8 Top Tips For Using Glycol In Your Chiller

Introduction

Glycol is a vital additive for chiller systems operating in low temperatures or environments at risk of freezing. Without the right glycol practices, chillers can suffer from pipe bursts, reduced efficiency, or costly downtime. Below are eight essential tips to help you how to choose and using glycol in your chiller system safely and effectively.

1. Never Use Automotive Antifreeze

Automotive antifreeze is designed for car engines, not chillers. It often contains chemical additives (like alcohol or glycerin) which can clog chiller pipework and compromise system performance.

Tip: Always source glycol from a specialist provider for HVAC or industrial applications to ensure proper composition and longevity.

2. Select the Correct Glycol Type

Uninhibited glycol can corrode metals rapidly, causing damage that is often costly to repair. Inhibited glycol contains corrosion inhibitors that protect your chiller’s internal surfaces. See our timelapse video which shows just how quickly uninhibited glycol will corrode metals.

Tip: Consult regulatory guidelines and consider product safety for your particular industry.

3. Only Use Inhibited Glycol

Because of the chemical differences and variances in formula between brands, it is important that you not only use the correct type of Glycol, but also the same brand. Failure to maintain consistency can cause the inhibitors in the formula to stop working. This will clog up your pipework because of incompatibility.

Tip: Check the product label or technical datasheet for “inhibited glycol” and recommended usage.

4. Don’t Mix Different Types or Brands of Glycol

Mixing glycols can cause chemical reactions that deactivate inhibitors, lead to blockages, and reduce system reliability.

Tip: Always use the same type and brand of glycol throughout your system’s lifecycle. If switching, flush the system thoroughly first.

5. Check Environmental Regulations

Glycol disposal must comply with local and national environmental standards. Improper storage or disposal can harm the environment—and result in significant fines.

Tip: Create a responsible plan for glycol storage, handling, and disposal. Stay up to date with regulations.

6. Use the Correct Glycol Dosage

Too little glycol risks freezing and pipe damage; too much increases viscosity, straining pumps and reducing efficiency. In extreme cases, too much glycol can even raise the freezing point instead of lowering it.

Tip: Calculate dosage based on system volume and minimum expected temperature. Manufacturer guidelines typically recommend 25–40% glycol concentration.

7. Mix Glycol With High-Quality Water

Tap or ground water often contains minerals and additives that can interact adversely with glycol, causing scale, corrosion, and unexpected maintenance costs.

Tip: Use distilled, deionized, demineralized, or reverse-osmosis water for mixing glycol solutions.

8. Maintain System Hygiene

A clean chiller system maximizes glycol effectiveness and protects against long-term buildup of contaminants.

Tip: Flush, clean, and sanitise your system before introducing new glycol solutions. Schedule regular maintenance checks to preserve system health.

Conclusion & Next Steps

By following these eight essential tips, you can maximize system longevity, efficiency, and environmental compliance.

We offer a specially formulated FlowCool range of glycol based products which importantly incorporate organic inhibitors (not all glycol products include inhibitors but they are essential to avoid system corrosion). They are industry recommended and meet the BS5117 standard for use within two way cooling and heating processes. The complete range includes industrial grade glycol, suitable for Food Grade applications and bio-degradable glycol.

All available for next day delivery in 5l, 25l and 1,000l lBCs.

---

FAQ’s

Q1: What type of glycol should I use in my chiller?
A: The best glycol type depends on your application. Propylene glycol is recommended for food, beverage, and HVAC systems due to its lower toxicity. Ethylene glycol may be used for industrial equipment where human contact is limited. Always follow manufacturer guidelines and industry standards.

---

Q2: How do I determine the correct glycol concentration for freeze protection?
A: The concentration depends on your operating conditions and the lowest temperature your system may experience. Generally, 25–40% glycol by volume is recommended. Consult your equipment supplier or use a glycol calculator for precise requirements.

---

Q3: Why is distilled or deionised water recommended when mixing glycol?
A: Tap or untreated water contains minerals and additives that can react with glycol, potentially causing corrosion or scale. Distilled or deionised water ensures optimal performance and protects your system.

---

Q4: Can I mix different brands or types of glycol?
A: Mixing different glycols is not recommended, as chemical incompatibilities can deactivate inhibitors, causing system blockages and damage. Always flush your system before switching to a new glycol product.

---

Q5: What is Flowcool IG?
A: This is an ethylene-based glycol supplied by ICS Cool Energy and it is the standard process/industrial antifreeze additive. FlowCool IG can be used in any application where low toxicity is not a requirement.

---

Q6: What other glycol products do you stock?
A: Flowcool-Plus & Flowcool FS are propylene-based glycols; FlowCool FS has been tested by the National Sanitary Foundation. They are non-toxic and are the antifreeze additives of choice for applications in the food and beverage industry and where user contact is a frequent occurrence. We also supply Flowcool Bio, a BIO-glycol which is derived from a sustainable source and is non-toxic, nonflammable, non-hazardous and biodegradable. It is the ideal solution for sites and applications where environmental concerns are paramount.