The Buzz About Cicadas: Nature's Noisy Neighbors

Protect Your HVAC and Cooling Tower Equipment from Cicadas This Season

This year's cicada emergence is the largest since 1803, making it crucial to safeguard your mechanical systems.

Impact on Mechanical Systems

Cicadas are harmless to humans, except for being noisy and a nuisance. However, they can pose a significant threat to buildings' mechanical systems. They are attracted to the sound of mechanical equipment and can quickly become a problem. Here's how they can affect different systems:

Cooling Towers: Cicadas accumulate in the fill, basin, and strainers, and are attracted to the sound of the fan motors. They can overwhelm the system in less than a day. Removal is necessary, as well as an increase in biocides to keep the cooling water free of bacteria caused by the increase in organic load.

Air Handling Units and Intake Louvers: Cicadas get sucked into the system, fouling internal pre-filters, and building up inside the ductwork and plenum, especially if bug mesh is not provided by the equipment manufacturer.

Rooftop Units: Cicadas block airflow by getting sucked onto the condenser coils and swarm the fan motors and compressors.

How to Protect Your Equipment from Being Overwhelmed

The best practice to protect your equipment is to use air intake filter screens (Cottonwood Filter / Bug Screens) that stop the bugs at their point of entry without impacting airflow. After the cicadas have gone, the filter screens will continue to provide many years of benefits by stopping cottonwood seeds, insects, leaves, and other airborne debris while reducing maintenance, energy, water treatment, and coil cleaning chemical costs. They are nearly invisible to airflow, with a static pressure of under 1/10” w.g.

Call FSI for a Free Cottonwood Screen Assessment

Beat the swarm! Call FSI at (847) 616-8710 now for a complimentary assessment of your cottonwood screen needs. Safeguard your HVAC and cooling tower equipment from the impending cicada invasion before it's too late!