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What is a chiller, and why does maintenance matter?
A chiller is the central cooling plant that supplies chilled water (typically 7/12 °C) to a building's fan coil units, air handling units or process equipment. On its own it accounts for one of the largest shares of a building's total electricity consumption, so even small efficiency losses show up directly on the bill.
Dust on condenser fins, scale and dirt in the tubes of water-cooled units, low refrigerant charge or dirty oil raise condensing pressure, make the compressor work harder and cause high-pressure alarm shutdowns. Scheduled maintenance catches these problems through measurement before they become breakdowns.
What does chiller maintenance include?
- Condenser fin or tube bundle cleaning
- Evaporator inlet/outlet temperature and pressure measurement (approach)
- Compressor current, voltage and insulation measurement
- Compressor oil level, color and oil analysis if needed
- Refrigerant pressure, superheat and subcooling measurement
- Refrigerant leak test with an electronic leak detector
- Fan motor, bearing and belt check
- Cleaning of flow switch, water filter and strainer
- Contactor, terminal and panel tightness check
- Controller alarm history and setpoints
- Glycol concentration and freeze protection check (on systems that require it)
- Written maintenance report with measurement results
Maintenance intervals: which task, how often?
The table below shows the typical maintenance schedule we follow on site. Exact intervals are set in the maintenance plan based on manufacturer instructions, operating hours and how intensively the facility is used.
| Job | Monthly | Semi-annual | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logging of operating pressures and temperatures | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Review of alarm history | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Condenser surface check / cleaning | Control | Cleaning | Chemical cleaning |
| Refrigerant leak test | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compressor current and insulation measurement | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oil level / oil analysis | Level | Level | Analysis |
| Water side: filter, flow switch, glycol | Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Panel tightness and thermal inspection | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water-cooled: scale check in condenser tubes | — | — | ✓ |
✓: done on that visit. —: not required in that period.
Maintenance differences by chiller type
Air-cooled chiller
Condenser fins sit outdoors; dust, pollen and leaf buildup are the biggest cause of efficiency loss. Fin cleaning and fan checks are always done at the start of the season, and freeze protection is checked before winter.
Water-cooled chiller
The condenser runs on cooling tower water; scale and biological fouling in the tubes raise the condensing temperature. Annual tube cleaning and water treatment checks are a core part of maintenance.
Scroll, screw and centrifugal compressor chillers
For small scroll compressor units, electrical and refrigerant measurements are the focus; for screw and centrifugal units, oil analysis, vibration and an overhaul plan based on operating hours are part of maintenance.
Maintenance form: values we measure on site
At every maintenance visit we measure the values below and record them on a per-unit maintenance form. Comparing the form at the next visit helps detect faults early.
| Measurement / check | Unit | Expected |
|---|---|---|
| Evaporator water inlet / outlet | °C | Per design value (e.g. 12/7 °C) |
| Condenser inlet / outlet (water-cooled) | °C | Per design value |
| Suction and discharge pressure | bar | Manufacturer values |
| Superheat / subcooling | K | Manufacturer values |
| Compressor current (each phase) | A | Below the nameplate value, phases balanced |
| Supply voltage | V | within ±10% |
| Oil level | — | Normal in the sight glass |
| Refrigerant leak test | — | No leaks |
| Alarm history | — | No recurring alarms |
What happens without maintenance?
- High-pressure alarm and shutdown in midsummer
- The compressor draws excessive current and its life is shortened
- Cooling capacity drops, spaces heat up
- Refrigerant leaks are noticed late and repair costs grow
- Electricity consumption increases
Refrigerant leak checks and regulations
Systems containing fluorinated refrigerants, such as chillers and VRF, fall under the Regulation on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases. According to the Ministry's training documentation, leak checks are carried out every 12 months for equipment containing 5–50 tonnes CO₂ equivalent (every 24 months if a leak detection system is installed), every 6 months for 50–500 tonnes CO₂ equivalent (every 12 months with a system), and every 6 months for 500 tonnes CO₂ equivalent and above; at this size, installing a leak detection system is mandatory. Equipment and inspection records are entered into the EKOMVET system. Checks are performed by services holding a TSE Service Competence Certificate and technicians certified for equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases. Source
YOİ Mühendislik holds the TSE Service Competence Certificate; we include leak checks in the maintenance visit and record the results in the report and our logs.
What determines the price of chiller maintenance?
Since maintenance pricing depends on equipment type and site conditions, we do not offer a fixed price list. During the site survey we clarify the items below and provide an itemized written quote:
- Chiller capacity and number of compressors
- Whether it is air-cooled or water-cooled
- Whether condenser chemical cleaning or tube cleaning is needed
- Oil analysis, oil or filter change
- Need for refrigerant top-up
- Access (roof, crane, plant room) and distance for out-of-town sites
- One-time maintenance or an annual contract?
The maintenance process in 5 steps
- Request: unit type, quantity and location are sent by phone, WhatsApp or form.
- Site survey and inventory: equipment is inspected on site, and the scope and schedule are defined.
- The written quote and maintenance plan are approved.
- Maintenance: measurements are taken, cleaning and checks are carried out, and approval is requested if parts need replacing.
- Report: unit-by-unit measurements and recommendations are delivered in writing.
Service areas
Our base is in Ankara Etimesgut. We provide chiller maintenance daily across all districts of Ankara (Çankaya, Yenimahalle, Etimesgut, Sincan, Keçiören, Gölbaşı, Mamak, Altındağ, Pursaklar, Polatlı, Kahramankazan, Elmadağ). We carry out project-based and annual-contract maintenance in all 81 provinces of Türkiye, including İstanbul, İzmir, Bursa, Antalya, Konya, Kayseri, Eskişehir, Kocaeli, Adana, Mersin, Gaziantep, Samsun, Trabzon, Erzurum and Diyarbakır, and we also take part in public institutions' maintenance tenders.
Regional pages: Chiller maintenance Ankara · Ankara districts · İstanbul · All cities
Frequently asked questions
How often should a chiller be maintained?
We recommend monthly review of operating logs, scheduled maintenance every 6 months and a comprehensive overhaul once a year. For heavily loaded process and hospital chillers, the interval is shortened.
How long does chiller maintenance take?
Scheduled maintenance of a single chiller usually takes half a day to a full day. If chemical cleaning of the condenser or tube cleaning is needed, the duration is set during the site survey.
Is cooling interrupted during maintenance?
On multi-circuit chillers, circuits can be serviced one at a time so cooling continues. Work that requires a full shutdown is scheduled after hours or on weekends.
How is the price of chiller maintenance determined?
Price depends on capacity, number of compressors, cooling type, cleaning scope, spare parts and distance. After the site survey we provide an itemized written quote.
Which chiller brands do you maintain?
We service all brands, including Carrier, Daikin, York, Trane, Climaveneta, Rhoss, Aermec, LG and Mitsubishi Electric.
Are refrigerant leak checks mandatory for chillers?
For chillers containing fluorinated refrigerant, leak checks at intervals based on the refrigerant amount are required by regulation. We include the check in the maintenance visit and record it.
What does an annual maintenance contract give you?
Scheduled visits, priority breakdown response, annual budget at a single price, and unit-by-unit archiving of all measurements.
Do you travel outside Ankara for chiller maintenance?
Yes. We carry out chiller maintenance daily in Ankara and on a project or contract basis in other provinces.
Sources
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change: training presentation on the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation (2025)
- Manufacturer maintenance manuals and YOİ Mühendislik field practice