Cooling towers are the unsung heroes of industrial and commercial buildings in the UAE. From hotels to data centers and district cooling plants, these towers reject unwanted heat from chillers or process equipment. But when they get dirty, they silently waste thousands of dirhams in electricity every year.
Ignoring this vital component doesn’t just impact system efficiency. It affects your bottom line, causes equipment failures, and creates health risks.
Let’s explore how cooling tower cleaning can significantly reduce energy costs and why it’s a smart investment for your facility.
The Role of a Cooling Tower in Your System
Cooling towers work through evaporative heat rejection. For this to happen efficiently, fill media, basins, and heat exchange surfaces must remain clean and unobstructed. But in the harsh middle eastern environment with dust, high humidity, and warm conditions towers get dirty fast.
What Happens When a Cooling Tower Gets Dirty?
The short explanation is that dirty towers start to become dangerous, costly to run, and ineffective.
The longer form is as follows.
1. Decreased Thermal Efficiency
When scale, sediment, algae, or biological growth builds up on fill media or heat exchange surfaces, it serves as an insulator. This renders the system unable to effectively rejecting heat.
What follows? Even 1mm of scale buildup can reduce heat transfer efficiency by up to 10%. That means your chillers work harder and longer consuming more power to maintain desired temperatures.
2. Increased Energy Bills
Operating at low efficiency, a cooling tower compels the whole HVAC or process cooling system to balance. Working overtime, the chiller most energy-consuming component of a cooling system has to do.
Direct results from this inefficiency are higher electricity costs. Studies reveal that over time a badly maintained cooling tower can cause 20% to 30% rises in energy bills.
3. Corrosion and Equipment Damage
Contaminants in the system cause corrosion of the structure, piping, fill, and mechanical components. This leads to expensive replacements that could have been avoided through routine cleaning.
4. Microbial Growth and Health Hazards
Moist, stagnant areas in cooling towers promote bacterial growth, including Legionella, which can lead to Legionnaires’ disease. Regular disinfection is essential for compliance with UAE health and safety standards.
How Often Should Cooling Towers Be Cleaned?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are general guidelines:
Cleaning Task Frequency
Basic inspection and debris removal Monthly
Biological cleaning (disinfection) Every 3–6 months
Descaling or deep chemical cleaning Annually or as needed
Water quality testing and treatment Weekly or bi-weekly
Facilities in high-dust areas (like Dubai or other GCC regions) may require more frequent cleaning due to accelerated fouling from environmental factors.
Signs Your Tower Needs Cleaning
Don’t wait for a failure or a spike in energy costs to take action. Watch for these indicators:
• Visible dirt, scale, or biological slime
• Foul odors or standing water
• Algae growth in the basin
• Drop in system performance or airflow
• Higher-than-usual energy bills
• Water test results indicating high levels of bacteria or TDS
Why DIY Isn’t the Answer
Cooling towers are complex systems. Cleaning them without the right expertise can lead to:
• Incomplete removal of biofilm or scale
• Damage to fill media or other components
• Health and safety violations
• Missed signs of corrosion or structural failure
That’s why UAE facility managers rely on Deerfields Services for certified cooling tower cleaning and maintenance.
Professional Cooling Tower Services in the UAE
With over 40 years of combined industry experience, Deerfields Services delivers:
• CTI recommended cleaning methods
• Eco-friendly descaling and disinfection products
• Detailed inspection and performance testing
• Cleaning and maintenance plans tailored to your tower design and usage
We don’t just clean — we ensure your entire cooling system operates at peak efficiency with minimal downtime.
Additional Benefits of Regular Cleaning
Still need a little convincing? Here’s what else regular cleaning brings to the table:
Extended lifespan of your cooling tower
Lower risk of system breakdowns during peak seasons
Better compliance with local and international health/safety regulations
A more sustainable operation with reduced water and energy usage
In conclusion, a little step towards maintenance will help you greatly towards savings.
Cleaning a cooling tower goes beyond merely following your maintenance calendar. This is a calculated investment in long-term viability, safety, and bottom line of your facility.
Just by adjusting their tower maintenance, we at Deerfields Services have helped customers around the UAE and GCC realize notable cost savings and increase operational efficiency.
Contact us if you’re ready to start maximizing the value of your cooling system and stop overspending. Let us show you how a simple change in your cooling tower maintenance strategy can become your most cost-effective decision this year.
References:
• ASHRAE. (2020). ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Systems and Equipment. Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
• Cooling Technology Institute. (2023). Guidelines for the Maintenance of Cooling Towers. Available at: www.cti.org
• U.S. Department of Energy. (2022). Cooling Tower Water Use and Efficiency. Available at: www.energy.gov
• Dubai Municipality. (2023). Public Health & Safety Guidelines – Water Systems & Legionella Prevention. Available at: www.dm.gov.ae
• World Health Organization. (2007). Legionella and the Prevention of Legionellosis. Geneva: WHO. Available at: WHO Website
