TMI Coatings Blog

Spring is finally here and the weather is getting warmer.  This is the perfect time of year to inspect your cooling tower basin to determine if it is in need of repair and/or lining before the heat of summer.

When your cooling tower basin (brand names include Marley, Baltimore and others) starts to leak, corrosion is usually the reason.  You may not have to replace the pan.  Your cooling tower basin can be repaired and coated to reduce corrosion and contain liquids. 

TMI Coatings recently lined a Baltimore Air Cooler (BAC) unit for a company in Eagan, MN.  The unit was leaking and needed to be repaired.  First all existing failed caulk was removed.  Next the pan was abraded using steel grinding disks, wire wheels and/or diamond grinders to prepare for new coating adhesion.  Then a prime coat of an elastomeric waterproof coating was applied to all seams, fasteners and corners.  Skrim cloth was embedded into the waterproof coating over failing seams/fastener areas.  Finally, TMI applied two heavy coats of an elastomer over the entire basin floor and 1’ up the sidewalls.

This elastomeric waterproof coating has very good chemical and abrasion resistance and is commonly used to line cooling tower basins.  The coating offers corrosion protection against the chemicals used in treating the water.  The protective coating has good expansion/contraction properties, making it ideal for temperature changes.   

This lining can be expected to last 7-10 years.  The cost to coat this particular cooling tower basin was approximately one-fourth the cost of replacing the pan.

If you have a cooling tower basin that is leaking, or to learn more about protective coatings, contact TMI at 651-452-6100 or via email at tmi@tmicoatings.com for a free, no obligation quote.

TMI Coatings Team

www.tmicoatings.com

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