A wet scrubber is a simple machine that fails in slow, predictable ways: nozzles clog, packing fouls, chemistry drifts, demisters load up. Catch each early and the tower runs for a decade; ignore them and stack readings creep up until an inspector notices. Here is the maintenance rhythm we recommend to every buyer.
Daily — 5 Minutes
- Recirculation pump running, pressure normal, no unusual noise.
- Sump level between marks; make-up water valve cycling.
- pH (and ORP if dosed) in setpoint range — the single best indicator that removal is happening.
Weekly
- Check spray pressure at the header gauge. Rising pressure = nozzles clogging; falling = a nozzle blown off or worn.
- Look through the sight glass during operation: the packing top surface should be uniformly wet, no dry islands.
- Blow down a fraction of the sump and let make-up refresh it; dissolved salts are what crystallize in nozzles.
Monthly to Quarterly
- Open the hatch and inspect packing for scale, grease or biological slime; wash the bed in place with the spray system if fouling has started.
- Hose down the demister from the clean side until water runs clear — a loaded demister is the top cause of “mist at the stack” complaints.
- Calibrate the pH probe against buffer solutions; probes drift long before they fail.
Annually
- Pull a packing sample: crushed, brittle or compacted rings mean the bed is due for a top-up or change — normal life is 3–5 years in acid duty, longer in clean service.
- Inspect welds and nozzle threads inside the tower; PP repairs are quick if caught early.
- Service the fan per its own schedule — vibration is the scrubber’s enemy as much as the fan’s.
Spares Worth Keeping on the Shelf
A set of spray nozzles, a demister pad, a pH probe, pump seals and 5–10% of your packing volume. All of it fits on one pallet, and all of it is exactly what we mold and stock in Jinan — one message and refills are on the way: WhatsApp +86 186 1558 6932 or jinhaofeng298@163.com.