Water Solutions with Chem-Aqua

Addressing Stagnant Water in Buildings Due to COVID-19 Shutdown

Cycles of concentration, or often stated as just cycles, is a core concept when controlling boiler or cooling tower water systems. Running cycles too high can lead scale and corrosion. Running cycles too low can lead to wasted water. But what is really meant by the phrase “cycles of concentration?” Basically, it is telling us how many times the water in the boiler or cooling tower has been concentrated compared to the makeup water. The next logical question may be “What do you mean by the water being concentrated in boilers or cooling towers?” Both boilers and cooling towers function by evaporating water. In a boiler, fuel is burned to turn water into steam. In a cooling tower, evaporation occurs as air is blown across the water to remove the heat picked up from air conditioning a building or cooling a manufacturing process. As water is evaporated in both the boiler and cooling tower systems, primarily only pure water leaves the system. Other impurities, such as calcium, sodium, and chlorides, are left behind and concentrate in the remaining liquid water. Imagine boiling a pot of water on the stove until only a fraction of the water is left. This remaining water will start to look cloudy as impurities are concentrated. Also, as water evaporates, fresh makeup water must be added to the boiler or cooling tower system to maintain water levels so they do not run dry. As you may imagine, the makeup water brings more impurities into the system to be left behind as water evaporates. You now may be wondering, “Why do I care about cycles of concentration?” First, if certain impurities concentrate too much in water, they can precipitate out of solution and form insulating scale, which can lead to greater fuel consumption, higher energy costs, plugged piping, corrosion, and more. Second, there is an upper limit on where a boiler or cooling tower can be operated without forming scale. Third, operating too far below this limit only wastes water and increases the total cost of operation. “How are cycles of concentration controlled?” Cycles are controlled by wasting or blowing down a portion of the concentrated boiler or cooling tower water and replacing it with fresh makeup water diluting the impurities. Typically, this process is automated with controllers and monitored by periodic analytical testing. Optimizing your cycles of concentration can help reduce wasted water, minimize scale and corrosion potential, and more. To maximize your savings, contact https://www.chemaqua.com/en-us/ today.

HVAC systems work tirelessly to heat, cool, and clean the air we breathe. But too often, critical components fail to receive regular maintenance, and the consequences are costly. Over time, condenser, evaporator, and air handler coils accumulate dirt, grease, and bacteria from the air and environment. Without proper cleaning, this buildup compromises efficiency and effective operation. When a unit struggles to cool air effectively, it runs overtime, shortening the overall life-span of the equipment while racking up high energy bills. In fact, according to The U.S. Department of Energy, a dirty condenser coil can increase compressor energy consumption by 30%. More than just a burden to your budget, dirty evaporator or air handler coils can lead to bad air quality. When the coils are dirty and working poorly, the air becomes more damp and humid. Per the https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-course-chapter-2, humidity above 60% can lead to mold and mildew growth, a danger to human health and immune systems. So, how do you clean your HVAC system coils safely and effectively? Because improper coil cleaning can actually damage a unit, it’s best to leave this job to the professionals. https://www.chemaqua.com/en-us/ uses specific water pressure and water volume combined with a non-acid based cleaning solution, ensuring that coils are safely cleaned and enhanced. Experience the benefit of increased air flow while extending the life of your HVAC system. Schedule regular coil cleanings with https://www.chemaqua.com/en-us/.

When it comes to air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration, energy consumption for industrial chillers is at an all time high. Typically chillers can account for over 50% of the electricity used in a single facility. It goes without saying, that an inefficient chiller can be catastrophically wasteful and economically costly to a business, which makes monitoring this machine’s performance essential to saving money, time, and resources. Ensure a chiller works safely and reliably every time by learning the signs of operation failure on this Water Droplet, a quick news minute from https://www.chemaqua.com/en-us/ Water Solutions https://www.chemaqua.com/en-us/Resource-Library/Podcasts. In just 3 minutes, learn and understand “chiller approach temperature,” and why it’s crucial to keeping costly refrigeration equipment in peak working condition.

Hey everyone, I'm Daniel Litwin and this is your Water Droplet; quick insights from the water treatment world, brought to you by Chem-Aqua. Legionnaire's disease is back in the public eye, and for important reasons. Is your business prepared and ready to fight back? Back in July, the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel evacuated guests after an outbreak of Legionnaire's killed one guest and infected potentially dozens more. An official lawsuit has been filed against the hotel, alleging, quote, "negligence in the operation and maintenance of the water systems". This plays into what health departments across the nation are saying; that Legionnaire's is showing up more frequently. In 2018, Wisconsin for example reported more than 300 cases of Legionnaires, almost twice as much as the year before. Reporting for the disease, nationwide, increased more than five times over from 2000 to 2017. As a business owner or facility manager, how do you combat this albeit rare but extremely dangerous disease? At Chem-Aqua, we're all about preparedness and recommend having a quality water management plan. But all too often buildings test for Legionnella with no follow-up plan in place. Change that trend; get a comprehensive plan built out. Differentiating between potable and non-potable water sources is a great first start, followed by qualitatively, not quantitatively assessing the threat and taking into account factors like: which species of Legionella was detected, the probability of aerosolization, and the susceptibility of your building's occupants. I'm Daniel Litwin, and this has been your Water Droplet, brought to you by Chem-Aqua.