What to Consider Before Installing a New Cooling Tower in Arkansas
If you’re planning to install a new cooling tower in Arkansas, there are several important factors to evaluate before moving forward. From system sizing to climate considerations, each decision you make affects performance, long-term costs, and reliability.
Whether you're upgrading outdated equipment or building a new system from scratch, taking time to assess the proper criteria ensures your investment pays off. Below, we break down the key considerations to review before installing a new cooling tower in Arkansas, and how HSSR helps businesses choose the right solution from day one.
1. Evaluate Your Cooling Load Requirements
Before selecting a new cooling tower, you need a clear understanding of your facility’s cooling demand. This includes:
Current and projected heat loads
Peak operational hours
Seasonal fluctuations
Potential future expansions
Oversizing leads to unnecessary operational costs; undersizing causes system strain, water waste, and early equipment failure. Accurate load calculation is the foundation of a reliable cooling tower system.
2. Account for Arkansas’ Climate Conditions
Many states deal with heat, but Arkansas brings something additional: high humidity, rapid weather changes, and a wide range of industrial applications. All of these conditions impact:
Tower efficiency in high humidity
Evaporation rates
Heat rejection performance
Material durability in fluctuating weather conditions
Choosing a tower designed for Arkansas’s moisture-rich climate helps maintain consistent thermal performance even during extreme summer weather.
3. Choose the Right Tower Type
Not all cooling towers perform the same. Selecting the right type depends on your operational environment, noise limitations, water usage, and maintenance capabilities.
Common cooling tower types
Each type has unique advantages. Selecting the right design ensures optimal performance and long-term cost savings:
4. Review Water Quality and Treatment Requirements
Arkansas water can vary significantly by location, from hard water regions to facilities with process contaminants. Poor water quality shortens the lifespan of cooling towers, increases scale buildup, and reduces thermal efficiency.
Before installing a new tower, evaluate:
Water hardness and mineral content
Corrosion potential
Microbiological growth risks
Chemical treatment requirements
Filtration systems (sand filters, side-stream filtration, separators)
Ignoring water quality is one of the top reasons cooling towers fail prematurely. HSSR helps facilities implement the right water treatment plan to protect their investment.
5. Assess Your Space and Structural Requirements
A cooling tower needs proper airflow to reject heat effectively, especially during Arkansas’s summers. Poor placement can suffocate the system, raise operating temperatures, and increase energy consumption.
Before installation, evaluate:
Roof strength or pad foundation
Proximity to building air intakes
Required clearance for service and airflow
Prevailing wind patterns
Sun exposure and shading
Photo by HSSR
6. Understand Energy Efficiency Goals
Modern cooling towers offer energy-saving technologies that significantly reduce operational costs, such as:
High-efficiency fans
Variable speed drives (VFDs)
Low-energy fill media
Optimized drift eliminators
In Arkansas, where summers can strain systems, a well-designed tower can significantly reduce electricity consumption and operating costs.
7. Plan for Long-Term Maintenance and Accessibility
A cooling tower is a long-term investment. To maintain peak performance, ensure your tower design allows for:
Quick access to critical parts
Safe inspection routes
Easy removal of fill media or fans
Efficient cleaning and water treatment practices
Systems that are difficult to maintain tend to fail earlier and cost more over their lifespan.
8. Confirm Compliance With Local Regulations
Cooling tower installations in Arkansas must comply with state and municipal regulations, especially concerning:
Drift control
Chemical discharge
Noise ordinances
OSHA access and safety requirements
Energy efficiency expectations
Aesthetic or footprint restrictions for commercial zones
If your tower is located near residential areas, busy retail zones, or office buildings, noise mitigation may also be required. Partnering with a contractor familiar with Arkansas’ regulatory landscape helps you avoid delays and compliance issues.
9. Consider Maintenance Needs and Lifecycle Costs
Some towers are easier and cheaper to maintain than others. Crossflow towers, for example, offer easier access for cleaning and component replacement, lowering costs over time. However, every cooling tower will need:
Regular inspections
Cleaning
Water treatment
Motor and fan maintenance
Fill media replacement
It is essential to learn when your cooling tower needs maintenance to avoid costly repairs and a shutdown. Before installing a new cooling tower, we recommend asking your provider for the expected lifespan, a maintenance schedule, and the availability of replacement parts.
Photo by HSSR
10. Work With a Contractor Who Understands Hydronic Systems
Choosing the right partner is one of the most critical decisions in your installation project. You need a team that understands hydronics, cooling loads, fan systems, water treatment, and long-term performance behavior.
At HSSR, our engineering background helps clients select innovative, cost-effective cooling tower solutions tailored to Arkansas facilities.
Why Choose HSSR for Cooling Tower Installation in Arkansas?
HSSR makes building management easier:
Engineering expertise in hydronic and HVAC systems
Accurate system sizing and performance modeling
High-quality parts and equipment
Turn-key installation and long-term service
Local support across Arkansas, from Fayetteville to Little Rock
We help customers make decisions that lead to efficient, reliable, and properly installed cooling systems. Our mission is to help you identify the right system that offers the highest long-term savings with the smartest upfront investment.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right cooling tower is a strategic decision that impacts your facility’s efficiency, safety, and operating costs for many years. By assessing climate conditions, water quality, sizing, location, and energy efficiency early on, you can prevent costly problems and optimize long-term performance.
If you’re considering installing a new cooling tower in Arkansas, working with a skilled local specialist ensures a smoother, quicker, and more dependable process. Contact HSSR for a custom cooling tower installation plan built for long-term performance.
