Used Cooling Tower Inspection Checklist

A cooling tower is a simple machine that lives outdoors in the worst conditions on the site: wet, hot, and exposed. That is why used towers vary so much. Two units of the same model and age can be a sound buy and a pile of corroded steel respectively, and the difference is visible if you know where to look. Here is what to check before you commit.

Start with the nameplate and the story

Confirm the manufacturer, model, and serial, and match them to the tonnage and flow the seller is claiming. Ask why the tower is being sold. A tower coming out of a building that is being demolished or a plant that closed is a different proposition from one that was replaced because it was failing. Ask when it last ran and whether the water treatment program was maintained. Poor water treatment is the root cause of most of what you will find on the rest of this list.

If you have not yet worked out what size you need, do that first. Matching the tower to the chiller and the load is covered in how to match a used cooling tower to a chiller and sizing a used cooling tower: crossflow vs counterflow.

Basin and structure

The cold water basin is where a tower fails first. Look for corrosion at the seams and around the outlet, sump, and make-up connections. Galvanized basins show white rust and then red rust; stainless basins are far more forgiving. Check the basin floor for pitting and any evidence of past leaks or patches. Look at the anchor points and the support structure for section loss.

On a fiberglass tower, look for crazing, delamination, and UV degradation on the casing. On a wood tower, which still exist on older industrial sites, probe the structural members for rot.

Fill and drift eliminators

The fill is the plastic media the water runs over, and it is where scale, biological growth, and debris accumulate. Pull a section and look at it. Heavily scaled or fouled fill reduces capacity significantly and replacing it is a real cost. Brittle or collapsed fill indicates age and heat damage. Drift eliminators above the fill should be intact and clean.

Fan, motor, and drive

Spin the fan by hand if it is safe to do so and feel for roughness in the bearings. Check the fan blades for cracks and the hub for corrosion. On a gear-driven tower, check the gearbox oil level and condition and look for leaks at the seals. On a belt-driven tower, look at the belt and sheave condition. Confirm the motor nameplate matches the tower's requirement and note whether it is a standard or variable-speed installation.

If the tower can be run, run it. A fan that vibrates or a gearbox that is noisy under load is a problem you want to find before the tower is on your site.

Water distribution

On a crossflow tower, inspect the hot water basins and the distribution nozzles for clogging and scale. On a counterflow tower, look at the spray header and nozzles. Uneven distribution is an easy fix if it is just clogged nozzles and a hard one if the header is corroded through.

Louvers, casing, and hardware

Inlet louvers should be intact and straight. Casing panels should be secure and free of holes. Check fasteners for corrosion; on a galvanized tower, the fasteners often go before the panels do.

Rigging and transport

Cooling towers are large and relatively light, and they can be damaged in a move if they are lifted incorrectly. Ask whether the tower will be shipped whole or in sections, whether it has lifting points, and who is responsible for disassembly and reassembly. Factor that into the price. A tower that is cheap on the pad and expensive to move and rebuild is not cheap.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem on a used cooling tower?

Basin corrosion from poor water treatment, followed by fouled or degraded fill. Both are visible on inspection.

Is a galvanized or stainless tower a better used buy?

Stainless basins and structures hold up far better, and a stainless tower is worth a premium. Galvanized towers are fine if the water treatment was good, and the basin will tell you.

Should I have the tower run before buying?

Yes, whenever possible. Fan vibration, gearbox noise, and distribution problems all show up under operation.

Do you sell used cooling towers?

Yes. We buy and sell used cooling towers across Florida and nationwide, and current inventory is at used cooling towers for sale.

Demo Dynasty buys and sells used cooling towers and other HVAC equipment from Auburndale, FL. Call (689) 323-4676 or contact us about a specific unit.