1 expects before restart and a practical start-up sequence.
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