The cooling tower is often the forgotten component of the water cooling system when it comes to maintenance. It’s a good example of the phrase “out of sight, out of mind.” A newly installed cooling tower reliably delivers the design fluid temperature and flow rate. However, since its heat transfer operation creates a hurricane-like environment and is a natural air-washer, the cooling tower needs routine inspection and maintenance to continue performing as designed. This article discusses routine maintenance and suggests ways to improve cooling tower performance.