Check out this video of an endoscopic test on one of our customer’s chillers. The unit was no longer operating in the original design conditions, so our experienced technicians stepped in to diagnose the issue.

The test revealed a hole in this heat exchanger tube, causing refrigerant to leak (the foggy spray) and ice to form (the white “rock”).

What problems can a faulty tube cause?
Faulty tubes result in reduced chiller performance and refrigerant leaks. Both are bad for the environment – and the customer’s wallet. Moreover, when heat exchangers are not adequately maintained, it leads to oil lubrication issues, acidity formation, and compressor wear – all having a significant impact on your chiller’s reliability and causing serious downtime.

Why do faulty tubes happen?
In most cases, faulty tubes are a result of poor water quality. To prevent future issues, we recommend continuous monitoring regular water quality testing.

How do we fix faulty tubes?
To resolve this, our team replaced the faulty tube and ensured all tubes met the original design specifications. And since we already had our hands “dirty”, our technicians also performed an oil change, checked the refrigerant charge, and fully re-commissioned the unit so that it was back to working at its optimal performance level. This non-destructive test is just one example of how our skilled technicians continuously maintain heat exchangers, ensuring top-notch reliability and efficiency.

In a nutshell...
Regular heat exchanger maintenance can prevent:
• Reduced chiller capacity and efficiency, leading to higher energy costs
• Unnecessary refrigerant renewal costs due to leaks
• Dangerous environmental leakages
• Decreased unit reliability from water in the refrigerant circuit

When you opt for Trane’s Heat Exchanger Care program, you get:
• Water quality monitoring
• Tube testing (Eddy current or endoscopic)
• Tube cleaning
• Tube replacement

Stay proactive with your heat exchanger maintenance to avoid costly and hazardous issues. Trust Trane for reliable, efficient solutions.

Discover this and other Trane preventive maintenance services