Q: DO I NEED TO DESCALE MY EQUIPMENT?

A: We take numerous things for granted in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. More often than not, we don’t give much thought to our boilers, cooling towers, power plants, condensers and heat exchangers.

What we don’t realize is that these hardworking equipment have to be descaled from time to time to keep them at optimal working capacities.

Q: WHAT ARE COMMON AND IMPORTANT REASONS FOR DESCALING?

1. To keep systems more efficient and prevent the breakdown of operations.

Descaling is crucial to keeping operations going. For instance, power plants require the use of many boilers, condensers, cooling towers and heat exchangers – parts where scale is likely to build. Scale buildup will clog pipes, which in turn will force pumps to work harder to push water past the developing scales. If not descaled, the build-up might result in equipment failure, which in turn might cause the entire plant to be shut down for repairs.

2. Periodic descaling helps prevent Legionnaire’s disease bacteria.

Chiller tubes and cooling tower systems have to undergo regular descaling. Cooler tubes often become caked with algae, mud, scale and sludge. These also develop in the water that accumulates in a cooling tower’s basin floor. Unfortunately, Legionella bacteria thrive in this environment. Descaling would remove the scale, sediments, and slime present and minimize the development of the bacteria. Disinfecting the area would also ensure that the bacterial growth is stopped.

3. To maintain the safety of homes and businesses.

Hard water scales in boilers, cooling towers and pipework, lowers the efficiency of these parts. In some cases, they might become too dangerous to operate. The scale that develops from calcium and magnesium becomes an insulator between the water and the boiler or pipe’s metal surface, resulting in an increase in the metal’s temperature. Once the scale reaches a certain thickness, the metal overheats and causes blisters in the material to develop. This might eventually lead to equipment to rupture.

4. Lessens energy costs and saves time and money.

Regular descaling results in equipment working at optimal levels. This reduces energy costs that might happen if a boiler or condenser’s heating capacity is compromised, forcing it to work harder. Descaling also reduces the odds of the equipment breaking down, thereby saving time and money needed to fix it

Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DESCALING AND CLEANING?

A: All sorts of unwanted impurities can collect in industrial equipment —including bacteria, yeast, and mold. When you clean your equipment, you can effectively remove these impurities. It’s a good idea to clean and disinfect to keep your water towers safe and effective.

The purpose of descaling is different. The goal is to remove mineral buildup. Water contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and lime. These minerals can build up inside your equipment and in the tubes. In the worst case scenario, mineral buildup can clog the water flow and prevent your equipment from working at all. It is highly recommended that descaling is done on water systems regularly.

Syner Chem provides both descaling service and products for your equipment. Contact us to get a quote suited for your system.