As we move into October and temperatures begin to drop, now is an ideal time to review the winter readiness of your chilled closed water systems.
Rather than waiting for sub-zero conditions to highlight a problem, many responsible facilities teams are choosing to take a measured, preventative approach — ensuring their systems are correctly protected against freezing, inefficient performance, and unnecessary operational risk.
In chilled and closed-loop water systems, glycol dosing remains one of the most reliable methods of freeze protection. By lowering the freezing point of the system fluid, it helps to ensure safe, stable operation — even during sub-zero temperature drops.
For most standard cooling applications, Ethylene Glycol is the preferred solution due to its efficiency and heat-transfer performance.
However, in healthcare, food production, pharmaceutical or any environment with possible human contact, Monopropylene Glycol is used — delivering freeze protection with a higher safety profile.
The freezing point of your system is directly linked to the percentage of glycol in the water mix — for example:
Glycol Concentration | Approx. Freezing Protection |
20% Ethylene Glycol | Down to around –8°C |
30% Ethylene Glycol | Down to around –16°C |
40% Ethylene Glycol | Down to around –25°C |
An under-dosed system may begin forming ice crystals — particularly during circulation — which can result in blocked pipework, pump strain, or significant mechanical damage. Conversely, over-dosing can reduce system efficiency and increase energy costs.
The goal is always accurate, evidence-based dosing — not just adding more glycol “just in case.”
At HBE, we begin with a professional assessment of your current system status rather than immediately applying chemical treatment.
Our glycol support includes:
✓ System survey & glycol concentration testing
✓ Advice on the correct protection level for your environment
✓ Supply of the appropriate glycol type — Ethylene or Monopropylene
✓ Dosing, validation, certification & follow-up recommendations
This ensures your system is protected appropriately — without unnecessary chemical spend or performance compromise.
We work with healthcare providers, universities, councils, facilities management companies and manufacturing sites across Ireland and the UK, helping ensure their chilled systems are protected, compliant, and performing efficiently throughout the winter season.
If you’d like to confirm whether your system is sufficiently protected — or simply want clarity ahead of colder weather — our team can support you with a consultative glycol protection review tailored to your site and sector.
Contact HBE today to learn how we can support your organisation’s water treatment compliance needs.
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