If you've got a commercial air chiller in your factory, you know how important it is to keep it operating at peak performance. One way to do that is to provide your air chiller with proper maintenance. An air chiller that's not properly maintained is more likely to malfunction. Not only that, but it will have to work harder to perform its necessary functions, which will increase its energy usage. Unfortunately, that will translate into higher electric bills for your company. Here are just three of the steps you can take to prevent problems with your air chiller.
Maintain Daily Performance Records
When it comes to your air chiller, the most important thing you can do is monitor its performance. The best way to do that is with daily performance records. It's not good enough to monitor your air chiller once a month; a small problem can go from bad to worse in less than a month. Daily performance records will allow you to track efficiency and identify minor issues before they become work-stopping disasters.
Clean the Condenser Tubes
Your unit may be chilling the air intake, but there's still moisture flowing through the condenser tubes. Unfortunately, that moisture can cause serious problems for your air chiller, especially if the condenser tubes get too dirty. Things like dirt, mold, and even algae can build up inside the tubes, causing the efficiency of the heat exchange to decrease.
To maintain peak performance of your air chiller, be sure to conduct an annual cleaning of your condenser tubes. If your condenser tubes experience significant algae or mold growth, you can increase the cleaning to twice yearly. It's also important to make sure that the water you use is properly treated to prevent hardwater buildup, which can lead to corrosion of your condenser.
Ensure the Proper Refrigerant Levels
You might not realize this, but your air chiller requires refrigerant to perform properly; much like your air conditioning system. If the refrigerant levels aren't adequate, your air chiller won't be able to perform its job properly. If your air chiller isn't cooling the way that it should, be sure to check the refrigerant level. If your system seems to be using refrigerant quicker than it should – such as you're needing to refrigerant more often lately – you may have a leak in the system, which will need to be taken care of by a repair technician.
You depend on your air chiller. Use the tips provided here to keep it operating at peak performance. For more information, contact local professionals like Air Compressor Energy Systems Inc.