Cooling towers need regular mechanical maintenance to remain operational and function at peak performance. This is especially true of cooling towers in NYC that are governed by strict regulations – Local Law 77 and Chapter 8 of Title 24 – regarding compliant upkeep, cleaning and testing measures.
A neglected cooling tower in NYC is likely to rack up a number of costly fines from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), as well as drive up operational costs on a regular basis. For mechanical draft cooling towers in particular, regular maintenance is critical.
Mechanical Draft vs Natural Draft Cooling Towers and Their Need for Maintenance
Cooling towers are typically categorized as natural draft or mechanical draft cooling towers. Natural draft cooling towers allow for air circulation through natural convection, pushing hot air out and cool air in. Mechanical draft cooling towers, on the other hand, functions in a similar way but deploys fans and other equipment to circulate air.
Mechanical draft cooling towers require more regular maintenance because they use more mechanical parts. Cooling tower fans and gearboxes both need regular maintenance as they’re both subject to excessive and prolonged periods of stress. If either of these mechanical components fails, the cooling tower cannot function properly.
The Benefits of Maintenance for Mechanical Draft Cooling Towers
The most obvious benefit of regular cooling tower maintenance is that it ensures compliance with all cooling tower regulations in NYC, which can add up to $25,000 in fines for non-compliance. All maintenance programs must be explicitly planned and documented under NYC law.
Routine maintenance of mechanical draft cooling towers presents a cost-saving opportunity, too. When cooling towers are operating normally, energy consumption is reduced, emergency repairs are minimized, and cooling tower life expectancy is increased. There are many ways that cooling tower maintenance directly leads to cost savings.
There are many reasons to schedule routine maintenance of mechanical draft cooling towers in NYC, even beyond just for legal compliance.
Mechanical maintenance of cooling towers protects your business from risk and fines, keeping you operational and compliant.
To learn more, read about Donnelly Mechanical’s cooling tower mechanical maintenance & repair services.
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