Problems With a Water Cooled AC

Cost of Installation

• Installing a water-cooled AC system is far more expensive, requiring a large water tower to dissipate the heat from the water absorbed from the condenser, a pump to circulate the water throughout the system, a shell and tube condenser, and large water pipes to carry the water from the pump, through the condenser, to the water tower and back to the pump.

Cost of Maintenance

• Maintaining a water system is considerably more extensive than an air condenser. Maintenance procedures include inspecting for leaks, for mineral or sediment buildup, and for the quality of the water. Cleaning the water tower, which is a fairly laborious task, must be performed on a regular basis. Cleaning the condenser, which should be performed on an annual basis, consists of pulling the heads off the condenser and running a rod with brushes on it through the tubes. If this task is not completed cautiously, a tube in the condenser could be ruptured.

Costs of Water Treatment

• Treating the water with expensive chemicals is performed on a continuous basis in order to avoid sediment and mineral buildup and algae growth that can clog the water passages through the system. Maintaining proper pH is necessary to keep the water from becoming too acidic, causing corrosion in the system.

Cost of Water

• Where water used to be relatively inexpensive, rising water and sewer costs have made it a major expense, offsetting a good portion of the energy savings realized from using a water system. Evaporation happens on a continuous basis, because water towers are open to the atmosphere. As the hot water comes out the top of the tower, it slides down the slats. There is a good deal of evaporation that causes the water to cool. The tower continuously refills itself by means of a float valve.