Heat Transfer Fluid Testing
A well-considered heat transfer fluid maintenance and testing program will detect potential issues ahead of time so your heating, ventilation, air conditioning or refrigeration (HVACR) system can operate without interruption to your business operations or the comfort of your facility or home. In addition to ensuring the reliability of your equipment, regular fluid testing can ensure operating efficiency, limit the impact of wear and tear, reduce corrosion, freezing and system failure and could even lower energy costs.
When should you test your heat transfer fluids?
All fluids should be tested within the first year of the initial fill or change to ensure a baseline sample is created for future testing. Following on from initial testing, larger systems will require annual or semi-annual inspections with some smaller systems requiring monthly checks. As these fluids degrade their viscosity and heat transfer capabilities may be affected and system problems become more likely. Be sure to check your heat transfer fluids if you notice a decline in performance or if the system is modified or altered at any point. Additionally, you should consider testing your fluids prior to the winter season, to ensure adequate freeze protection.
To order your CORECHEM FLUID TEST please:
- Fill out the following form
- Draw fluid sample in kit supplied by CORECHEM (preferred), or in a clean, labeled container that does not leak.
- Print the email you receive and enclose with the sample.
- Ship to address noted on the email.
VERY IMPORTANT: Leaking or unlabeled samples WILL NOT be accepted for sampling.
How does CORECHEM Fluid Testing work?
When testing your heat transfer fluids, samples should be taken from a live part of the system to ensure the most accurate results. A clean sample container is vital to guarantee the results aren’t compromised and a glass beaker or Nalgene™ plastic bottle is the optimal choice so the sample can be evaluated visually. CORECHEM’s test kit (supplied using the above form) includes a 500-mL Nalgene™ bottle for your convenience.
At CORECHEM, we will ship a return-addressed sample test kit free of charge to all customers using our HTF products.
Note: We can also offer this service to non-CORECHEM HTF customers for a small fee.
What does a CORECHEM HTF test screen for?
A visual analysis of the general condition, checking the base fluid concentration and the pH level of the HTF. In addition to this routine analysis, a CORECHEM fluid test will check for:
- Level of corrosion inhibitors – corrosion inhibitors can deplete over time. When these levels fall, the chance of damage to equipment rises.
- Fluid degradation – some common HTF compounds including ethylene glycol and propylene glycol can be negatively affected by excess exposure to heat. A fluid analysis will reveal degradation, and this can then be rectified before damage to equipment occurs.
- Acids – these may form in HTFs as they begin to degrade and can cause system corrosion.
- Corrosive ions – such as chloride or sulfates can occur if water-quality is poor and will have a negative effect on system operations.
- Degradation products – such as copper or iron which could indicate corrosion in the system.
To order your CORECHEM FLUID TEST, simply fill out the form above.
