Most quote requests we receive say some version of “I need a cooling tower, what does it cost?”
We understand why. But a cooling tower is not a catalog item you pull off a shelf — the right model depends on how much heat you are rejecting, how fast the water is moving, and what the air is like where you are. Without those, any number we give you is a guess.
Here is exactly what we need. Send these and we can usually quote the same day.
The six things we need
1. Flow rate, or heat load
Either one works.
Flow rate in gallons per minute is the most direct. If you have a pump curve or an existing system, you probably know this.
Heat load in BTU/hr works just as well. If you only know the horsepower or tonnage of the equipment you are cooling, tell us that and we will convert it.
If you know neither, tell us what equipment the tower will serve — how many injection molding presses, what size chiller, how many tons of HVAC. We can work backward from there.
2. Entering water temperature
How hot is the water coming back from your process? The industry standard assumption is 95°F, but plenty of processes run hotter.
3. Leaving water temperature
How cold does the water need to be when it returns to your equipment? Standard is 85°F.
The difference between these two numbers is called the range, and it directly affects which model fits.
4. Location
City and state is enough. We use it to look up your design wet bulb temperature, which sets the limit on how cold the tower can physically get your water.
This matters more than people expect. A tower sized for 75°F wet bulb behaves differently in Phoenix than it does in Tampa. If you want to check yours in advance, our Wet Bulb Temperature Guide lists design conditions by city.
5. Electrical supply
Voltage, phase, and frequency. Most of our towers ship as 208-230/460V, three phase, 60 Hz, but we need to know if yours is different.
If you are on 50 Hz, say so upfront. The same tower rejects less heat at 50 Hz, which changes the model selection entirely.
6. New installation or replacement?
This changes what we quote and how fast we can turn it around. See below if it is a replacement.
If you are replacing an existing tower
Send these as well, and we can often match a footprint closely enough that your existing piping and pad stay in place.
A photo of the nameplate. This is the single most useful thing you can send. It usually has the manufacturer, model, capacity, and electrical data on one plate.
Make and model of the old tower. We have been building towers since 1971 and we know the competitors’ lines well. Marley, BAC, Evapco, Amcot, Liang Chi — tell us what you have and we can tell you what replaces it.
Overall dimensions. Diameter or footprint, plus height. Critical if the tower sits in a confined space, on a roof, or inside a screened enclosure.
Inlet and outlet connection sizes and locations. If these line up, your plumbing contractor’s job gets much simpler.
Photos of the installation. Wide shot showing access and surroundings, plus a close shot of the piping connections. These tell us more about a rigging job than a paragraph of description.
The short checklist
Copy this into an email and fill it in:
Flow rate (GPM) or heat load (BTU/hr): Entering water temperature (°F): Leaving water temperature required (°F): Location (city, state): Electrical supply (voltage / phase / Hz): New install or replacement: IF REPLACEMENT — Existing make and model: Overall dimensions: Inlet / outlet size: Nameplate photo attached: yes / no
Things that help but are not required
Timeline. If you have a shutdown window or a hard deadline, tell us early. It affects what we recommend.
Whether you need a pump. We supply matched water pumps, and specifying them together avoids a mismatch later.
Accessories. Basin heaters, vibration switches, ladders, and bypass arrangements are all available. Mention them upfront and they are in the quote rather than a change order.
Whether you want it assembled. Most of our towers up through the mid range ship completely assembled, which saves substantial field labor. Larger models ship for field assembly.
What happens next
Once we have your information, we confirm the model selection, quote the tower with your electrical configuration, and include lead time. If something in your numbers looks off — a flow rate that does not match the stated tonnage, for example — we will tell you before you order rather than after.
If you would rather work out the model yourself first, our cooling tower sizing guide walks through the selection table.
Send it over
Request a quote or call 800-752-1905. If you are only looking for parts rather than a full tower, start with our replacement parts catalog instead.
Cooling Tower Systems, Inc. — 196 Lower Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201.
