DBS Services recently gained the service contract with a hotel in Mayfair, London and were called in to look at its air conditioning systems. The roof had no local water supply which meant that the chillers had not been cleaned for quite some time and were tripping out at high ambient temperatures. There were also a number of evaporators in the rooms that were found to be badly blocked.
Microbial growth
Air conditioning systems such as these can provide perfect conditions for microbial growth. Moisture, darkness and warmth are three key ingredients for microbial growth and these naturally occurring contaminants use the moisture present in air conditioning systems as a breeding ground.
This growth is accelerated when warmth is added, where fungi and bacteria can colonise and sometime proliferate to become harmful concentrations.
Frionett® Cleaning Solutions
DBS selected the Frionett® range of high performance cleaning products from Climalife to address the problems at the hotel*. These products, approved to EU standards, can act as effective treatment against fungi, mould, algae and bacteria, including Legionella, Salmonella and Listeria.
On the hotel roof, the engineer from DBS stripped out the fan motors and sprayed the coils with Frionett® Power, a general purpose cleaner for external units. Frionett® Power is an alkaline product, that’s intended for the professional cleaning of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. It’s cleaning and degreasing power eliminates dust, grease and other dirt on condensers.
| Condenser on roof before cleaning
|
 Condenser on roof after cleaning |
DBS then also ran a temporary water supply to rinse off the dirt and debris until the water ran clear.
Frionett® Power has the potential to increase plant efficiency by up to 30%. DBS were very pleased with the results.
The badly blocked evaporator units in the hotel rooms were completely stripped down and cleaned with Frionett® Activ Foam.
 Internal unit before cleaning |
Internal unit after cleaning |
Frionett® Activ Foam is a powerful cleaner intended for indoor air conditioning units and formulated to eliminate bacteria and algae. It cleans, degreases and removes foul odours from air conditioning (wall and ceiling units) and refrigeration equipment (evaporators). Unlike some cleaners that can leave a chemical smell after use, Frionett® Active Foam has a pleasant fresh fragrance. It’s clear to see the results were excellent.
Customer satisfaction
The bacterial cleaning properties of Frionett, were particularly well regarded by the hotel chain who were very satisfied with the results. John Herbert, Service Manager at DBS Services, said “The results from using Frionett were far better than anticipated. Our customer was very happy and has requested that this become part of the regular maintenance schedule.”
DBS are also now using Frionett as a standard on all their service engineers vans.
Conclusions:
To prevent health risks, odours, blockages or corrosion, microbial growth must be controlled before it becomes a problem.
It’s recommended that appropriate cleaning forms part of a regular service and maintenance schedule – ideally every three to six months, depending on the system. Growth and spread of micro-organisms can be quickly and simply minimised.
The lasting protection provided through appropriate cleaning can offer peace of mind to contractors, facilities managers and end users who are all responsible for ensuring hygienic operation of systems. System efficiencies will also be optimised, with a reduced likelihood of breakdowns and call outs between servicing.
New and improved Frionett®:
Climalife have just launched a new improved formula called Frionett® Power Ultra – now with enhanced decreasing power!
*Frionett® cleaning products were used in conjunction with guidance in their respective Product and Safety Data Sheets.