A commonly asked question is what chiller is the best, air cooled or water cooled. The answer to that question is that there is no one perfect chiller for all applications. There are many aspects that come into affect when choosing what chiller would be best for a building and its cooling system.

Space is one of these issues. Air cooled chillers can utilize open space, such as a parking lot, roof or ground level area. Water cooled chillers are smaller in size, but require a mechanical room and cooling towers. On the flip side, air cooled chillers can have serious issues with recirculation if there are walls higher than the unit or too many units to close together. If there is a situation where outside walls are required for building code and the unit will not be receiving enough fresh air, then a water cooled application may be the best option.

Sound is another issue than may come into the equation. With any chiller sound is inevitable, air cooled chillers generally have a different decibel because of their fans. There are things that can be done to reduce the sound on chillers, but the best way to negate the sound is to purchase a quieter unit upon decision.

A major part of the equation these days is cost. A detailed cost vs. benefit analysis is advised in any major equipment change. While one chiller may have lower initial costs, it may also have a shorter life span and higher operating costs.

Lifespan is huge in the decision of which unit to choose. Talk to a local contractor, to find out what kind of lifespan they have seen from units similar to those being looked at for the building. There are steps that can be taken to increase lifespan on many units. When speaking with the contractor ask them about these additional steps to ensure the longest life for the unit.

With so many decisions being based on cost and purely cost alone, quality is sometimes thrown out of the equation. Quality is a major factor of the equation and should always be thought of. Quality of the product and the contractor who will be doing the job are both very important.

When it comes time to install a new chiller, these points should help in that field. There are many advantages and disadvantages to both kinds of chillers and some of those are listed below:

  Air Cooled Advantages                                 

• Install cost is generally lower
• Less Maintenance depending on application
• No need for a mechanical room          
• Cooling Tower not needed    
• Condenser pumps not required          

Water Cooled Advantages

• Usually have a longer life
• Higher efficiency 
• Indoor placement
• Larger tonnage capabilities
• Refrigeration containment

Air Cooled Disadvantages

• Generally less efficient
• Life span is not as long
• Usually have more operating noise

Water Cooled Disadvantages

• Additional maintenance costs
• Water treatment costs
• Mechanical room needed