Welcome to Gritton Services

Improving efficiency & reliability through the life of your equipment

How Do We Inspect Your Cooling Towers?

We Inspect The Tower Casing
We look for leaks, cracks, holes, or general deterioration, including air leaks between adjoining panels. Additionally, we make sure that the hardware attaching the casing to the structure is tight and in healthy condition. We also inspect steel casing for corrosion or buildup and examine wood casing for signs of decay, including soft rot or plywood delamination. Our team also looks for evidence of brittleness or cracking in your fiber glass casing. We’ll even ensure that access doors are in working order and that they’re shut tightly when your tower is in operation.
We Check The Structure
We inspect the structure of a steel tower for evidence of corrosion—particularly any loss of metal. We also spot-check the tightness of bolted joints. Additionally, we look closely for signs of corrosion near welded joints on galvanized steel towers. We also identify signs of wood deterioration, including through cracks, fractures, or decay in wood members. We’ll even inspect wood members both visually and by tapping them with a hammer. Our team also inspects joint connectors for evidence of corrosion or other signs of deterioration. We check the assembled joints of a fiberglass or plastic tower to be sure that the hardware is tight and in good condition. Lastly, we’ll look for evidence of tearing or cracking in the structure.
Fan Deck
We check the general condition of the fan deck material, noting any steel corrosion or wood decay. We make sure the fan deck support members are in good condition and that connections between the fan deck and the supports are tight. We also look for air leaks between adjoining fan deck panels. As a business owner, you may know that fan deck overlays are a tripping hazard. But don’t worry, we’ll ensure that overlays are properly attached and that the overlay material is in good condition. Consider replacing ACB overlays immediately, regardless of condition.
Stairway
We look for evidence of wood decay or steel corrosion. We check for loose treads, handrails, or deteriorated stringers. We make sure all bolted connections are tight and that hardware is in good condition.
Ladder and Handrail
We check the general condition of materials and make sure that all connections between the ladder and the tower are tight and in good condition. We’ll also check the welds on steel and aluminum ladders.
Interior Walkway
We look for broken or deteriorated treads and rails on wood or fiberglass walkways, and we inspect steel walkways for evidence of corrosion. We check the tightness of connections between the walkway and the tower structure.
Cold Water Basin
We check for excessive buildup of sludge and accumulated debris that can provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. We also check the condition of sump, sump screen, and anti-cavitation device (if one is used). We inspect wood, steel, and fiberglass basins carefully for any signs of leaks or breakdown of sealing material.
Distribution Basin
We check for deterioration of the basic material, as well as for wood for decay, and check for corrosion of steel. We’ll look for leaks between adjoining panels and inspect the integrity of basin support members. We’ll check the tightness of bolted joints in steel or fiberglass basins.
Piping
We inspect iron pipes for corrosion and loss of coating material, and we examine all supports to ensure their integrity for continued service. We spot check for leaks and for tightness of bolted joints. We look for signs of deterioration on PVC or fiberglass pipe.
Basin Flow-control Vaives
We inspect valve components for corrosion or signs of wear. We operate the valve manually through its full range of travel and reset the valves to balance water flow to all basin sections.
Spray Nozzles
We check for clogging or signs of internal wear and look for any loss of material resulting from corrosion or erosion. We’ll also check for adequate connection to branch pipe or distribution basin floor.
Fill Packing

Fill comes in two general types: splash and film.

Splash fill consists of wood or plastic bars in various shapes, supported in a fixed spacing and orientation, usually using a wire or fiberglass grid. Ceramic bricks are another type of splash fill. For each splash fill, we check the condition of the splash bars themselves. We look for sagging, broken, or decaying splash bars or excessive buildup of scale, as well as for fallen or misplaced splash bars. We check the coating on steel grids, the condition of the welds on stainless wire grids, and the general condition of fiberglass grids.

Film fill consists of multiple parallel formed sheets, either hung in the tower or resting on fixed support members. We check for buildup of scale, algae, or other contaminants on the surface of the sheets. We also check for erosion, sagging, torn sheets, or evidence of ice damage and the condition of support members.

Drift(Mist) Eliminators
We make sure that all air passages are clear of debris and as clean as possible. We also that all components are properly installed and check the condition of seals to assure that water can’t bypass the eliminators through deteriorated or missing seals.
Belt Drive Fan System
We check the condition of the pulleys, looking for any corrosion or loss of metal in the pulley grooves or on the webs. We also make sure that the bushings holding the pulleys on the shafts are tight and in order and also check for proper belt tension and alignment. Our experts will look for signs of wear, such as checks and gouges, indicating that belts should be changed. We check the fan shaft bearing lubricant, and re-lubricate if necessary. We make sure that shafts and seals are in good condition and look out for loose or damaged bearings. We make sure that all connections between the bearing housing and the support are tight and in good condition. Lastly, we check the support itself for evidence of corrosion or other damage, and check the tightness of connections between the support and the tower structure.
Geareducer Gear Drive
We check the oil level and for oil leaks around seals (particularly input pinion seals). We also check for backlash by rotating the pinion shaft back and forth, noting the amount of free rotation before the gear teeth engage fully. We’ll check endplay by pulling up and down on a fan blade tip, noting the amount of movement in the gear drive output shaft. We also make sure that the outside of the case is free from excessive deposits that may inhibit cooling. Finally, we ensure that all hardware connecting the gear drive to the support is tight and in good condition.
Direct Drive Fan System
We make sure that the fan bushing is tight on the motor shaft and that the bushing and its hardware are in good condition. Additionally, we’ll check the joints between the motor mount and its support.
Driveshaft and Couplings
We check alignment using any approved method, such as a dial indicator or optical device. We’ll for evidence of corrosion or other damage on the tube, particularly near any welds. Furthermore, we check all connections between the tube and the flex elements and between the coupling halves and the motor and gear drive shafts. We examine metallic flex elements very carefully for signs of corrosion or fatigue. Lastly, we monitor elastomeric flex elements for cracks, brittleness, or other signs of wear.
Fan
If your tower has centrifugal blowers, we check for broken or missing blades. We look for corrosion or erosion of the blades, particularly near any welds between the blades and the end plates. Additionally, our experts check the condition and tightness of the hub and the bushings between the hub and shaft. We’ll also check the fixed-pitch fan blades for corrosion or erosion. We’ll carefully examine the connections between the blades and hub as well as the condition and tightness of the bushing between the hub and shaft. We check the blades and hub of adjustable-pitch fans for signs of corrosion, erosion, or excessive buildup of deposits. We check the tightness and condition of the hardware attaching the blades to the hub. Lastly, we examine the connections between the hub cover (if there is one) and the fan hub.
Fan Cylinder (Shrouds)
We check the overall condition of the material, paying particular attention to any welds in steel shrouds. We also check the condition and tightness of all assembly and hold-down hardware. Additionally, we look for any leaks between adjoining stack segments. We measure the fan blade tip clearance all around the cylinder, using the longest fan blade.
Mechanical Equipment Support
We examine all steel components for corrosion or loss of metal, particularly near welds and bearing surfaces. We check the tightness of connections between the mechanical equipment and the support, and between the support and the tower structure. Additionally, we check all bolted connections in the support itself for proper tightness and condition of hardware. On wood towers, we look for evidence of iron rot wherever the support contacts the structure. On steel and fiberglass towers, we check all bolted connections between the support and the structure itself.
Makeup Value
We operate the float valve or float switch manually to make sure that it opens and closes properly.