The document describes the poor condition of an aging 33-year-old cooling tower, noting several issues that require attention: tree growth blocking airflow, electrical equipment lying in puddles, algae growth on piping, rusting support beams, and a lack of maintenance and water treatment leading to biological buildup. Refurbishing the cooling tower is recommended rather than full replacement, as maintenance and cleaning could extend its life by another 15-25 years.

1. BERNSTEIN MANAGEMENTCORPORATION
10003 Derekwood LaneLanham, MD 20706
The Cooling Tower is Baltimore Aircoil Company (BAC) 1984
Model: VXT – N215CM
Serial No: 84 – 5806

2. An Industrial cooling towers life expectancy is between 15 and 25
years, yet it is not always necessary to install a completely new
Tower. Old cooling towers can be refurbished.
THE TOWER IN THIS PICTURE IS 33 YEARS OLD.
There were many things concerning about my inspection of
the cooling tower in the above picture.
1. Trash and junk stored around the tower.
2. Tree growth along the back of the fence and top of the cooling
tower.
3. Electrical Heat Tape lying on the ground.
4. Over flow drain water is dumping water on the ground causing
dirty mud buildup.
5. Across the front of the cooling tower there is indoor air filter
material causing a restriction in the air flow to the cooling tower.
6. Algae have completely taken over the inner lining and outer
coating on the supply and return piping of the cooling tower.

3. 7. The support beams that support the cooling tower are rusted and
the concrete footing on one side of the tower looks to be sinking
in the mud.
8. There are electrical wires exposed and are sitting in water on the
ground and along the side of the cooling tower.
9. The pulley and shaft that support the belts are rusted.
This is filter material used for Air Handling Units indoors. By placing this
on the front of the cooling tower your air flow is restricted to the
cooling tower.

4. In this picture you see heat tape lying on the ground. Heat tape is
designed to rap around pipes to prevent freezing in the winter months.
This picture shows the torn insulation and the algae growth along the
cooling tower supply pipe.

5. Here you see Bacteria, Fungus and Algae growth along the sides an top
of the cooling tower.
Here is cooling tower over flow drain water dumping on to the ground
causing mud puddles and growth.

6. The over flow water coming from the cooling tower should be piped
into a drain.

7. This picture shows the rusted steel beam which supports the cooling
tower.
Trash and storage should never be near your cooling tower.

8. The two reasons this cooling tower is in this condition is the lack of
maintenance and water treatment.

9. In this picture you see the belts on the pulley connected to the shaft
which has no oil and is rusted.
Water treatment reduces accumulations of scale,
Sediment and biological slime and other
microorganisms such as algae and other harmful
Bacteria growth in an around your cooling tower.
All cooling towers should be thoroughly cleaned and
disinfectedtwice per year.
I hope this information has been helpful in your decision
moving forward.
Thank you
Andre Johnson – STATIONARY/POWER ENGINEER