Free checklist
Cooling tower annual maintenance checklist
The annual cooling tower service is the deep pass: the measurements, cleanings and tests a quarterly round doesn't reach. This checklist keeps the full service on record with the photos that make it defensible later. Work is commonly verified against manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 11
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The mechanical service crew on the annual shutdown, with the treatment vendor for the disinfection.
When in the schedule
Once a year at startup or layup, when the tower can be shut down and drained. The clean-out is what keeps scale and biofilm from carrying into the next season.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Drain and clean
- 3 photos
Basin drained, cleaned and disinfected
Basin emptied to bare metal or FRP, sediment and biofilm removed, disinfection performed and logged with the treatment vendor.
- 2 photos
Fill and drift eliminators pulled and inspected
A section of fill lifted for scale and fouling behind the face, eliminators pulled, cleaned and reseated with no gaps.
Mechanical section
- 2 photos
Gearbox serviced and fan balance checked
Gearbox oil changed and sampled, fan blade pitch and tip clearance within spec, no cracks at hubs, balance verified.
- 1 photo
Vibration switch and belt drive serviced
Vibration cut-out functionally tripped and reset, belts replaced or re-tensioned, bearings greased on the service schedule.
Structure and controls
- 2 photos
Structural steel, fasteners and casing inspected
Waterline and support steel checked for corrosion and section loss, casing and louvers sound, ladder and handrail secure.
- 1 photo
Basin heater, level and safety controls verified
Freeze-protection heater and thermostat operational where fitted, level controls and low-water cutout proven, alarms reporting.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Basin scraped and refilled with no plan for the biological control the treatment vendor is supposed to sign off, so the disinfection step gets skipped.
- Vibration in the fan section noted for two seasons running with no cut-limit switch tested and no balance actually checked.
- Structural steel corrosion at the waterline written off as surface rust until a fill support finally lets go.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 11 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Common questions
- What does this cooling tower annual checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections, covering drain and clean, mechanical section, structure and controls. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The mechanical service crew on the annual shutdown, with the treatment vendor for the disinfection.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Once a year at startup or layup, when the tower can be shut down and drained. The clean-out is what keeps scale and biofilm from carrying into the next season.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 11 of the 6 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a cooling tower annual inspection?
- Basin scraped and refilled with no plan for the biological control the treatment vendor is supposed to sign off, so the disinfection step gets skipped. Vibration in the fan section noted for two seasons running with no cut-limit switch tested and no balance actually checked. Structural steel corrosion at the waterline written off as surface rust until a fill support finally lets go.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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