They’re Back and it Will Be Worse than Before!!
Cicadas Will Emerge In 2024 by the “Gazillions”
in 14 States This Spring!
The largest Emergence Since 1803
Overwhelming Everything Including HVAC & Cooling Tower Equipment.
STATES THAT WILL BE AFFECTED IN 2024
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana,
Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama. Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virgina and Maryland
When to Expect Their Arrival
late April or early to mid-May and will continue through Mid-June. Exactly when they’ll emerge depends on the weather. A cool spring will mean they will emerge later in the spring. Regardless of the weather, they will begin emerging when the ground temperatures (approx. 8″ below the surface) reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit. The important thing to know is that when they emerge in your area, they will be a problem for several weeks – so you need to be ready to keep them out of your mechanical systems or face serious maintenance problems.
THE EMERGENCE OF THE PERIODIC CICADAS IS THE LARGEST INSECT MIGRATION ON EARTH
THEY WILL OVERWHELM EVERYTING INCLUDING HVAC / COOLING TOWER EQUIPMENT!
What makes 2024 so notable is that the two largest broods are emerging at the same time making this the greatest emergence since 1803; About the time President Thomas Jefferson gives instructions to Lewis and Clark to begin their great expedition to find an uninterrupted waterway to the Pacific now known as the Northwest Passage.
Impact on Mechanical Systems
Cicadas are harmless to humans, other than being noisy and a nuisance however, it’s a much different story for a buildings mechanical systems including Cooling Towers, Air Handling Units, Rooftop Units and Air Cooled Chillers; Cicadas are attracted to the sound of mechanical equipment and quickly get sucked in – affecting the operation, maintenance and performance of your equipment.
On Cooling Towers, they 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 – Daily removal is absolutely necessary as is an increase in biocides to help keep the cooling water free of bacteria caused by the increase in organic load.
On Air Handling Units and Intake Louvers, they can get sucked into the system and will quickly foul internal pre-filters and build-up inside the duct work and plenum – especially if bug mesh not provided by the equipment manufacturer.
On Rooftop units, they get sucked onto the condenser coils and block airflow and they will swarm the fan motors and compressors.
How to Protect Your Equipment from Becoming Overwhelmed
Use of air intake filter screens (Cottonwood Filter / Bug Screens) is the “best practice” as they 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 benefit by stopping cottonwood seed, insects, leaves and other airborne debris while reducing maintenance, energy and water treatment and coil cleaning chemical cost. They are nearly invisible to the airflow – Static pressure is – Under 1/10” w.g.Cottonwood Filter Screens Will Stop Cicadas and Other Airborne Debris From Entering your Mechanical Equipment
The Video Below Shows Just How Overwhelming They Can Be
Now Is The Time To Plan For Protecting Your HVAC Equipment
Insects that Swarm Can Cause Havoc on Building air
movement and air conditioning / Cooling systems!!
Bug Screens are the Best Solution!
Cottonwood Filters are also Bug Screens that will protect Cooling Towers and air movement systems from insect invasion. Depending upon your location, many common insects naturally emerge or gather at different times during the Spring / Summer and Fall in unimaginable numbers that can require significant increase in outdoor building and mechanical equipment maintenance. If you or your customer is in a swarming bug zone, you need to prepare sooner rather than later – Waiting until you are experiencing a problem to act is too late to solve the problem for that season. The following are two common bugs that can cause annual problems.
Mayflies / Fishflies
Mayflies also known as “Fishflies”, “Canadian Soldiers”, “Shadflies” and the “Up-winged Fly” are a fresh waterborne insect that emerged in the month of May across North America from rivers, lakes and streams; when they emerge, the numbers are massive and can literally slow down daily life dealing with them for about a two week period each season. When they get into cooling towers, they will plug the fill, strainers and blow-down valves and demand extensive water treatment chemicals to prevent bacterial growth in the basin. On Chillers and rooftop units they will plug condenser coils and swarm fan motors and with air handling units they can load-up in the plenums and duct system before reaching and fouling prematurely fouling internal filters. If you or your customer are not prepared, they can bring the mechanical equipment to a grinding halt!
Lady Bugs / Asian Lady Beetle
Lady Bugs are a solitary, friendly and useful insect during the spring and summer, and when seen individually are considered a cute little bug – However, in the fall of the year across North America, usually in Sept. / October, they mass together into large swarms on the outside of buildings, and infrastructure (including HVAC and Cooling systems). As temperatures drop, they instinctively seek warm environments hence swarming on the sunny side of buildings and are attracted to HVAC / Cooling systems that are rejecting the very heat that they seek; they can clog condenser coils, air handling units, cooling towers and increase overall fall maintenance. If you or your customers have experienced this issue, it is likely to occur every season – Cottonwood Filter Screens are also Bug Screens that will stop the insect from entering your equipment.