Commercial Chiller Repair and Maintenance Tips

Commercial chiller repair can be an expensive and time-consuming process if you don't know what you're doing. However, with this guide, you will learn how to properly diagnose and repair your industrial chiller to get it working at full capacity again.

Commercial Chiller Repair and Maintenance Tips

Commercial chiller repair is an important part of any chiller owner's job. There are many reasons why industrial chillers fail, but they can be prevented with a few simple steps.

Perform routine maintenance on a quarterly basis. Your chiller manufacturer should provide you with a chiller checklist as a guide. If optional, you should join your customer's preventive maintenance program. Always use a licensed HVAC company for maintenance and repairs, and keep maintenance and repair records for future reference.

Inspect the heat transfer fluid to ensure it is free of debris and properly rated for ambient conditions and process fluid temperature. Then, check the "Y" filter to make sure it is free of debris that would restrict the flow of the heat transfer fluid.

Water Cooled Scroll Chiller      

Next, check the condenser coil for dust and debris buildup. A clean coil will provide better airflow to promote more efficient heat transfer. Measure condenser and evaporator pressures.

Check wiring and connections to ensure connections are strong and secure. Over time, loose wires may develop, which can lead to random chiller failures.

Verify that the chiller safety switch is functioning properly to ensure protection of the chiller in the event of a malfunction. Also, check fan blades, shafts, bearings and motors for signs of wear to ensure proper airflow is obtained to dissipate heat from the chiller. Always listen and look for unusual noises or vibrations.

Electrical contacts should be thoroughly inspected and cleaned. Check the chiller pump to make sure there are no leaks in the pump seals and bearings, and check the piping to make sure there are no leaks in any fluid contact sections.

Finally, make sure the American spout valve is properly seated and tightly capped.

Box Type Water Cooled Scroll Chiller

Chiller Parts, Tools & Accessories

As a water chiller operator, it is important to know what parts are needed for the repair and the tools that are required to prevent malfunctions in the first place. It is also important to have an understanding of how much time it will take to complete these tasks. The tools below are must-haves for any commercial chiller owner.

• Refractometer - Use a refractometer to check the concentration of glycol to make sure it provides adequate freeze protection.

• Ohmmeter - Use an ohmmeter to measure the ohm rating for the compressor, chiller pump, and fan motor.

• Voltmeter - Use a voltmeter to record incoming voltages to ensure it is within 10% of its stated voltage rating.

• Hand Tools - Use an assortment of hand tools to remove, replace, and tighten any components or structure of the chiller.

Chiller Wear Parts

Wear parts are the parts of a chiller that show the most wear and need to be replaced every so often. Some common types of wear parts are:

Motor starter

Bearings

Pump seals

Thermal couples

Flow switch

Fuses

Solenoid valves

Thermal expansion valve

Temperature controller

Switches

At Huazhao Refrigeration Equipment, we recommend keeping a minimum amount of spare parts on hand to prevent unnecessary downtime. Contact our team today to learn about our advanced chiller systems and other cooling solutions.