A poorly performing absorbing tower can manifest in poor stack appearance, bad stick test results, bad acid emission testing results, as well as acid sulfate splotches on nearby structural steel members and grade. Absorbing towers are equipped with mist eliminator elements designed to remove acid droplets from the exiting gas stream and retain the acid inside the tower. It is easy to assume that poor demisting performance means poor mist eliminator design or condition. However, that may or may not follow. It has been said that 99% of “mist eliminator problems” are not due to problems of the mist eliminator itself. Though this percentage may not be accurate, experience suggests its order of magnitude is correct.