How to clean a chiller?

Bullet · 02/01/2006, 07:54 AM

I did a dumb thing and left my skimmer sit for the past few months with water in it. I pulled it out and put both ends in a bucket of water and some VERY bad water came out! I have been changing that water but it does not seem to be getting clean. I even let it run overnight with a 50/50 water/vinegar mix. It seems better, but is there a better way to clean it?

Bojan · 02/01/2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bullet
I but is there a better way to clean it?

skimmer or chilller ?

Bullet · 02/01/2006, 08:29 AM

I'm sorry! Chiller!

PalmTree · 02/01/2006, 09:00 AM

I would run 100 % vinigar through it for a day or then rinse it out with fresh water. Thats what I do to clean out all my equipment. The 50 50 should be fine though.

Ixthys · 02/01/2006, 09:13 AM

I've been mulling over the same issue. My chiller has built up a bit of deposits inside over the year.

I was thinking of hooking up a 'sort of' closed loop system and running vinegar water through it for a while. Then I'd empty out the vinegar and run fresh water, and then probably purge the chiller with some new salt water.

Definitely not something I'll be doing every month (1hp chillers are heavy)!

flex13 · 02/01/2006, 09:16 AM

I did the same as PalmTree. I also reversed the flow. SO i flushed both ways. Then i ran RO water to clean out the vinigar.

Bullet · 02/01/2006, 09:18 AM

I just cleaned out the water that I have been flushing through it and then tipped it over to get all the water out of it and even more gunk came out. It is getting better but I would think that it should be perfectly clear. I guess I will just keep doing what I am doing until the water runs clear unless there is a better way!

DSP · 02/01/2006, 10:01 AM

Once a year I do a closed loop in a bucket of vinegar, then a bucket of bleach, then a bucket of fresh water with stress coat to get rid of the bleach, and then hook it back up.

szwab · 02/01/2006, 11:19 AM

putting the water thorough a prefilter or filter sock. would keep the bad from going back in the chiller. But it's pretty much doining water changes so to speak until it's clean.

jasonstr8up · 02/01/2006, 12:51 PM

Make sure you keep your coils clean. you should be doing this every month to make sure you unit is working at it's best performance. Also clean the fins. I also vacuum the back of the chiller everytime I vacuum my house (at least once a week). The chiller has to get good air flow.

02/01/2006, 07:54 AM	#1
Bullet Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clear Lake, Iowa Posts: 1,759	How to clean a chiller? I did a dumb thing and left my skimmer sit for the past few months with water in it. I pulled it out and put both ends in a bucket of water and some VERY bad water came out! I have been changing that water but it does not seem to be getting clean. I even let it run overnight with a 50/50 water/vinegar mix. It seems better, but is there a better way to clean it?

02/01/2006, 09:16 AM	#6
flex13 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 400	I did the same as PalmTree. I also reversed the flow. SO i flushed both ways. Then i ran RO water to clean out the vinigar. __________________ Where is my Flash Light....

02/01/2006, 11:19 AM	#9
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	putting the water thorough a prefilter or filter sock. would keep the bad from going back in the chiller. But it's pretty much doining water changes so to speak until it's clean. __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

02/01/2006, 12:51 PM	#10
jasonstr8up Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Coconut Creek, FL Posts: 437	Make sure you keep your coils clean. you should be doing this every month to make sure you unit is working at it's best performance. Also clean the fins. I also vacuum the back of the chiller everytime I vacuum my house (at least once a week). The chiller has to get good air flow. __________________ Honey I promise … This is the last thing I need to buy. Current Tank Info: ASM G-3, CUSTOM SEA LIFE 1/4HP CHILLER AND 18 WATT UV, (2) 110 VHO's, EHEIM 2215 CANISTER, Sealife Systems 200 GAL WET/DRY LITTLE GIANT 4-MDQX-SC,

02/01/2006, 08:29 AM	#3
Bullet Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clear Lake, Iowa Posts: 1,759	I'm sorry! Chiller!

02/01/2006, 09:00 AM	#4
PalmTree Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 104	I would run 100 % vinigar through it for a day or then rinse it out with fresh water. Thats what I do to clean out all my equipment. The 50 50 should be fine though.

02/01/2006, 09:13 AM	#5
Ixthys Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Middletown, MD Posts: 562	I've been mulling over the same issue. My chiller has built up a bit of deposits inside over the year. I was thinking of hooking up a 'sort of' closed loop system and running vinegar water through it for a while. Then I'd empty out the vinegar and run fresh water, and then probably purge the chiller with some new salt water. Definitely not something I'll be doing every month (1hp chillers are heavy)!

02/01/2006, 09:18 AM	#7
Bullet Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clear Lake, Iowa Posts: 1,759	I just cleaned out the water that I have been flushing through it and then tipped it over to get all the water out of it and even more gunk came out. It is getting better but I would think that it should be perfectly clear. I guess I will just keep doing what I am doing until the water runs clear unless there is a better way!

02/01/2006, 10:01 AM	#8
DSP Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: CT Posts: 117	Once a year I do a closed loop in a bucket of vinegar, then a bucket of bleach, then a bucket of fresh water with stress coat to get rid of the bleach, and then hook it back up.