Air Cooled: Air cooled water chillers absorb heat from process water and can be transferred to the air around the water chiller. They are generally used in applications where the additional heat they discharge is not a factor, used to warm a plant during the winter. They require less maintenance than water cooled units and eliminate the need for a cooling tower and condense water pump. They generally consume approximately 10% more power than a water cooled unit as a wet surface transfers heat better than a dry surface.

Water Cooled: Water cooled chillers absorb heat from process water and transfer it to a separate water source such as a cooling tower, river, pond, etc. They are generally used for large capacity applications, where the heat generated by an air cooled water chiller creates a problem. They are also considered when a cooling tower is already in place, or where the customer requires optimum efficiency of power consumption. Water cooled chillers require condenser water treatment to eliminate mineral buildup. Mineral deposits create poor heat transfer situations, that reduce the efficiency of the unit.