Open cooling tower cleaning

Fouling reduces efficiency, increases energy use, and can lead to under-deposit corrosion and bacterial growth, including Legionella. Regular cleaning with Goodway® equipment removes scale and biofouling, protects delicate components, lowers operating costs, and helps extend equipment lifetime.

Yes. Chemical cleaning-in-place with Goodway® ScaleBreak descalers can effectively remove heavy scale deposits. Because the descaler circulates through the entire system, all connected systems and piping are cleaned simultaneously. When the correct descaler is used, the risks are minimal. Always contact the Goodway Benelux team for support in case you want to perform a full cooling tower cleaning-in-place.

No. Goodway® descalers like ScaleBreak-MP and ScaleBreak-gel are formulated to safely remove scale and biofouling without harming metal or plastic components when used according to instructions.

For effective cleaning, you can use the Goodway® CTV‑1501 cooling tower vacuum to remove fouling and sediment from the basin, and the TFC‑JR cleaner for components like air intake louvers and drift eliminators, ideally with ScaleBreak‑gel for descaling. Alternatively, a chemical descaler like ScaleBreak‑MP can be circulated to flush and clean the entire cooling tower for a complete system descaling.

When specific areas need to be descaled, ScaleBreak-Gel is a great product to remove scale deposits. When cleaning the entire cooling tower system, ScaleBreak-MP is the preferred descaler. You can use the existing pump system of the cooling tower cycle to circulate the descaler throughout the system.

Extra descaling solution should be added if the initial solution becomes diluted or the cleaning cycle is extended due to heavy fouling. This ensures deposits continue to dissolve and the cooling tower is fully cleaned. The Goodway Benelux team can provide special step-by-step manuals for this type of cleaning but also provide on-site or remote support during the job.

Goodway® descalers can remove scale, rust, and biofouling from open cooling towers, heat exchangers, chillers, and other water-cooled equipment.

Yes. Goodway® descalers like ScaleBreak-MP are biodegradable, safe on metals and plastics, and formulated to remove scale, rust and biofouling effectively while minimizing environmental impact when used according to instructions.

Both products are liquid descalers, used to remove scale, rust and biological fouling from all kinds of heat exchangers. The difference is in the main ingredient of the descalers. With ScaleBreak regular, that is hydrochloric acid, while ScaleBreak-MP uses citric acid. Regular ScaleBreak reacts about 30% faster, but dissolves less scale per liter. ScaleBreak-MP works a little slower, but dissolves more scale per liter. Regular ScaleBreak can be used on several applications and product materials, but not on stainless steel. ScaleBreak-MP is a multi-purpose product, which can be used on nearly all base metals, including stainless steel. ScaleBreak regular has a more competitive price point than ScaleBreak-MP.

Both descalers are biodegradable, however regular ScaleBreak falls under ADR-regulations for storage and shipment within the EU. Because of the use of hydrochloric acid, the EU-guidelines classify the product within the ADR-range, however the use of the product is no different from other descalers, such as ScaleBreak-MP.

The mixture rate depends on the type and severity of fouling and the equipment being cleaned. But in general, it can vary between 25 to 100%. Contact the Goodway Benelux team for accurate advice, based on your specific cleaning application.

After cleaning, collect the used descaler and neutralize it according to local environmental and safety regulations, use neutralizing powder for safer handling. The Goodway Benelux team can provide step-by-step procedures for the neutralization and disposal of chemicals. Never pour it directly into drains or the environment – follow local rules for proper disposal.

Yes. Components like air intake louvers and drift eliminators can be cleaned using the Goodway® TFC‑JR cleaner, CC-400HF condenser cleaner and ScaleBreak‑Gel for effective cleaning and descaling.

Online cleaning-in-place (CIP) circulates a chemical descaler like ScaleBreak‑MP through the entire cooling tower system while it remains operational. The solution dissolves scale, rust, and biofouling, which are then flushed out, restoring efficiency without shutting down or disassembling the system. The existing pump system of the cooling tower can be used to circulate the descaler through the system.

Cold temperatures can slow down the descaling process. ScaleBreak descalers rely on a chemical reaction that typically becomes about 50% slower for every 10 °C drop in temperature. In colder conditions, the solution can also become more viscous, which may reduce flow and increase the required circulation or dwell time.

Normal water temperatures of around 12–15 °C are generally not a problem and ScaleBreak will still perform effectively. Heating the solution is not always necessary, but increasing the temperature (ideally to 24–38 °C) can significantly speed up the cleaning process. Always ensure the temperature stays below the maximum pump system limit (50 °C).

In summary: ScaleBreak descalers work in cold conditions, but warming the solution can improve cleaning speed and efficiency, especially during winter operations.

Goodway® systems offer a complete, integrated approach to open cooling tower cleaning that goes beyond basic manual or improvised methods. Options like the CTV‑1501 basin vacuum remove sediment and biofouling without draining or shutting down the tower, saving time and water, while devices such as the TFC‑JR apply descaling chemicals effectively to louvers and drift separators. Combined with chemical descalers like ScaleBreak‑MP for full CIP cleaning, Goodway® solutions help maintain efficiency, reduce downtime, and address fouling throughout the entire system – including connected piping and heat exchangers – more efficiently and with less labor than traditional cleaning approaches.