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Chiller Maintenance Tips

Whether your chiller has been periodically coming on and off during the winter, has stayed off, or was disconnected and placed in the garage, it may need a little TLC before it goes through the rigors of summer time use. Here are some simple maintenance tips you can use for both periodic maintenance as well as the once per year preparation for the summer months. Before performing any maintenance it is important to unplug all power cords.

A. Get under the cover - Remove the screws holding the chillers cover in place and remove the cover. Using a vacuum with a brush attachment, vacuum as much dust and debris as possible from the components as well as the condenser fins adjacent to the fan and fan motor. If this has not been done on a regular basis throughout the year dust, hair, pet fur and other debris may have become entrenched inside the condenser fins. In extreme cases you may need to use compressed air to blow out the debris. If that is not available, bring the chiller outside and use a water hose with sprayer attachment to push out the debris. Direct the water so that it forces the debris outwards from the chiller, not inwards toward the fan and motor. Make sure all the fins on the condenser are straight before proceeding-an old credit card can be used to straighten the fins if needed. This type of maintenance should be performed at least once for every 6 months of operation, or more often if the outside portion of the condenser has not been kept clean.

B. Check your connections - After cleaning the inside portion of the chiller makes sure all wiring connections are dry and still in place and that none of the refrigerant lines or copper capillary tube have become bent or crimped. If you notice any damaged refrigerant lines or tubing have become damaged, please call customer service at 760-727-7011 before attempting to use the chiller. Once all is checked and secured, place the cover back on the chiller and secure it with the screws removed in section A.

C. Clean the outside portion of the condenser - At this point you should only need to use a vacuum with brush attachment to remove the debris that was blown out from your work in section A. . Make sure all the fins on the condenser are straight before proceeding-an old credit card can be used to straighten the fins if needed. This maintenance should be performed at least once per month to ensure maximum performance of the chiller.

D. Flush the evaporator - About once per year it is recommended that you flush the evaporator housing with fresh water along with a hard-water stain remover to remove calcium buildup and other mineral deposits. If the chiller is a Drop-In style the Drop-In coil can be placed in a bucket of freshwater along with the stain remover solution. Rinse the evaporator housing or coil thoroughly with freshwater to remove any traces of the cleaning solution and allow to air dry before placing back into operation.

E. Clean the housing & air filter- The chiller's cover will need cleaning as well. Cut outs in the housing that allow air flow should be cleaned thoroughly to remove dust, fur and debris that can affect the airflow through the unit. The outside can be cleaned with a wet towel-mild detergents may be used but should not come into contact with the water fittings going in and out of the chiller's evaporator housing or on any part of the Drop-In hose.

F. Check the power cords thoroughly - The power cords that were unplugged before you began with the maintenance should be carefully inspected for any corrosion, moisture or salt deposits. Use a clean soft cloth to remove any deposits from the power cord prongs and from the cord itself. Also inspect the area surrounding the power receptacle for any deposits. When placing the fixture back into operation, make sure that all power cords have a proper drip loop (your instruction manual with have a diagram illustrating a proper drip loop).

G. Check your connections and pump - Whether you have had the chiller plumbed throughout the winter or are just hooking it up again, be sure to check all your plumbing connections to ensure there are no leaks or breaks. Also, make sure that the pump feeding water into the chiller has been maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations to minimize chances of the pump failing to start.

Performing these maintenance steps will help ensure that the chiller not only functions efficiently and correctly, but also to maximize its lifespan. Cleaning maybe required more frequently than is specified depending upon how dirty the unit gets.

Important: Remove the product immediately from service if any corrosion is found on any of the electrical components.

Prime Modular Chiller #2606

A clean condenser will
greatly increase efficiency

It is important to keep any air filters
clean of dirt, debris and pet hair

Rinsing/cleaning an evaporator with
freshwater will remove deposits & build-up

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