Domestic Hot Water Recirculation Part 1: What’s The Point?

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What could have led ASHRAE, and subsequently building codes all over the U.S., to require domestic hot water recirculation systems in non-residential buildings? This relatively bold stance on water conservation is quite simply a reaction to profound water shortages throughout the U.S. – shortages that will only get worse as the population continues to increase.
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How to Avoid Legionella Outbreaks in Domestic Hot Water Systems

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Domestic hot-water systems are frequently implicated as the source of legionellosis (Legionnaires’ disease) outbreaks. Very small quantities of Legionella, the bacteria that causes the disease, is commonly found in the ground, in water, and even in tap water. Legionella is not likely to become a health risk unless it begins to multiply and colonize. If not properly designed or maintained, a domestic hot water system (as well as other open water systems) can facilitate such growth....
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What is Legionella and Why Should You Care?

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Legionella. It is a potentially fatal bacterium that for the most part has managed to fly under the radar of the general public since it was first determined as the cause of Legionnaires’ disease in the 1970s. Despite the fact that there are well-known techniques to prevent the growth of the causative bacteria, legionellosis (commonly known as Legionnaires’ disease) has taken the lives of well over 100,000 people in the U.S. alone. Furthermore, reported cases of the bacteria has risen 217 percent in just the last decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Cooling Tower and Condenser Water Design Part 11: Avoiding Common Pitfalls

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We thought it would be a good idea to review some of the most common pitfalls in cooling tower/condenser water design and how to avoid them. We see these so often and the consequences can be so profound that each bears a final warning. Take care to avoid these scenarios and we promise that everyone (from your equipment suppliers to your chemical treatment specialist) will be much happier.
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Cooling Tower and Condenser Water Design Part 10: How Counterflow and Crossflow Towers Differ

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Most commercial HVAC professionals are probably already aware that there are two different types of cooling towers – crossflow and counterflow. While both operate on the principle of evaporative cooling by blowing air across water, the physical configuration of these two types of cooling towers differs quite a bit. Read more....
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