U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Federal Energy Management Program – Operations and Maintenance

Cooling Towers Maintenance Checklist

Description Comment Maintenance Frequency
Daily Weekly Monthly Annually
Cooling tower use and sequencing Turn off or sequence unnecessary cooling towers. X      
Overall visual inspection Complete overall visual inspection to be sure all equipment is operating and that safety systems are in place. X      
Inspect for clogging Make sure water is flowing in tower. X      
Fan motor condition Check the condition of the fan motor through temperature or vibration analysis and compare to baseline values.   X    
Clean suction screen Physically clean screen of all debris.   X    
Test water samples Test for proper concentrations of dissolved solids, and chemistry. Adjust blowdown and chemicals as necessary.   X    
Operate make-up water float switch Operate switch manually to ensure proper operation.   X    
Vibration Check for excessive vibration in motors, fans, and pumps.   X    
Check tower structure Check for loose fill, connections, leaks, etc.   X    
Check belts and pulleys Adjust all belts and pulleys. X      
Check lubrication Assure that all bearings are lubricated per the manufacturer's recommendation.     X  
Check motor supports and fan blades Check for excessive wear and secure fastening.     X  
Motor alignment Align the motor coupling to allow for efficient torque transfer.     X  
Check drift eliminators, louvers, and fill Look for proper positioning and scale buildup.     X  
Clean tower Remove all dust, scale, and algae from tower basin, fill, and spray nozzles.       X
Check bearings Inspect bearings and drive belts for wear. Adjust, repair, or replace as necessary.       X
Motor condition Check the condition of the motor through temperature or vibration analysis to assure long life.       X